Within EU-funded COVID-19 Solidarity Programme for the Eastern Partnership countries AFEW International prepares regular updates on the COVID-19 developments in the region – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. What is the situation today? Please, check it here!
You can find previous updates in the COVID Corner on our website.
As for 11.08.2021
The number of coronavirus cases per population ratio since the start of the active phase of the pandemic (April 1 2020) in the 6 countries of the EaP
Source: Sciences Po Media lab Coronavirus Country Comparator
Situation report in Armenia
Daily cases
Vaccinations
Images: Worldometer, Our World in Data
Cases of COVID-19
— COVID-19 infections are increasing in Armenia, with 260 new infections reported on average each day.
Measures to contain the epidemic
— No curfew or travel restrictions are imposed.
— Since June 1 masks are optional outdoors; since July 1, masks for vaccinated people are optional indoors.
Situation report Azerbaijan
Daily cases
Vaccinations
Images: Worldometer, Our World in Data
Cases of COVID-19
— The average number of new infections reported each day in Azerbaijan rises by more than 950 over the last 3 weeks, 22% of its previous peak.
— COVID-19 infections are increasing in Azerbaijan, with 1,139 new infections reported on average each day.
Measures to contain the epidemic
— Azerbaijan extended its quarantine restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 until September 1.
— The restrictions mean the borders of the South Caucasus country of about 10 million people will remain closed. Only vaccinated people will be able to attend weddings and visit sports venues. People are required to wear face masks indoors.
— Azerbaijan’s coronavirus task force also said that public transport would not operate in the capital, Baku, on weekends and public holidays.
Situation report Belarus
Daily cases
Vaccinations
Images: Worldometer, Our World in Data
Cases of COVID-19
— COVID-19 infections are increasing in Belarus, with 992 new infections reported on average each day.
— During the press conference on August 10, The Minister of Health of Belarus said that an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 in the country is expected in the coming months. According to Dmitry Pinevich, it is already necessary to prepare the healthcare system for this: “We forecast an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 in September-October,” he said.
Measures to contain the epidemic
—On July 15, 2021, Belarus’s Council of Ministers reduced the self-isolation period for those who have been in contact with people infected with the coronavirus and those arriving from countries on the government’s high-risk list from 10 to seven days.
Situation report Georgia
Daily cases
Vaccinations
Images: Worldometer, Our World in Data
Cases of COVID-19
— On August 10, Georgia has registered a record 54 deaths due to the coronavirus in a single day as the number of infections in the country continues to spiral.
— On August 10, the authorities announced that 5,697 people had tested positive for the virus in 24 hours, breaking the previous record of 5,450 in November.
— Yesterday, the Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze told the press that the country is ‘going through the worst-case scenario of the epidemic’.
— On the same day, Alexander Goginava, an infectious disease specialist, told the press that medical workers in the country were being pushed to their limits.
Measures to contain the epidemic
— Georgia began to gradually ease coronavirus restriction in late February. At the end of June, the country lifted almost all of the remaining restrictions, including a nightly curfew.
— The authorities have insisted that a new lockdown would not be introduced citing public opinion.
— On August 10, however, the government announced some new measures, including mandatory facemasks in open spaces where five or more people have gathered.
— New penalties of ₾10,000 ($3,200) have also been introduced for catering facilities and other venues which host social gatherings such as weddings and funerals. Repeat offences will result in the facilities being closed.
Situation report Republic of Moldova
Daily cases
Vaccinations
Images: Worldometer, Our World in Data
Cases of COVID-19
— COVID-19 infections are increasing in Moldova, with 167 new infections reported on average each day.
Vaccinations
— About 15% of Moldova’s population has been vaccinated with both of the doses. Also, only 30% of the education system employees got a vaccine. The collective vaccination rate of 70% that was projected to be reached in November cannot be attained, IPN quoted Svetlana Nicolăescu, secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, as saying in the news conference on August 10.
— She noted that the vaccination rate is the highest among older persons, while among young people it is the lowest. The lowest immunization rate among the population is in Gagauzia, of less than 10%, while the highest is in the municipality of Chisinau – 23%.
— Svetlana Nicolăescu warned that 99% of the patients with COVID-19 who are now in intensive care units haven’t been vaccinated. The Ministry of Health’s data shows 65 of the 313 persons with COVID-19 who are now in hospitals are in a very serious state and 11 of these were put on a ventilator.
— Last week, the number of new cases of COVID-19 and associated deaths were higher than a week before. Some of the settlements were put on red alert for COVID-19.
— An orange alert was issued in Moldova last week and this means that new protection measures are to be imposed. The National Extraordinary Public Health Commission will have a meeting soon to consider introducing new restrictions, noted Svetlana Nicolăescu.
— Epidemiologist Veaceslav Guțu, the coordinator of the national COVID-19 immunization campaign, said only 0.08% of the vaccinated persons got COVID-19 and 90% of these persons had gotten by one dose of vaccine by then.
Situation report Ukraine
Daily cases
Vaccinations
Images: Worldometer, Our World in Data
Measures to contain the epidemic
— Ukraine has extended a state of emergency that allows regional authorities to impose COVID-19 restrictions for a further month until October 1 to tackle a surge in infections from the rapidly spreading Delta variant.
— “Unfortunately, experts are beginning to register the first negative trends in terms of hospitalisation of those seriously ill, therefore the government is adopting a decree to extend the state of emergency and adaptive lockdown until October 1,” premier Denys Shmygal said during a televised weekly cabinet meeting.
— The “adaptive lockdown” means regional authorities have the power to tighten or ease restrictions depending on the situation locally. The state of emergency had been due to expire at the end of August.
— Ukraine’s seven-day average daily number of new cases has risen above 1,000 since mid-July after authorities lifted most restrictions and maintained only mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing requirements.
Interesting reads
— IFRC: Delta variant a huge threat in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia read.
— New Eastern Europe: Medical workers – the new social activists of Belarus? read.
— Public Radio of Armenia: EU strengthens support to speed up vaccination in Eastern Partnership region read.
—VoA: Iranian Vaccine Tourists Flock to Armenia for Shots read.
