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 of 8 September 2022
Regional overview
Confirmed daily COVID-19 cases in 2022, between 23 January 2020 and 7 September 2022 in the 6 countries of the Eastern Partnership
Source: Sciences Po Media lab Coronavirus Country Comparator
Situation report Armenia
Image: Worldometer
Cases of COVID-19
— Armenia is reporting that during the last week of August, 2,329 new cases have been confirmed, which is 17.8% more than 2 weeks earlier.
— There have been 436,727 infections, 8,662 coronavirus-related deaths, and 423,359 recoveries reported in Armenia since the pandemic began.
Measures to contain the epidemic
— As of May 1, 2022, Armenia has waived the requirement of passengers to present a vaccination document or negative PCR test upon entry. Armenia remains open to foreign visitors by air and land.
— The quarantine regime, which replaced the state of emergency in Armenia in September 2020, had expired on June 20, 2022, thereby annulling all remaining quarantine measures.
— The government of Armenia is reporting on Activities neutralising social consequences of COVID-19, including such beneficiaries as families with children, the unemployed, pregnant women, entrepreneurs and workers in the business sectors hit most by the pandemic, socially deprived families, and students. Beneficiaries can submit proposals to receive financial aid.
Vaccine
— Armenia has administered at 2,150,112 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 33.3 % of the country’s population.
Situation report Azerbaijan
Image: Worldometer
Cases of COVID-19
— Azerbaijan is reporting 502 new COVID-19 cases on September 7th, 10 more than the day before.
— There have been 816,589 infections, 9,838 coronavirus-related deaths, and 803,562 recoveries reported in Azerbaijan since the pandemic began.
Measures to contain the epidemic
— The quarantine regime is in place in Azerbaijan until 6:00, 1 November 2022. This entails the requirement of a full COVID-19 vaccination or recovery document for entry to the country and to public services such as malls, hotels, theaters, and restaurants. Since 15 april 2022, PCR tests are not required nor accepted upon entry. Facemasks are recommended, but not required. In addition, borders with neighboring countries are closed, and travelling is only possible by plane.
— On August 29th, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added Azerbaijan in the Level 3 risk category for travel, marked as ‘high’, which is second to highest risk category.
Vaccine
— Azerbaijan has administered at least 13,857,111 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 48.3% of the country’s population.
— Recently, Azerbaijan has increased the rate of vaccinations, administering nearly 1400 vaccination shots in 24 hours on September 7th.
Situation report Belarus
Image: Worldometer
— Belarus is expecting a new COVID-19 wave by September 2022 because the Ministry of Health is starting to consider COVID-10 a seasonal illness.
— There have been 994,037 infections, 7,118 coronavirus-related deaths, and 985,592 recoveries reported in the country since the pandemic began.
Measures to contain the epidemic
— On April 3rd, Belarus has lifted its covid-related borders restrictions, which were in place since October 2020. Now Belarus citizens can now freely cross the border, while foreign travelers can enter Belarus with a PCR test or vaccination proof. Citizens of Russia and Ukraine are exempted from this requirement due to the geopolitical situation.
— Schools and workplaces have no lockdown measures or recommendations. People are no longer encouraged to stay at home or isolate.
Vaccine
— Belarus has administered at least 14,916,985 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 69.1% of the country’s population.
— Belarus reports that over 6.4 million citizens are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
— On August 25th, Belarus and Russia agreed to recognize each other’s vaccination certificates. In addition, Belarus and Russia will not apply COVID-19 related restrictions to holders of Belarusian and Russian vaccination certificates and to children and teenagers under 18, who do not have certificates.
Situation report Georgia
Image: Worldometer
— During the week of August 28-September 2, Georgian authorities reported 12,787 new cases of COVID-19, which is 192 more than 2 weeks ago.
— There have been 1,735,682 infections, 16,889 coronavirus-related deaths, and 1,637,293 recoveries reported in the country since the pandemic began.
Measures to contain the epidemic
— Amiran Gamkrelidze, the Head of the National Centre for Disease Control, assures that the “pandemic situation in Georgia is under control” as figures of coronavirus-related deaths have been unchanged for weeks.
— Practically, all the restrictions and regulations have been waived, except for the uniform wearing of masks. Facemasks are mandatory only at healthcare facilities and in public transport. Since May 2, 2022, it is no longer compulsory to wear the facemask at schools or outside.
— A complete report on government measures implemented in Georgia against COVID elaborates on the four stages from preventing to slowing, managing, and adapting to the coronavirus.
— The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) published its 9th report on the progress of COVID-19 in Georgia
Vaccine
— Georgia has administered at least 2,921,949 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 34.3% of the country’s population.
Situation report Republic of Moldova
Image: Worldometer
— Moldova is reporting 4058 COVID-19 cases between August 29 and September 4, which is nearly 2,000 less than the week before.
— There have been 579,054 infections, 11,783 coronavirus-related deaths, and 504,142 recoveries reported in Moldova since the pandemic began.
Measures to contain the epidemic
— Due to rising cases of COVID-19, “code orange” state of emergency has been announced in the capital city of Chisinau on 12 July 2022, and later extended for 60 days until October 8. However, the Minister noted that new COVID-19 measures will not be as severe as those during 2020-2021 due to changing attitudes and rising vaccination rates.
— In July, the National Emergency Commission for Public Health again recommended that Moldovan citizens wear protective masks in public and private medical institutions, public transport, shopping malls, food and non-food stores. It also recommended a physical distance of at least one meter between people, rules of hygiene and a self-isolation regime for infected people.
Vaccine
— Moldova has administered at least 2,219,444 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 40.4% of the country’s population.
— NATO gave Moldova 10,000 express COVID tests and medical equipment worth over 40 million lei.
Situation report Ukraine
Image: Worldometer
COVID-19 cases
— The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has resumed publishing statistical data on COVID incidence: in the week of August 29-September 29, there have been 16,155 new cases.
— There have been 5,072,533 infections, 108,885 coronavirus-related deaths, and 4,904,953 recoveries reported in the country since the pandemic began.
Measures to contain the epidemic
— Since March 26, Ukraine has abandoned its quarantine zone system. During the state of war, employees are not obligated to vaccinate. Healthcare authorities are preparing for a spike in COVID cases, although it is difficult to obtain real-time data.
— The head of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health Viktor Lyashko warns of possible reinforcement of mandatory quarantine measures. Given the rise of COVID cases, the government is considering bringing back mandatory facemasks and other measures to contain the epidemic.
— On August 19th, the country-wide quarantine has been extended until 31 December 2022.
Vaccine
— Ukraine has administered at least 31,668,577 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 36.5% of the country’s population.
— During wartime, vaccination rates have slowed significantly. Before the war, 250,000 shots were administered in Ukraine daily. Currently, 250,000 shots are administered per month, and there are about 2,500 vaccination locations in Ukraine.
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