On 19 November, the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers decided to extend the special quarantine regime until 28 December, reported APA.

The Cabinet decided to impose further restrictions following the rise of Covid-19 infection cases in the country. The restrictions included: 

1) In Sheki, Lankaran, Gakh, Zagatala, Bilasuvar, Jalilabad, Masalli, Ismayilli, Guba, Khachmaz districts, where the strict quarantine regime is applied, the duration of these measures has been extended to 7 December;

2) extension of the restrictions on passenger transportation in the Baku metro;

3) public transport will be suspended throughout the country on Saturdays and Sundays;

4) on-site services will be suspended in all other areas, except for vital activities, including pharmacies and grocery stores;

5)  the use of medical masks in all indoor and outdoor areas of the country is mandatory. 

Under the allowed areas of activity during the regime were: 

1) law enforcement, judicial agencies, agencies where military service is envisaged, and lawyers;

2) other state agencies;

3) health and social service institutions, disinfection services;

4) utility services (water, electricity, gas, heating, communication and telecommunication, household rubbish), land reclamation and water management services;

5) enterprises functioning uninterruptedly, as well as enterprises engaged in the manufacture, procurement, supply, storage, and wholesale marketing of food products;

6) drugstores, food shops (except for markets and fairs), fuel filling stations;

7) mass media outlets;

8) guard services.

In the past 24 hours, Azerbaijan recorded 2,597 new infection cases and 23 deaths, bringing the total tally to 83,994 cases and 1,053 deaths. The head of Azerbaijan’s Disease Prevention and Control Department of the Public Health Service (TABIB) Yagut Garayeva stated that the reason for the spread of infection were the mass gatherings. She also stated that that as a result of the difference between infected and recovered patients there may be a shortage of space in hospitals.

Garayeva also spoke on the issue of a possible Covid-19 vaccine. "Currently, there is not a vaccine, which has completed all stages and confirmed by WHO, yet. But there are 2-3 vaccine candidates of which results are assessed as positive. The vaccine is expected to be ready in April next year,” she said. “Our fight methods are [the] quarantine regime, use of masks, physical distancing and the use of disinfection means. Unfortunately, we don’t have any other on… hand any measure… until commencement… of a vaccine,” she added. 

The Assistant to Azerbaijan’s President Hikmet Hajiyev outlined that the country’s healthcare system was currently engaged on two fronts. “Daily infection cases are increasing, exceeding 2,000, which causes concern in Azerbaijan, there is an increase in death cases too. Taking into consideration these concerns, it is impossible not to be… concerned regarding coronavirus especially as our country is impacted by the Patriotic War. We have wounded soldiers, their treatment is also the duty of our healthcare system,” he stated.