On 25 May,  the Azerbaijani Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers announced the loosening of Covid-19 related restrictions in the country starting from 31 May, reported Trend. 

Under the new rules, the country’s citizens would no longer be required to wear face masks in public places. The work of Baku metro would also be resumed. The next stage of easing lockdown rules will enter force on 10 June. From this date, places of worship, large trade centres, beaches, sports and recreational centres will be opened for visitors again.

Another rule to be introduced has to do with Covid-19 passports. Citizens would be required to present Covid-19 passports to enter sports and recreational centres. Covid-19 passports would comprise two documents – vaccination certificate (about receiving vaccine jab) and immune certificate (about recovering from the disease). Both certificates will have a QR code and either of them will be required to enter sports and recreational centres. Initially, Covid-19 passports will be applied only in sports and recreational centres. Later, they will be used in other places such as concerts, weddings. 

While speaking on the occasion, the assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahmar Movsumov said that the daily infection cases in the country have decreased. The Head of the Department of Prevention and Control of Diseases of the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) Yagut Garayeva said that around 2 million vaccine jabs have been administered in Azerbaijan since 18 January. She added that Azerbaijan has a sufficient volume of vaccines, adding that citizens are free to choose the kind of vaccine they want.

As to the demographics of Covid-19, Garayeva said that the infection cases were most common among the 30-69 aged group and that the number of female patients outnumbered males. Garayeva emphasised that Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron peninsula account for overall 54% of Covid-19 cases nationwide, with Binagad, Khatai being top Baku districts for Covid-19 cases. She noted that there were positive dynamics in other regions of the country. 

In the past 24 hours, Azerbaijan reported 284 new cases of the virus and 10 deaths, bringing the total tally to 332,894 cases and 4,877 deaths.