On 12 March, following the official declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO) of a “pandemic“ and reporting its first death case of the coronavirus in the country (Caucasus Watch reported), the Azerbaijani government adopted further enhanced measures to combat the spread of the virus, reported Turan. 

In particular, visa processing through the ASAN Visa electronic portal is suspended for 45 days. Foreign citizens wishing to come to Azerbaijan to apply for a visa will have to apply to the relevant embassies or consulates general of the country. When applying for a visa, especially from citizens of countries where the COVID-19 virus has spread widely, a medical certificate will need to shown stating that the individual has been tested for COVID-19. At the same time, the government called on Azerbaijani citizens to refrain from traveling abroad for two months if this is not urgently needed.

The Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan restricted access to libraries and museums of the country for an indefinite period. The Caucasus Muslims Office imposed a temporary ban on holding commemoration in the ceremonial halls of two large mosques of the country, Taza Pir and Heydar.

The government also decided to ban the smoking of reusable hookahs in all catering facilities of the country.

At the same time, a team of WHO experts is currently in Azerbaijan, working with the national response committee to develop a 3–6-month national preparedness and response plan for COVID-19. Azerbaijan is one of the 17 countries in the WHO European Region that is receiving laboratory testing kits. The first round of kits was distributed in February, and a second round is currently being shipped. The country will also be receiving personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline health-care workers caring for patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19, and laboratory staff who are testing swabs of suspected cases. The Government of Azerbaijan has contributed to global efforts to address COVID-19, coordinating with neighbouring countries, and has pledged US$ 5 million to WHO’s strategic preparedness and response plan.