The virus was confirmed to have reached Kazakhstan on 13 March 2020. It involved two Kazakh citizens in Almaty who were recently returned from Germany. That same day, two more cases were confirmed with one female arriving from Italy in Nur-Sultan and the other from Germany in Almaty as well. On 15 March, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a state of emergency from 16 March to 11 May 2020. Many holidays such as Nowruz and the Victory Day military parade were cancelled.On 30 March, Atyrau and 5 cities in Karaganda Region were under a lockdown.
On 15 March, President of Kazakhstan introduced a state of emergency throughout the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period from 8:00 a.m. of 16 March until 7:00 a.m. of 15 April. By 16 March, the number of cases increased by seven, making the total at the time nine, two in Almaty and seven in Nur-Sultan. On 20 March, a first case of the coronavirus was confirmed by two passengers from the Minsk-Nur-Sultan flight, which made an emergency landing in Karaganda. That same day, 8 cases were confirmed, bringing the new total to 41. From 1 March, the Ministry of Health introduced the fourth stage of strengthening. Travelers arrival from category 1a countries were placed in quarantine for 14 days, and under medical supervision for 10 days. People arriving from category 1b countries were placed in home quarantine for 14 days. By the decision of the sanitary service, these arrivals could be quarantined in a medical facility.
On 15 March, President Tokayev imposed a state of emergency from 8 am on 16 March 2020 to 7 am on 15 April 2020. He also on 17 March ordered the cancellations of both the Nowruz celebrations as well as the military parade in honor of the Second World War’s the 75th anniversary on Victory Day (9 May).For the duration of the state of emergency, the following measures and time limits were introduced:The protection of public order, the protection of especially important state and strategic, especially regime, sensitive and specially protected objects, as well as objects ensuring the vital activity of the population .
The activity of shopping and entertainment centers, cinemas, theaters, exhibitions and other objects with a large crowd of people is suspended.Quarantine is introduced, large-scale sanitary and anti-epidemic measures are carried out, including with the participation of structural units of the Ministry of Defense and internal affairs bodies operating in the field of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population.It is forbidden to conduct entertainment, sports and other public events, as well as family, commemorative events. Restrictions are established on entry into the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as on exit from its territory by all means of transport, with the exception of personnel of the diplomatic service of Kazakhstan and foreign states.
On 2 April, an entry and exit to the quarantine zone of the Karaganda Region was completely closed, and the activities of airports, air and railway stations have been discontinued.A quarantine was introduced to the cities of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semey. In addition, additional restrictive measures have been introduced in the Kordai District which are a ban on grazing and the use of public transport.On 11 May, the quarantine ended in Kazakhstan.In July a new 14-day lockdown, less strict than the earlier one, was introduced in response to rising case numbers. On July 13, President Tokayev announced that the lockdown would be extended by two weeks to last until the end of July.
To support businessmen whose financial situation worsened due to the state of emergency, the government of Kazakhstan provided an exemption from payment of taxes until 31 December 2020 which were: property tax for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs at large retail facilities, trade entertainment centers, cinemas, theaters, exhibitions, and fitness and sports facilities, land tax on agricultural lands of agricultural producers, individual income tax of individual entrepreneurs working in the generally established taxation procedure. President Tokayev also suspended interest on unfulfilled tax liabilities until 15 August 2020 and postponed the deadline for submitting tax reports for the third quarter of 2020.
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