Healthcare Ministry compared the current epidemic situation to the COVID-19 pandemic

Ulpan Sabi

©️ Tengrinews.kz / Alikhan Sariyev

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan has no grounds to return to the restrictions that were in place during the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Healthcare reported.

Epidemiological situation in Kazakhstan

Acute Respiratory Viral Infections (ARVI)

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Healthcare, since September 1 of this year, 1,863,935 cases of ARVI have been registered in the country. Of these:

Astana – 201,949 cases;
Almaty – 222,047 cases;
Shymkent – 132,422 cases;
Almaty Region – 128,443 cases;
Zhambyl Region – 124,457 cases;
Karaganda Region – 114,843 cases;
Turkestan Region – 112,687 cases;
Pavlodar Region – 105,621 cases;
In other regions – from 19,000 to 99,062 cases.

Influenza

“Since the beginning of the epidemiological season, 1,253 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza have been registered in the country. Of them, influenza A (H3N2), or Hong Kong flu — 1,250 cases, and influenza A (H1N1), or swine flu — 3 cases,” the Ministry of Healthcare told Tengrinews.kz in response to an official inquiry.

By region:

Astana – 120 cases;
Almaty – 13 cases;
Shymkent – 137 cases;
Kyzylorda Region – 131 cases;
Zhetysu Region – 130 cases;
Turkestan Region – 128 cases;
Mangystau Region – 123 cases;
Other regions – 15 to 85 cases.

Earlier, First Vice Minister of Healthcare Timur Sultangaziyev reported that 2 million people have fallen ill in Kazakhstan since the start of the current epidemiological season.

According to official data, Kazakhstan registers up to 4 million ARVI cases annually, and up to 2,000 influenza cases.

“The epidemiological situation regarding ARVI and influenza in Kazakhstan is developing within the typical seasonal pattern for the autumn–winter period,” the ministry added.

Do we need masks?

The current epidemiological situation is considered “controlled,” the Ministry of Health said.

“The introduction of mandatory mask-wearing in public places is not being considered. However, for prevention purposes, we recommend that the population use medical masks in crowded areas during the seasonal rise in ARVI and influenza,” the ministry stated.

This means wearing masks is not mandatory, but it is recommended for your safety if you are in crowded places such as shopping malls, train stations, and airports. Medical facilities, however, introduced a mask mandate on October 1, as the risk of virus transmission there is significantly higher.

What about restrictions?

Restrictive measures, according to the Code on Public Health and Healthcare System, are introduced in Kazakhstan “only in case of a sharp deterioration in the epidemiological situation.” The decision is made by the Chief State Sanitary Doctor.

“At present, there are no grounds to return to large-scale restrictive measures used during the pandemic. The current epidemiological situation for ARVI and influenza is significantly different from the pandemic situation of 2020,” the Ministry of Healthcare said.

They provided the following reasons:

The viruses are well-studied; their seasonal patterns and transmission routes are known.
Effective influenza vaccination is available, forming population immunity and reducing disease severity.
The healthcare system remains capable of handling the current load and providing timely medical care and preventive measures.

According to the ministry, these factors ensure stable control of the epidemiological situation and do not require the introduction of restrictions similar to those implemented during the pandemic.

Recommendations for the ARVI and influenza season

To prevent illness, the population is advised to:

Get vaccinated against influenza in a timely manner;
Follow personal hygiene rules, including regular handwashing;
Regularly ventilate rooms and perform wet cleaning;
Avoid crowded places during epidemic peaks;
Keep children at home if symptoms appear and avoid sending them to schools or kindergartens.