COVID-19 cases grew 7 times after lift of strict quarantine restrictions - Tokayev

AKIPRESS.COM - President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a video conference with government members, heads of government agencies, mayors of cities and region governors on June 29, reports the president's press service. The President noted that strict quarantine measures delayed pandemic spread. After the state of emergency was lifted, restrictions were loosened, he said.
"Since we lifted restrictions on May 11, the number of coronavirus infections has grown 7 times. The situation is connected with shortcomings in work of government agencies. The government systems on central and local levels did not prepare to function effectively without emergency situation. The interdepartmental commission did not cope with its task. The Health Ministry did not provide coordination of actions between the central government and local authorities," the President said.
The order to extend the state of emergency up to May 11 was signed on April 27.
Kazakhstan has so far confirmed 21,819 COVID-19 cases. The death toll from coronavirus infection reached 188.