COVID Digest: Quarantine continues to affect services and transport
In the first month of this year, the basic sectors of the economy have a tendency to gradually improve their indicators, however, the presence and strengthening of quarantine measures continues to affect the service and transport sectors. A stable trend has been noted in the manufacturing industry. Since the beginning of the year, the growth rate has been 3 percent," the speaker said.
According to him, the main engines of growth were metallurgical production - 3.1%, including the production of non-ferrous metals - 6.6%; mechanical engineering - 16.2%, including automobile industry - 21.2%; chemical industry - 12.8%; construction materials production - 11.8% and pharmaceuticals - 4%.
The volume of construction increased by 7 percent, housing commissioning - by 9.4 percent, or about 801 thousand square meters. In agriculture, production increased by 2.5 percent. The main factor behind the slowdown of the national economy was the mining sector. The reason for the limited dynamics was the need to fulfill obligations by Kazakhstan to reduce oil production within the framework of the OPEC + agreements," Mamin added.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted that it was the fulfillment of these obligations that influenced the decrease in the index of the physical volume of the industry by 12.3%.
At the same time, high growth rates were recorded in coal production. The growth of investments in fixed assets, excluding mining, amounted to 25.5 percent. In the service sector, high growth rates were recorded in the information and communications industry, 9.4 percent. The stability of the economy allowed to keep the unemployment rate in range of up to 5 percent and prevent a significant decline in real incomes of the population," - concluded Askar Mamin.
686 new COVID-19 cases in Kazakhstan, total at 203, 259
Over the past 24 hours Kazakhstan recorded 686 new COVID-19-positive cases, coronavirus2020.kz special website reads.
53 fresh cases were detected in Nur-Sultan, 107 in Almaty, 7 in Shymkent, 72 in Akmola region, 4 in Aktobe region, 49 in Almaty region, 25 in Atyrau region, 85 in East Kazakhstan, 8 in Zhambyl region, 47 in West Kazakhstan, 30 in Karaganda region, 71 in Kostanay region, 4 in Kyzylorda region, 3 in Mangistau region, 80 in Pavlodar region, 37 in North Kazakhstan, 4 in Turkestan region bringing the country’s coronavirus tally to 203,259.
COVID-19-like pneumonia: 6 new cases, 2 victims
As of February 14 Kazakhstan confirmed 6 more COVID-19-like pneumonia cases, 204 recovered, while 2 people died, сoronavirus2020.kz special website reads.
Since August 1 Kazakhstan confirmed 48,700 cases, 602 deaths and 39,478 recoveries.
255 coronavirus patients in critical condition
22,733 people in Kazakhstan are being treated for coronavirus infection, 5,090 of them are staying at hospitals, the Kazakh Healthcare Ministry’s Telegram Channel reads.
255 patients are in critical condition, 47 are in extremely critical condition, while 38 are on life support.
7 pregnant with COVID-19 staying hospital in N Kazakhstan
60-65 patients were daily admitted to the infectious diseases hospitals in November, December and first half of January in North Kazakhstan," head of the healthcare department Nurlan Aimanov said. Sometimes up to 70 people were hospitalized there.
Currently, hospitalization rate keeps on decreasing. For example, 28 people were hospitalized on February 14. There are 78 patients are the new infectious diseases hospital, 94 at city hospital #1, 67 at hospital #3, 68 are staying at the phthisiopulmonology hospital. There are 7 pregnant women with COVID-19 at the perinatal centre, 20 at the multi-field hospital, who were operated on, have underlying conditions, etc.
There are 20 patients at the infectious diseases hospital in Taiynsha district. An infectious diseases unit was closed in Kyzylzhar district early February. All patients were taken to Petropavlovsk infectious diseases hospitals.
One region still in COVID-19 ‘red zone’ in Kazakhstan
As of February 16, 2021, Pavlodar region still remains the only area in Kazakhstan to be in the "red zone" on the State’s coronavirus map.
Nur-Sultan city and Akmola, West Kazakhstan, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan regions are placed in the COVID-19 'yellow zone'.
The remaining regions remain in the 'green zone'.
Notably, tough restrictions are in place in the areas in the 'red zone', whereas the areas in 'yellow zone' keep the exiting quarantine measures with greater control over their observation. Restrictions may be eased in the areas in the 'green zone', where the COVID-19 situation is stable.
Kazakhstanis tests positive for COVID-19 upon arrival from Egypt
19 international flights from Maldives, the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan arrived in Kazakhstan, carrying 2,094 passengers, on February 15, 2021.
10 flights with 899 passengers on board (123 without PCR test certificates) landed at the airport in Nur-Sultan city. Six flights with 916 passengers on board (174 no PCR test certificates) landed at the airport in Almaty city. 2 flights with 144 passenger on board (two without PCR tests) landed at the airport in the city of Aktau. One flight carrying 135 passengers (84 without COVID-19 PCR tests) landed at the airport in Uralsk city.
Of 2,094 air passengers arrived on February 15, 2021, 1,711 had PCR test certificates with a negative result, while 383 Kazakhstanis had no such certificates.
The passengers with no COVID-19 PCR test certificates were tested for the disease and are in quarantine facilities.
Out of 557 Kazakhstanis arrived in the country on February 14, 2021, one who was on Sharm El-Sheikh-Nur-Sultan flight tested positive.
Source: Kazinform News Agency / Kazpravda.kz
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Photo Exhibition "Unexplored Kazakhstan" Opened in the Bulgarian City of Plovdiv
Images | Kazakh MFA
At the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in Plovdiv, the official opening of the thematic photo exhibition "Unexplored Kazakhstan" dedicated to the nature and tourism potential of our country took place on the Central Square of the city. The event was attended by the leadership of the city and the region, representatives of the local intelligentsia, the Kazakh diaspora, the Bulgarian public and the media, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
In his welcoming speech, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Bulgaria Viktor Temirbayev stressed that Kazakhstan is a country with an extremely rich history and culture, located in the heart of Eurasia, at the crossroads of the world's oldest civilizations, at the intersection of transport arteries, economic and social, cultural and ideological ties between East and West, South and North, between Europe and Asia. The Kazakh diplomat noted that all this served as a powerful foundation in the formation of modern Kazakhstan as a strong, independent and dynamically developing state.
In his welcoming speech, Deputy Mayor of Plovdiv Plamen Panov highlighted the achievements in the development of Kazakhstan, noted the high level of bilateral relations. In addition, the Deputy Mayor spoke highly about the fascinating nature of Kazakhstan.
In turn, Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan Plamen Panchev stressed that the vector of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the regions of Kazakhstan and Bulgaria will continue to develop for the benefit of our people.
The guests of the event were able to enjoy photographs of unique nature, landscapes of picturesque landscapes, flora and fauna of Kazakhstan.
This photo exhibition will be open to residents and visitors of the city until April 30, 2024.
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria, which is more than 8000 years old, leading its chronicle from prehistoric times to the present day, and is the most dynamically developing center of Southern Bulgaria.
The Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in Plovdiv has been open since December 15, 2023.
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Over 300 babies born in flood-stricken areas in Kazakhstan
325 babies were born in the regions of Kazakhstan that declared recently a local state of emergency due to flooding. 387 pregnant women are under the doctor’s care, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Most babies were born in Kostanay, Aktobe and West Kazakhstan regions since the beginning of the floods, Aigerim Urazaliyeva, the Kazakh Healthcare Ministry’s official spokesperson, said.
5,035 children from flood-hit regions are staying at temporary shelters of which 62 were taken to hospitals.
She noted over 1,000 people sought psychological assistance.
7,617 flood victims have chronic diseases. All of them are monitored by health workers, she added.
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2 schools shifted to online learning amid flooding in N Kazakhstan
Images | Depositphotos
347 pupils of two schools switched to online learning amid flooding in North Kazakhstan, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Schools were temporarily shifted to online teaching in Zarechnyi and Pokrovka villages as the River Yessil overflowed.
All villagers of Zarechnyi were evacuated amid flood risks. Ice jams triggered flooding in Pokrovka village leaving tens of homes on Beregovaya Street underwater.
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First Kazakh Senate Speaker passes away
Images | senate.parlam.kz
An outstanding statesman, the first Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan (1996-1999), Baigeldi Omirbek has passed away today in Astana, Kazinform News Agency cites the Kazakh Senate’s press service.
Baigeldi Omirbek was born in 1939 in Dzhambul region, KazSSR.
Baigeldi Omirbek served as the deputy of the Parliament of Kazakhstan of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th convocations. He worked at the Senate for more than 16 years.
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Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China officially opens in Beijing
Images | Kunsultan Otarbai/Kazinform
The Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China has been opened in a grand ceremony at the China National Opera House in Beijing, Kazinform News Agency reports.
As part of the ceremony, an ethno-auyl (village) and the cultural events are being presented before the China National Opera House building.
Addressing the guests and participants of the event were Deputy Prime Minister - Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Li Shulei, Kazakh Sport and Tourism Minister Yermek Marzhikpayev and Chinese Culture and Tourism Minister Sun Yeli.
Opening the festive gala concert was the theatrical choreographic performance ‘Yer saltanaty’ by the soloists of the Abay Opera House, artists of the Astana Ballet Theatre and the ‘Shattyq’ Dance Theatre.
People's artist of Kazakhstan Roza Rymbaeva, honored artist of Kazakhstan Mayra Mukhamedkyzy, opera singer Zarina Altynbaeva, ethno-rock group ‘Ulytau’, choir group of Abai Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, ensembles ‘Serper’ and ‘Sazgen Sazy’ and the ballet troupe ‘Astana Ballet’ will take part in the concert dedicated to the opening of the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China.
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