Azerbaijan to begin gradually lifting quarantine restrictions
Azerbaijan will begin to ease COVID-19 restrictions today, as the country seeks to gradually restart its economy.
Azerbaijan’s national quarantine, initially imposed on March 24, was extended in mid-April to May 4, but the country’s slowing infection rate has prompted the government to approve a gradual lifting of restrictions. With a population of nearly 10 million, Azerbaijan has only reported 1,600 cases. While schools will remain closed, many small businesses will be allowed to open.
The decision is welcomed by a faltering Azeri economy, which is reportedly losing an average of $80 million per day during the shutdown. Revenues from crude oil, which made up over 80% of Azeri exports in 2017, have dropped significantly in April. The country has avoided a more drastic GDP decline by selling central bank foreign exchange reserves, but this approach cannot cushion the economy indefinitely.
Azerbaijan’s gradual lifting of restrictions aims to initiate a stable economic recovery while avoiding a second wave of infections. Government officials have assured that any resurgence in cases, even after the quarantine ends on May 4, will be answered by an appropriate re-tightening of regulations. If all goes as planned, Azerbaijan could slowly but safely emerge from the crisis, becoming a regional model for appropriately balancing economic recovery with public health.
Wake up smarter with an assessment of the stories that will make headlines in the next 24 hours. Download The Daily Brief.
