Azerbaijani authorities threaten to toughening quarantine measures

During the past 24 hours, Azerbaijan revealed 77 cases of coronavirus infection; and the total number of infected persons has reached 2204. For the third day in a row, the increase in the number of infected exceeds that of recovered persons; authorities attribute it to non-observance of the quarantine and did not exclude the tightening of restrictive measures.

According to the operative headquarters, 625 patients continue their treatment in hospitals; 25 of them are assessed as grave.

Mekhriban Alieva, First Vice President of Azerbaijan, has called on citizens to observe social distance and hygiene rules. According to her story, "Azerbaijan is among the countries that have survived the first and very dangerous stage of the epidemic with the least losses."

Ms Alieva has also emphasized that the virus has not yet been defeated.

The quarantine in Azerbaijan will remain until at least May 31, President Ilham Aliev has stated, admitting an extension thereof "if necessary."

Mr Aliev has treated the recent statistics as alarming. According to his version, after the quarantine was softened on April 27 and May 4, some people began behaving irresponsibly, "they don't wear masks, fail to observe distance, and behave as if the virus has been defeated."