Baku residents accept stricter COVID restrictions

The tightening of quarantine in Baku has coincided with the martial law restrictions and the introduction of the curfew, but townspeople believe the quarantine is reasonable.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in connection with the increase in cases of COVID-19 infection, since October 19, Azerbaijani authorities have tightened the quarantine measures. In particular, the Baku metro is closed; schoolchildren and students will go on vacations; and most of enterprise workers will switch to remote working regime. The authorities have advised people over 65 not to go outside unless absolutely necessary.

The tightening of quarantine has created problems for returning home from work, said Samira Sultanova, a bank employee who lives in Baku. "The country is actually fighting on two fronts – with coronavirus and in the real war in Karabakh," she has noted.

"Of course, I work less and earn less now. But I don't even want to think about money. All our attention is now on the front," said Seyidaga Agaev, an elderly Baku resident, who works as a private taxi driver.

Gunai Ibragimova, a psychologist, does not complain about restrictions. "Now, due to hostilities, almost no one complains about the quarantine. People's attention is focused on events at the front. Positive emotions from good news outweigh the difficulties and discomfort of restrictions. True, many are still irresponsible and do not wear medical masks, but people have to take care of their health themselves," she believes.