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published on 23 November 2021 | reading time approx. 3 minutes
The government of Uzbekistan continues to take appropriate measures to combat the coronavirus, calls on the public to vaccinate, but does not take into consideration the introduction of strict quarantine measures. Despite the record number of infections recorded in Uzbekistan this summer, as statistics show (see Figure 1 below), the situation is currently improving.
Figure 1. Coronavirus incidence dynamics in Uzbekistan (compiled by authors based on data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Gazeta.UZ).1
From the moment of the first officially registered cases, persons in Uzbekistan in all public places are obliged to:
Although these measures are still relevant today, the introduction of stricter quarantine rules has not yet been called into question, which may be due to the limited financial and economic capabilities of the country.2
The current restrictions mainly concern:
From June 28 to August 10, restaurants and cafés were only allowed to open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., only in the open air. Ultimately, this restriction was relaxed due to the difficult situation for entrepreneurship. The restaurants and cafes should now be able to operate as usual again, provided that a sufficient number of employees are vaccinated. It is also recommended to allow visitors with QR codes/vaccination certificates.3
In addition, from October 1 of this year, a new rule will apply: companies whose employees have not been vaccinated with at least two doses of the vaccine (with the exception of those for which vaccination is contraindicated) must temporarily cease their activities.4
From July 17 to August 13, the performance of Friday prayers in mosques was suspended. Before that, there was also no holiday prayer dedicated to the holy Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha in mosques. From August 13 in Uzbekistan, it is allowed to hold Friday prayers in those mosques whose employees and workers have been vaccinated with at least two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, regardless of the type (with the exception of those for which vaccination is contraindicated). Accordingly, only people with an appropriate vaccination certificate or QR code are allowed into the mosques.5
On July 27 this year, a law was passed on termination of hiring/dismissal in case of refusal to vaccinate. This applies to certain population groups, with the exception of those for whom vaccination is contraindicated for health reasons.6
Since the peak of the infection cases was recorded in the Uzbek capital, Uzbeks from the regions were banned from entering Tashkent without a valid reason.7
The following vaccines against coronavirus are currently available in Uzbekistan:
Recently, a Russian-made Sputnik Light vaccine has also arrived in Uzbekistan. According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Sputnik Light is a one-component vaccine, and one dose of this vaccine is enough for a complete vaccination.8 However, this vaccine is intended only for 10,000 Uzbek migrant workers who will be involved in construction work in Russia. These migrants will be vaccinated by Russian medical staff.9
All vaccines come into the country only on the basis of a government order and are given free of charge. Private clinics may also carry out paid vaccination procedures in the country, but no private clinic has started to do so.
Across the country, since the beginning of this year, people over 65, medical workers and teachers were the first to be vaccinated on a voluntary basis. Further, the media workers and students were vaccinated voluntarily. Since June, voluntary vaccinations have also begun for persons over 18 years of age. Although at first the authorities assured that vaccination would be on a voluntary basis, mandatory vaccination was introduced, enshrined at the legislative level.
At the state level, there are no specific normative legal acts on the procedure for entering the Republic of Uzbekistan during the pandemic. Decisions about restrictions and regulations during the pandemic are mainly made by the Special Republican Commission on the Fight Against Coronavirus.
There are no special entry restrictions into the Republic of Uzbekistan, but it is only possible if there is a negative result for Coronavirus.
All people entering Uzbekistan via airports, train stations and checkpoints only need a certificate with a negative PCR test for Covid-19, which is issued in English or Russian within 72 hours before check-in for a plane or train. From March 25, 2021, foreign visitors can be admitted to the Republic of Uzbekistan without an express test if they have a PCR test certificate with a negative result from laboratories that meet the required quality. Accordingly, a list of such foreign laboratories was drawn up, the test results of which are recognized in the Republic of Uzbekistan.10
1 GAZETA.UZ: Coronavirus COVID-19: statistics for Uzbekistan and the world: https://www.gazeta.uz/ru/coronavirus-stat/
2 Details on the website: https://kun.uz/ru/news/2021/07/06/ogranicheniya-nujny-no-deneg-net-v-uzbekistane-priznali-dva-vajnyx-fakta-o-jyestkom-karantine 3 Details on the website: https://www.gazeta.uz/ru/2021/08/08/cafe/ 4 Details on the website: https://www.spot.uz/ru/2021/08/08/vaccine/ 5 Details on the website: https://uznews.uz/ru/article/33328/
6 Details on the website: https://www.gazeta.uz/ru/2021/07/27/vaccination/ 7 Details on the website: https://www.gazeta.uz/ru/2021/06/25/entrance-to-tashkent/8 Details on the official telegram channel of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan: https://t.me/ssvuz/79639 Details on the official telegram channel of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan: https://t.me/ssvuz/7963
10 List of laboratories abroad, the results of which are recognized in Uzbekistan: http://www.sanepid.uz/oz/docs/aqsh-hududidagi-tibbiyot-muassasalari-va-laboratoriyalar
Coronavirus: What you need to know
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