COVID-19: Special Quarantine Regime Extended through January 31, 2021; Strict Quarantine Regime in Effect December 14, 2020 – January 18, 2021
On December 8, 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan announced that the special quarantine regime to stop the spread of COVID-19 will remain in effect through January 31, 2021. Due to the high level of infection in Azerbaijan in recent months, a strict special quarantine regime will be in effect throughout the country from 00:00 on December 14, 2020 to 00:00 on January 18, 2021. The use of medical masks is mandatory in all indoor and outdoor areas of the country during the special quarantine regime.
Avoid Crowds, Public Places
Unless absolutely necessary, individuals should avoid crowds, public places, and close contact with other people, and should maintain social distance indoors and outdoors. As of December 9, according to the Cabinet of Ministers website, there were over 60,000 active cases of COVID-19 in Azerbaijan.
The Cabinet of Ministers has called on everyone to support the measures taken by the Government of Azerbaijan to prevent the spread of the virus; to strictly adhere to the quarantine requirements in the fight against the COVID-19, and for strict adherence to the requirements of self-isolation and the implementation of necessary treatment measures upon first experiencing symptoms of the disease.
SMS-Permission System and City/Region Movement Restrictions
Between December 14 and January 18, an SMS-permission system to leave one’s place of residence will be in effect in the cities of Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja, Mingachevir, and Shirvan, as well as the Absheron region and the Lankaran, Masalli, Jalilabad, Sheki, Zagatala, Guba, Khachmaz, Yevlakh, Barda, Bilasuvar and Ismayilli district centers (except villages and settlements). You should carry your personal I.D. with you at all times when outside in case you are stopped by the authorities.
SMS-permission can be issued once a day for 3 hours, and is required to leave one’s residence to purchase food and other daily necessities and medicines (from grocery stores, supermarkets, markets and pharmacies), to use public services, banking, postal and other services, as well as for urgent medical necessity or scheduled treatment. For such medical needs, the permit is issued within 3 hours, taking into account the distance between the district and the destination address, the duration of the treatment procedure, and the period of return, determined by a certificate issued by a doctor. You can use a relative or friend’s phone to obtain this permission using your own State Migration Service registration number.
SMS requests should be sent to 8103. The number 1 should precede a registration number if a person wants to go out for a medical reasons. Digit 2 for any other purpose. For those who have a Temporary Residency Permit the SMS should look like: 2 MYI1111111. For those who have a Permanent Residency Permit it should be: 2 DYI1111111. Those who are visiting Azerbaijan and have registered with the State Migration Service should use the following formatting: 2 MOM1111111. An MOM registration number can be obtained from www.migration.az.gov. PLEASE NOTE: MYI and DYI abbreviations can be case sensitive and if your SMS won’t go through, try writing it with an “i”. The e-Tebib application may also be used to receive permission to go out. For SMS system-related questions, call 9108. For e-Tebib application questions call 8113.
Movement into and out of the same above-named cities and regions is prohibited, unless one is working for an organization or entity that qualifies for an exception, and only if your information has been entered by your employer into the “icaze.e-gov.az” portal.
Persons with tickets for international and domestic flights are allowed to move from their place of residence on the basis of their tickets, and persons entering the country from the state border are allowed to enter their place of residence on the basis of their stamps.
To attend the funeral of a close relative, each person must obtain permission through the 102 Service – Call Center of the Duty Units Management Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Mass Transit and Restaurant Restrictions
Restrictions on passenger transportation in the Baku metro are extended until 06:00 on January 31, 2021, as are restrictions on public transport on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the country.
All commercial establishments, public catering establishments, including restaurants, cafes and tea houses, are only allowed to provide delivery services to customers or sell them online.
As of December 9, 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic confirmed 60,470 active cases of COVID-19 within its borders. There have been 1,755 confirmed deaths. The government has acknowledged that community spread of the virus is occurring and that COVID-19 infections are present in all regions of Azerbaijan.
Martial Law and Curfew Remain in Effect
Curfew remains in effect from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am (21:00 to 06:00) every day in Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Naftalan, Absheron, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Agjabadi, Beylagan, Agdam, Barda, Tartar, Goranboy, Goygol, Dashkasan, Gadabay, Tovuz, Shamkir, Gazakh and Agstafa districts.
Passenger Traffic to and from Azerbaijan Remains Restricted
Land traffic in and out of Azerbaijan remains closed. Special, private, and charter flights continue to operate.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and Turkish Airlines are offering multiple weekly flights between Baku and Turkey. Ukraine International Airlines will run a charter flight December 14, 21, and 28 from Baku to Kyiv for Ukrainian citizens and travelers with a Ukrainian residence permit. Limited flights to Moscow and Doha may also be available. Flight reservations should be made directly through the airlines. Please double check with the airline that scheduled flights are in fact running. If your travel has been disrupted, please contact your airline.
Negative COVID-19 Test Required for Passengers Flying to or from Azerbaijan
Passengers must undergo a PCR, not rapid, COVID-19 test and receive negative results within 48 hours of departure of their flight to Azerbaijan. This also applies to all passengers flying out of Azerbaijan, even if their destination is a country that does not require a negative COVID-19 test as a condition of entry. Please review the announcement from the Cabinet of Ministers in detail before planning your travel. Be sure to have a paper copy of your test results available for inspection at the airport. The following labs are accredited by the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) to offer COVID-19 tests:
· Bona Dea International Hospital / Inci Laboratories
o Address: Bulbul Avenue, 40 , Baku
o Contact number: +994 51 229 49 80
o Home testing available
· Referans Clinical Laboratory Centre
o Address: MirzabalaMammadzade Street, Baku
o Contact number: +994 70 653 00 33
o Home testing available
· Memorial Clinic
o Address: GaraGarayev Avenue, 38a.
o Contact number: +994 12 520 30 40, Baku
o Home testing available
o Center for Control of Particularly Dangerous Infections
o Caspian International Hospital
o 31 Badamdar Street, Baku
o +994 12 502 50 15/16/18
o UltraLab Center
o Address: 156C Asif Maharramov
o Contact Number: +994 12 440 13 00
With Limited Exceptions, Only Azerbaijani Citizens Allowed on Flights into Azerbaijan
AZAL announced that in addition to Azerbaijani citizens, the following individuals will be permitted to fly to Azerbaijan:
• Heads and staff of foreign embassies and consulates accredited in the Republic of Azerbaijan and their family members;
• Foreign citizens, one of whose parents, spouse or child is a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
• Foreign citizens who have a work permit in Azerbaijan;
• Foreign citizens with a temporary or permanent residence permit in Azerbaijan;
• Foreign students studying in one of Azerbaijan’s higher education institutions.
Quarantine Measures in Azerbaijan: 14-day Quarantine for ALL Arrivals
The government of Azerbaijan has implemented enhanced screening and quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions, including additional restrictions on travel inside Azerbaijan, to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.
Currently all arrivals to Azerbaijan, including U.S. citizens, are required to complete a 14-day self-quarantine in their own accommodation, regardless of travel origin.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice advising travelers to avoid all travel to Azerbaijan.
Actions to Take:
· Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
· For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
· Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
· Check with your airlines or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
· Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Azerbaijan.
· Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Baku, Azerbaijan
111 Azadlig Avenue
AZ1007 Baku, Azerbaijan
(994 12) 488 3300
U.S. Embassy Baku website
· State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
· Azerbaijan Country Information
· Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.