Citizens given opportunity to participate in face-to-face court hearings, if there is a request from parties — Yeraly Tugzhanov

During a briefing on the implementation of the President's Address to the people of Kazakhstan “Unity of People and Systemic Reforms — Solid Foundation for the Country's Prosperity”, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yeraly Tugzhanov answered questions from representatives of the media.

Thus, journalists were interested in the issue of banning attendance at official events with the participation of government agencies, etc. Answering this question, Tugzhanov recalled that Nur-Sultan is currently in the red zone. Also, regarding the holding of events, including solemn ones, there were a lot of requests from representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, who were left without work during the emergency. In connection with the stabilization of the epidemiological situation, permission was given to carry out a number of measures in compliance with strict conditions.

“First of all, everyone should have a green status on Ashyq. Second, the occupancy rate should be no more than 100 people, if the region is in the green zone, if in the red — only 50 people. In short, taking into account the epidemiological situation, we must gradually return to the dock-like life,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister told how the epidemiological situation looks like in Kazakhstan today and whether it is worth panicking because of COVID-19.

“You saw that a number of countries, in particular, Singapore, Japan — no one today panics because of covid. It's time to live with covid. We must gradually move to a normal life. In short, I think we must learn to live with coronavirus infection. I think that, according to the world's leading experts, soon, probably, the coronavirus will become a seasonal viral disease, such as ARVI, influenza,” said Yeraly Tugzhanov.

Also, according to him, given the large-scale vaccination in Kazakhstan, a certain collective immunity has been formed.

“Today 7.5 million Kazakhstanis have actually been vaccinated. I think this is a serious indicator. It is these indicators that give us the opportunity to gradually return to life before the pandemic. Therefore, you see every measure that is taken at the Intergovernmental Commission in relation to the opening of individual facilities and flights. I think this is a natural process. But in no case should we relax. We see a certain tension in neighboring states, therefore, of course, we must and must observe all precautions,” he concluded.

As for the admission of journalists to state institutions, Tugzhanov made it clear that today there are no restrictions on access to information for media representatives and ordinary Kazakhstanis. At the same time, quarantine restrictions on the personal presence of journalists are not censorship and an obstacle to access to information. According to him, all the events held in the Government and Parliament are covered in the media, broadcast online, because despite the stabilization of the epidemiological situation, sanitary requirements (observance of social distance, mask regime) have not been canceled.

Yeraly Tugzhanov also commented on the situation with non-payment of maternity benefits due to tax breaks during the KVI pandemic.

“This issue is under consideration by the Parliament. Measures have been taken against the people who admitted this situation. By the end of this year, the final decision will be made,” he said.

The next question concerned the conduct of trials in person, namely, why there is a ban on such actions, if mass events are allowed in the country.

“Conducting online court sessions began long before the introduction of quarantine related to KVI. In general, at present, the entrance to the buildings of state bodies and organizations is carried out by means of Ashyq in the presence of the "green" status of employees and visitors," Tugzhanov noted.

He also added that citizens are given the opportunity to participate in face-to-face court hearings, if there is a request from the parties.

Answering the question whether automation and digitalization threaten Kazakhstanis with the loss of jobs, the Deputy Prime Minister said that this trend does not mean that professions are disappearing, but rather a professional reorientation or transformation into other specialties is taking place.

“New specialties that are in demand on the labor market today certainly require building a qualification system,” he said.

Regarding the work and production capacity of the Zhambyl plant for the production of the domestic vaccine QazVac, Yeraly Tugzhanov said that at the present time the installation and commissioning works have been fully completed at the plant, and clean rooms are being validated. The staff of the research institute was fully trained.

Tugzhanov recalled that initially the plant produced 50 thousand doses of the Kazakh vaccine per month, from April — 100 thousand.

“In August, 650 thousand doses of QazVac were produced on the basis of the Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems. Until the end of September, the regions will receive 750 thousand doses, which are bottled at the plant. This suggests that the plant is already reaching certain capacities. In the future, we can fully meet domestic demand and even export,” continued Yeraly Tugzhanov.

With regard to the effectiveness of QazVac against the delta strain, the studies have shown that the vaccine is effective. On behalf of the Government, the scientific institute has carried out serious work to adapt and replace the Wuhan strain of coronavirus with Delta. And in October, all QazVac vaccines will already be released with the delta strain. To date, pathological materials have been obtained for this strain, and it is planned to conduct a study of the strain within two weeks. Next, an assessment of the effectiveness of QazVac in relation to the delta strain will be carried out.

“This is the work that is currently under control, and the research institutes are proactively carrying out all the necessary measures aimed at ensuring the protection and safety of the population of our country,” he summed up.

Further, the evaluation of the effectiveness of QazVac in relation to the Eta-strain will be carried out.

Among other things, Yeraly Tugzhanov called on the parents of schoolchildren to take responsibility for the sanitary requirements in connection with the return of children to traditional education.

“I would ask parents to be very vigilant and to comply with all the necessary requirements that exist today for the sanitary regime. All children fell ill with CVI during the holidays. Therefore, I would ask that we all work together on this issue. This is a big request. Because education is an extremely important component. Over the past year, the level of education has declined. This happened not only in Kazakhstan, but all over the world. Knowing about the risks in this matter, this year they switched to offline mode in the education system. Let's support each other and work together,” Yeraly Tugzhanov said during the briefing.

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