Health Official Discusses Plans for a Potential Resurgence of COVID-19
Words from Health Minister Alexei Tsoi on Kazakhstan's Preparedness for Potential Coronavirus Surge
Alexei Tsoi, the acclaimed Minister of Health in Kazakhstan, has discussed the nation's readiness for a possible resurgence of the coronavirus. This information is shared by Almaty.tv, and also backed by Tengrinews.kz.
Tsoi points out that, at present, Kazakhstan's coronavirus situation is fairly stable. However, numerous nations within the CIS and Europe are grappling with an upsurge in cases.
"Even though our figures look good, we're still beefing up hospital beds, purchasing meds, and stocking up on personal protective gear, including masks. We're bracing ourselves for the second wave. Needless to say, we're hoping it doesn't materialize. Our top priority is to ensure social distancing and mask-wearing.
According to him, 30% of infections can be traced back to inconsistent mask-wearing and 40% are due to overlooked social distancing. Unfortunately, our fellow citizens don't always wear masks, particularly in crowded areas. Tsoi urges everyone to adhere to this rule."
He underlines that each one of us holds the power to influence the situation.
"At the moment, the healthcare system's principal role is to prepare for the second wave and engage in preventive and educational work. The rest depends on us - on how often we mingle and whether or not we wear masks", said the minister.
The international context reveals that the Pandemic Fund's third Call for Proposals (March 2025) underscores the importance of enhancing early warning systems, laboratory networks, and public health workforce capacity as strategies for addressing future pandemics[1][3]. Regional neighbors like Turkmenistan, despite proclaiming zero COVID-19 cases, maintain restrictive measures, signifying ongoing caution[5]. UN Peacebuilding and social policy reports (April 2025) also highlight cross-cutting strategies for crisis resilience, albeit not explicitly connected to Kazakhstan's COVID-19 plans[2][4]. Recent statements from Minister Tsoi, however, are not present in the cited sources, making official government communications or ministry announcements the key vehicle for up-to-date insights into Kazakhstan's strategies.
- Minister Tsoi emphasizes the importance of personal protective gear, including masks, to prepare for a potential second wave of the coronavirus in Kazakhstan.
- Inconsistent mask-wearing and overlooked social distancing account for 70% of coronavirus infections, according to Tsoi.
- Tsoi urges everyone to follow the rule of wearing masks to reduce the risk of virus transmission, stating that the role of the healthcare system is to prepare for the second wave and engage in preventive and educational work.
- The minister emphasizes that each individual's actions impact the COVID-19 situation, citing science, health-and-wellness, and mental-health as areas where adherence to guidelines is crucial.
