ALMATY (KazInform) — According to the new order of Almaty City Chief Medical Officer Zhandarbek Bekshin, the organization of sports and festive events, exhibitions, forums, conferences as well as mass family gatherings is to be banned from February 1, 2021.

The ordinance also prohibits the operation of leisure facilities, betting stores, cultural facilities, theatres and cinemas. Non-scheduled intra-regional and urban (tourist) transport will also be put on hold. On weekends, the operation of shopping and entertainment centers will also be prohibited. Earlier in the briefing, Mr. Bekshin said that more and more people are being infected in cinemas and theatres.

The ordinance is due to come into effect on February 1.

Besides Almaty, the cities of Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana) and Akmola, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan remain in the “red zone” in terms of the spread of coronavirus infection as of January 28. Karaganda region is in the “yellow zone”, while the rest of the regions are in the “green zone”. The “red zone” imposes strict restriction measures.