On 26 March, 29 new cases of coronavirus infection have been recorded in Azerbaijan, bringing the total tally to 104 in the country, reported APA. 

The country also reported on the third death from the virus. It was a 60-year old Azerbaijani citizen who returned from Turkey on 12 March and was admitted to the special regime hospital with a high body temperature and respiratory failure. His chronic bronchitis was detected during medical examination.

Despite such reports, Deputy Prime Minister and Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Ali Ahmadov is convinced that Azerbaijan will overcome the pandemic with “minimal losses“. He highlighted the establishment of volunteer services in the country to combat the virus.

“In connection with the quarantine regime, President Ilham Aliyev noted the importance of the active work of volunteers in providing assistance to citizens in need. NAP volunteers helped 2,500 lonely people in need of support,” he said. Ahmadov added that in connection with the quarantine regime, NAP volunteers, together with employees of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population also launched a campaign to support elderly and lonely people. Over 200 volunteers in Baku and over 550 throughout Azerbaijan were mobilized as part of this campaign. 

Azerbaijan is the only South Caucasus country which has not declared a state of emergency. The country is currently under a special quarantine regime imposed on 23 March (Caucasus Watch reported).