Increase in pneumonia hospitalizations in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz - Hospitals are overwhelmed with pneumonia patients in Kazakhstan. This was stated by Botagoz Kaukenova, the head of Medsupport.kz and a doctor. According to her, there is also an increase in patients with positive PCR tests for coronavirus.
In her post, the doctor noted that, according to the World Health Organization, from June 24 to July 21, the percentage of positive PCR tests for COVID-19 rose from 7.4% to 13%. In Kazakhstan, this figure has reached 21-22%.

"I hear that many hospitals are overwhelmed with pneumonia patients. I was also informed that compared to 2023, the number of hospitalizations has nearly doubled in recent months—specifically, it has increased by 86% compared to the same months last year (if I calculated the percentages correctly)," Kaukenova wrote on her Instagram page.

Tengrinews.kz has sought clarification from the Ministry of Healthcare. The ministry confirmed the increase in pneumonia cases. According to the department, over the past six months, Kazakhstan has registered 49,704 cases of pneumonia, which is a 19.2% increase compared to the same period last year.

"Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasmas. Coronavirus infection is not predominant in the structure of the disease. The increase in cases is related to seasonal climate changes. There is no shortage of hospital beds," the Ministry of Healthcare reported.

The epidemiological situation regarding coronavirus is stable, according to the Ministry of Healthcare. Since the beginning of 2024, 1,409 cases of COVID-19 have been registered, with no fatalities. The incidence has decreased eightfold compared to last year.
There was also a case when the Ministry of Health’s Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of Kazakhstan has confirmed that circulating reports about upcoming mass restrictions related to COVID-19 are false.