Media Review for January 7

The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the likelihood of a third wave of the virus, the need to revise customs duties on car imports, an increase in the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel and the impact of this on increasing the cost of utilities are topics of today's media.

According to the Azerbaijan newspaper, the strict quarantine regime has been extended in Azerbaijan until January 18, and today the amount allocated as social compensation for a more sensitive group of the population is $ 2.5 billion. Preparations for vaccination are underway.

The website Bizimyoinfo.az cites the opinion of the pharmacologist Mushfig Huseynov, according to which the decrease in the number of infected people to 300 is a false figure, since the number of tests has also decreased.

In the coming days, the number of infected people will increase to 1,500-2,000. However, we should not be afraid of this, since after January 15 the second wave will decline. At the end of January, the numbers may again reach 200-400 infected, but for the winter period this is normal.

In his opinion, the third wave is expected in March.

The website Yenisabah.az writes that the Foundation for State Support to the Media under the President announced that large-scale reforms in the field of information, communication and media activities will begin in Azerbaijan in the coming days. On the basis of the Fund, it is planned to create a new structure with broader powers.

A bill regulating media activities will be presented to parliament.

According to expert Gulu Maharramli, so far serious steps in this area are especially invisible. He believes that the most successful step was to remove the regulators from working with the media. However, the system still works as before. He expressed doubts about the adoption of a new law on media, but believes that certain changes will be made to the law.

The website Redaktor.az discusses with experts the possibility of raising the price of utilities due to the rise in prices for gasoline and diesel fuel. The experts believe that the cost of utilities will still rise. In fact, most utilities are subsidized, and additional costs are written off to the balance sheet of enterprises in the form of losses. The recorded damage is also compensated for by the state. The experts believe that the next step is to increase the cost of gas and electricity.