Major cities in Azerbaijan will reimpose a brief coronavirus lockdown this weekend, officials said Thursday, as infections surged after the Caucasus nation eased restrictions last week. Prime Minister Ali Asadov justified the new confinement measures by pointing out that the relaxation of restrictions last week "had led to an increase in new infections." On Wednesday, health authorities reported a record 325 new cases. Overall, the oil-rich ex-Soviet nation of around 10 million people has so far reported 6,260 cases of the coronavirus and 76 deaths. Asadov said the lockdown would be re-imposed midnight Saturday in a number of cities including the capital Baku, Sumgait and Ganja and could then be extended for another two days. "Citizens will only be allowed to leave their homes for urgent medical treatment and funerals of close relatives," Asadov said in a statement. Public transport and all non-essential businesses -- with the exception of the oil industry and cargo transport -- will be closed during the quarantine, he added. On March 24, Azerbaijan imposed a state of emergency to contain the outbreak. It was then lifted -- along with most of the anti-virus restrictions -- on May 31. eg-im/as/cdw