How did the coronavirus disease affect the residents of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan?
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According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on the morning of March 25, only 55 infected with coronavirus were registered. Currently, 12.7 thousand Uzbekistan residents are in preventive quarantine, partly in hospitals, partly at homes on self-isolation.
From March 24, the country has adopted strict measures to contain the spread of coronavirus disease. In particular, from March 25, residents are prohibited from being outside without masks. The access to Tashkent from other regions is suspended for all types of transport.
At the same time, several groups of citizens, including officials, are allowed to enter Tashkent. However, everyone who comes to or leaves the capital will undergo medical examination.
For the last few days, the streets of Uzbek capital have been empty.
Metro and other types of public transportation have stopped working.
Starting March 16, all pre-school, secondary and higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan are closed for quarantine.
The government advised religious institutions to restrict public events. In turn, in mosques, the worshippers were asked to pray at home.
Tajikistan: Coronavirus Did Not Cancel the Holidays
According to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan, as of March 26, there has not been a single case of COVID-19 infection registered in Tajikistan.
From February to March 18, about 1,900 people who arrived from abroad were sent to quarantine for two weeks.
In social networks, there were complaints of citizens sent to quarantine zones. In particular, people placed in the health retreat center in Varzob district, spoke about unsanitary conditions and the lack of proper medical care.
After their complaints, on the evening of March 22, these citizens were taken to another health retreat center in Varzob district with proper conditions.
On March 20, due to the coronavirus threat, Tajikistan closed its airspace for international passenger carriers. No other measures have been taken to contain the coronavirus spread in Tajikistan.
The population is poorly informed about the coronavirus threat to the people’s lives, especially to old people and people with weakened immune systems. Unlike other countries, residents of the Tajik capital do not follow quarantine restrictions.
Elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus, also do not follow restrictions as well.
Nevertheless, some residents of Dushanbe and other regions began to wear masks on their own initiative.
On March 16, the representative office of the World Health Organization in Tajikistan recommended the government to refrain from holding public events. Contrary to this recommendation, the traditional Tajik New Year, Navruz, was widely celebrated in the country on March 21-22.
In addition, the authorities did not cancel the festive buzkashi (goat dragging game), in which dozens of horsemen competed.
This year, the festive buzkashi took place in Chavalai village on the outskirts of Dushanbe.
This article was prepared as part of the Giving Voice, Driving Change – from the Borderland to the Steppes Project.