COVID-19 pandemic in Tajikistan

2020 coronavirus pandemic in Tajikistan
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	Tajikistan
Confirmed cases	0
Recovered	0
Deaths	0

There are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tajikistan. An article in The Diplomat raised questions about Tajikistan's lack of reported coronavirus cases.

Tajikistan has been one of few countries to continue professional sporting matches during the pandemic, they have been cancelled in many countries.

Timeline

February

On February 10, a Somon Air charter flight flew to Wuhan, Hubei, China to evacuate the fifty-four citizens of Tajikistan in the city. The flight carried humanitarian cargo including medical supplies from Tajikistan to Wuhan.

March

Tajikistan initially blocked the entry of nationals of 35 countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. On March 3, 2020, Tajikistan reduced the ban to five countries: China, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, and Italy. On March 4, some mosques in the capital city Dushanbe asked worshipers not to attend Friday prayers. A rush to stockpile food led to price hikes and shortages of flour and other staples. On March 5, the Health and Social Welfare Ministry said that there is enough food in Tajikistan to feed the country's population for two years. President Emomali Rahmon assured Tajiks there was no need to panic-buy food, but stockpiling continued. Tajikistan asked people to avoid public gatherings and mosque attendance. As of March 10, 1,583 Tajik citizens who arrived from China, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran and Afghanistan after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 1,147 had already been discharged. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. As of March 14, 1,603 Tajik citizens who arrived from China, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran and Afghanistan after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 1,280 had already been discharged. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country.

As of March 18, there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus infections in Tajikistan and plans to celebrate Nowruz had not been canceled. In late March, border closings in Russia and Central Asia were preventing Tajik seasonal migrant workers from going to their place of work. As of March 18, 1,890 Tajik citizens who arrived from foreign countries after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 1,426 had already been discharged. The Ministry of Health called on the country's people, "not to believe any false rumors concerning coronavirus cases confirmation in Tajikistan." As of March 23, 5,038 persons who arrived from foreign countries after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 1,981 had already been discharged; 3,057 persons (including 107 persons with foreign nationality) were in quarantine. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. The Istiklol health complex in northern Tajikistan is being prepared for the quarantine of Tajikistan citizens arriving from abroad. A 24-hour hotline number (511) has been activated by the Anti-crisis Information Center under the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to answer questions from the Tajikistan general public related to coronavirus issues. On March 26 and 27, meetings concerning preparations for preventing a possible coronavirus outbreak were held. As of March 27, 5,919 Tajik citizens who arrived from abroad after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 2,050 had already been discharged. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. As of March 30, 6,159 Tajik citizens who arrived from abroad after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 2,146 had already been discharged leaving 4,013 in quarantine. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. In late March, President Emomali Rahmon was photographed participating in large public gatherings.

April

As of April 2, 6,272 people who arrived in Tajikistan from foreign countries after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 2,359 had already been discharged, leaving 3,913 still in quarantine. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. By April 3, face masks, though not legally mandated, had become a familiar sight in Tajikistan, including in the remote countryside and schools had reopened after the spring holidays. On the same day, President Rahmon and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation including discussion of coronavirus coordination. A 60 year old quarantined patient died of pneumonia in the Central Hospital of Jabbor Rasulov District, Sughd Region and the medical staff treating the patient were quarantined causing online rumors that the patient had died from coronavirus. Sources at the hospital said the patient tested negative for coronavirus before passing away. As of April 6, 7,041 people who arrived in Tajikistan from foreign countries had been put in quarantine, and 4,291 had already been discharged, leaving 2,730 still in quarantine. Nearly 3,000 people had been tested for coronavirus, all with negative results. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. Thirteen people quarantined in Jabbor Rasulov District since April 5 tested negative for coronavirus. Six medical facilities in Khujand and twelve in other areas were prepared for quarantines and all coronavirus tests were to be conducted free of change. On April 9, President Rahmon called Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and discussed several topics including coronavirus. Kazakhstan stated that it agreed to send five thousand tons of flour to Tajikistan. On the same day, President Rahmon and Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev held another telephone conversation including discussion of coronavirus coordination. As of April 10, 7,367 people who arrived in Tajikistan from foreign countries had been put in quarantine, and 5,482 had already been discharged, leaving 1,880 still in quarantine. On April 13, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin met with the head of the European Union delegation to Tajikistan Marilyn Josefson. Josefson announced plans to provide Tajikistan with €48 million to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic. On April 14, Minister of Health and Social Protection Nasim Olimzoda said that coronavirus had not been detected in Tajikistan. Olimzoda explained the lack of confirmed coronavirus cases in Tajikistan as the result of the ongoing quarantine of all persons entering Tajikistan from abroad due to the danger of asymptomatic transmission. Uzbekistan's Ministry of Emergency Situations delivered aid to Tajikistan including one thousand tons of flour, antiseptics and disinfectants, medical gowns, gloves, masks and medical shoes, respirators and goggles. The Tajikhydroelektromontazh Company provided the Dushanbe Health Department with 20,000 coronavirus tests, 10 ventilation machines, and 500 sets of special medical clothing in total worth more than 5 million somoni.

As of April 17, 7,871 persons who arrived from foreign countries after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 6,438 had already been discharged; 1,523 persons were still in quarantine. No cases of coronavirus were registered among the quarantined persons. Other diseases were registered in the population including influenza, pneumonia, ARVI, asthma and typhoid. President Rahmon made a speech to the newly elected and appointed members of the National Assembly of Tajikistan which touched on the coronavirus situation. Jaloliddin Abdujabborzoda, head of the department of internal affairs at the Dushanbe prosecutor’s office, fell ill on April 15 and died on April 19. The Ministry of Health said that he died of H1N1 and explicitly ruled out death from coronavirus. Abdujabborzoda's body was buried by medical personnel in special protective equipment.