In the past few weeks Turkmenistan has been introducing tightened measures to prevent the spread of viral infections.
Every night central Turkmenabat streets and the streets adjacent to them are disinfected. Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that the streets are sprinkled with a disinfecting solution from tractors MTZ-80.
A disinfectant manufactured in Tatasrtan is delivered in 20 liter cans by staff of the velayat and the municipal public health and disease control centre in a minibus at the pumping station near “Dostluk” park. It is mixed with water and tractor cisterns are subsequently filled with the solution. Tractor operators make several rounds per night.
Residents wearing medical masks are seen on the streets more often. Police officers previously asked those wearing masks to immediately take them off and threatened to impose fines. However, in the meantime law enforcement officials are not paying attention.
Locals boarding trains or buses bound to Ashgabat are required to present a health certificate.
Despite the undertaken measures, the number of those who have died of COVID symptoms in Lebap velayat is on the rise.
The latest case “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” learned about occurred in the village of Jeyhun (formerly the harbor of Farab) three days ago where a man aged 54 died. He had had a high temperature and cough for a long time. The medical report indicated pneumonia as the cause of death.
An employee of the public health and disease control centre told a correspondent of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” that rumours are being spread among residents of the velayat that effective 1 July the province will be closed for quarantine.
Meanwhile, Rimantadine pills (an antiviral medication, which did not prove its efficiency) are being distributed among Ashgabat residents as a COVID-19 prevention measure.
Ashgabat outpatient clinics, where the neighborhood residents are assigned to, were instructed to distribute Rimantadine among patients with one pack (10 pills) per person.
The news outlet Turkmen news also reported the tightening of the prevention measures.
According to its sources, disinfecting measures are being conducted more frequently and diabetes patients and pregnant women are provided with an antiviral medication Arbidol.
Radio “Azatlyk” reported the death of a 61 y.o.man caused by coronavirus in an outpatient clinic of Turkmenabad.
The radio also reports that family practitioners go door to door to distribute “Rimantadine” pills.According to “Azatlyk”, a quarantine zone was set up in the infectious diseases hospital in the Sakarchag etrap in Mary velayat.
It should be highlighted that in early July the WHO mission is scheduled to visit Turkmenistan. It is likely that the aforementioned measures are related not only to COVID-19 outbreak in Turkmenistan, but to the upcoming visit of WHO experts.