Tajikistan developing the coronavirus emergency response plan

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection, Mirhamuddin Kamolzoda, noted that there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the country so far.  

According to him, necessary instructions and recommendations on prevention of the spreading of the coronavirus in the country have been given to all medical and social facilities.  

The coronavirus emergency response plan is expected to be developed by March 12.

Recall, Tajik health authorities stepped up preventative measures in early February as part of their efforts to contain a global epidemic.  

The Tajik Health Ministry has required anybody traveling from China to remain in quarantine for a period of 14 days.  There are quarantine centers in all the country’s regions.  These kinds of policies have generated approval from the public,  

Besides, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has printed and distributed 13,000 brochures and recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on how to reduce the coronavirus infection risk.   

The Health Ministry’s current guidance is for all people traveling to Tajikistan from China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and Italy to be placed in quarantine for a period of 14 days.

On March 4, the doors of mosques across the country were shuttered.  The Council of Ulama of the Islamic Center concluded at the end of discussions to adopt a fatwa recommending people to refrain from praying in mosques. Only funerals are exempt.

The Council of Ulama has also been recruited to relay the advice of health authorities by urging citizens to observe hygiene standards and to consult a doctor if they develop a temperature.

Meanwhile, CNN says that as of March 10 more than 113,000 people are infected globally and 4,000 are dead.

Italy is reportedly on lockdown.  All 60 million residents are under restrictions, including travel checks, school closures and bans on public events.  Deaths in Italy from coronavirus have risen sharply in the past 24 hours, with 168 new deaths reported, Angelo Borrelli, head of Italy's Civil protection Agency said on Tuesday, according to CNN.  On Monday, there was an increase of 97 deaths.  The deaths announced yesterday reportedly bring the total number of coronavirus deaths in Italy to 631. There are now 10,149 recorded cases of coronavirus in Italy.

As far as Iran is concerned, BBC reported on March 9 that at least 237 people have died and 7,161 have been infected across the country since mid-February, although the real figures are believed to be far higher.