The Zone

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The mass cycle rally will be calculated as a highlight of The Day was health at 7. April

is covered As Covid-19 card by the growing red circles, for several have not registered countries, a single case of an infection, including one of The Most repressive States in The World - Turkmenistan . Many experts are concerned, the government can hide The Truth , the disturb could try to have the end of the pandemic.

While The World , coronavirus, and more battles and more countries lock their people, Turkmenistan will hold a mass Cycling rally to mark World Health Day on Tuesday.

The Central Asian country claims that it still has zero coronavirus cases. But can We Trust the figures provided by a government that is known for censorship?

"Official health statistics of Turkmenistan are notoriously unreliable," said Professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has studied, the Turkmen Health System .

"in the last ten years, you have to have claimed the no of people living with HIV/Aids, a number that is not plausible. We also know that in The 2000S , they suppressed evidence of a series of outbreaks, including the influenza. "

Many in Turkmenistan fear of Covid even-19 may, already in the country.

"My friend works in a state Agency, told me that I should not say that The Virus is here, or that I know of, otherwise I may get in trouble," said a resident of the capital Ashgabat, who asked to remain Anonymous .

In February, the Turkmen people have sick is houses posters about the Corona Virus , But they were removed>

Together with the UN agencies in the country, they discuss a plan of action.

The UN Resident coordinator, Elena Panova, told The Bbc that the plan contain country-level coordination, risk communication, case investigation, laboratory diagnosis and other measures.

When I asked you, whether the UN show in the trust on the official figures, Turkmenistan had avoided no confirmed Covid-19 cases, Ms Panova, give a clear answer.

"We rely on official information, because this is what all countries do," She Said . "It is not a question of trust, because that is The Way it works. "

Ms Panova, said early action on the restriction of the trips could have contributed to the lack of confirmed cases.

Turkmenistan in fact close most of its land Border Crossings More Than a month ago.

There are also flights cancelled to China and some other countries from the beginning of February diversion of all international flights from the capital to Turkmenabad in the North-started-East, where a Quarantine Zone was created.

But , according to some residents, a few people were able to bribe their Way Out of The Zone and avoid you for Two Weeks , isolated in a tent.

Ms Panova said anyone arriving in the country, and those showing symptoms were tested for Covid-19. You could, however, numbers are not exact, how many Tests were performed per day and how many test kits Turkmenistan had a total of.

"What we understand in discussions with government representatives, that you have sufficient Tests . "

But how ready the Health System for the treatment with a Corona-Virus outbreak?

"We don't know," Ms Panova admitted. "We have already said that you doubt a certain level of preparedness, and We Are working on it. as The Hospitals here are very well equipped. "

"However, if there is an outbreak, this is a huge pressure on the Health System as in any other country. So, regardless of how much you have prepared, it is usually inadequate. Therefore, We Are already talking to you on the procurement of fans, and also other types of equipment. "

There is a sense of awareness of the outbreak in The Public . The movement between the cities was restricted, and those who enter Ashgabat now need a medical certificate.

President Berdymukhamedov, often Cycling or other sporting activities

markets and offices are smoked, with the smoke from a type of grass yuzarlik called, used herbal remedies, after President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, said it would burn, to fight off The Virus , although there is no evidence.

But in contrast to most of The World , the daily life in Turkmenistan More Than normal.

cafes and restaurants are open. Crowds gather for weddings. No one wears masks, and mass events are to go ahead.

It seems the country is in denial about the recording of the great threat posed by the coronavirus.

Why could that be? The World -health-day-mass-cycle is, perhaps, an explanation.

President Berdymukhamedov is the biggest star and the focus of the annual event.

The Image of health is part of his cult of personality. State television regularly shows him lifting weights at The Gym or while Cycling on his bike. He is The Most important driver of the "health and happiness" campaigns, in which state employees wear identical uniforms doing their morning exercises.

The Most important message of these events is that The Nation is healthy and so happy, thanks to The President .

Mr Berdymukhamedov announced his presidency as the "era of power and happiness". And there was an outbreak of Covid-19 could reveal how hollow are his messages.

It is for this reason, the Turkmen government may be trying to conceal an outbreak, even if its citizens are infected.

And that is what worries Prof McKee.

"We have seen how the Covid-19 infection moved quickly from China to all parts of The World . In today's globalised economy in which we now live, every country is only as safe as the weakest country in The World ," He Said .

"Even if other countries, the epidemic is under control, there is the danger of continued seeding of infection from countries that have failed to do. It seems that Turkmenistan may well be another Example . "

coronavirus lockdown measures, coronavirus pandemic, turkmenistan

Source of news: bbc.com