The number of red circles on the map of Cod 19 is increasing, but there are some countries where no single confirmed case report of the disease has been reported. These countries also include Turkmenistan with the toughest dictatorial government.
Many experts are concerned that the Turkmen government may be hiding the truth and may interfere with efforts to end the disease.
While the world is battling the Corona virus and more and more countries are locking down their populations, a major cycling rally is being held on World Health Day in Turkmenistan on Tuesday.
This Central Asian country claims that there has been no case report of the Corona virus yet. But can we trust the government-provided data for censorship?
"The official statistics from Turkmenistan are extremely unpredictable," says Martin McKee, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who studies Turkmen health systems.
"For the past decade, they have claimed that no HIV or AIDS patient has been saved in Turkmenistan, which is impossible," he said. We also know that in the 2000s, they suppressed evidence of outbreaks, including plague. '
Many people in Turkmenistan are afraid to suggest that there might already be cod 19.
On the condition of anonymity, a resident of the capital Ashgabad says, "One of my acquaintances, who works in a government agency, told me that I should not say that there was a virus or that I had heard about it. Have heard, otherwise I may be in trouble. '
However, authorities in Turkmenistan are taking steps to cope with the outbreak.
Along with UN agencies in the country, they are discussing the process.
Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator, told the BBC that the project includes national-level contact, risk-related contact, case investigation, laboratory evaluation and other measures.
When I asked him whether the UN was confident of official data showing that there were no confirmed cases of Cod-19 in Turkmenistan, Panova declined to answer directly.
"We are relying on official data because the rest of the countries are doing the same. There is no question of faith as to why this work is going on," he said.
Panova also said that the absence of a certified case may result in timely travel restrictions.
In fact, Turkmenistan closed most of its land borders more than a month ago.
He also canceled flights to China and some other countries in early February, and began to divert all international flights from the capital to northeast Turkmenistan, where a quarantine zone was created.
However, according to several residents, some people managed to get out of the bribery zone, thus avoiding spending two weeks in isolation in tents.
Panova said that every person arriving in the country and those who showed symptoms had a Cod-19 test, but how many tests were done in a single day and how many test kits were present in Turkmenistan, Pannova reported Can't tell count.
"After discussions with government officials, we think they have done enough tests."
But how well is the health system ready to deal with the spread of the Corona virus?
'We do not know' Panova confessed.
"We have been told that they have prepared to a certain extent and we have no doubt about it ... Because the hospitals here are well equipped. '
"However, the outbreak of the outbreak puts a lot of pressure on the health system, as seen in many other countries. So regardless of how much preparation you have, it is usually insufficient.
"That's why we're already talking to them about acquiring ventilators and other equipment."
There is some sense of public awareness of this epidemic. Moving between cities has been banned and those entering Ashgabat must have doctor's permission.
Yazark, a herb used in the treatment of herbs in markets and offices, is being burned.
This is being done after Turkmen President Kurban Kuli Berdymukhamedov's announcement, in which he said that burning it would end the virus but no evidence could be found.
But unlike most of the world, everyday life in Turkmenistan continues as usual.
Cafes and restaurants are open. Crowds are gathering for weddings. No one is wearing a mask and large-scale events are taking place.
It appears that the country refuses to acknowledge the major threat posed by the Corona virus.
Why can this be done? Perhaps the cycling rally held on World Health Day could provide an explanation.
The most celebrated celebrity and celebrity at this annual event is Turkmen President Kurban Kuli Berdymukhamedov.
They are suspicious of a healthy personality. Official TV shows him regularly exercising in the gym, cycling or riding a motorcycle. She is the main face of 'Health and Happiness' campaigns. In these campaigns, government employees are shown to work in uniform in the morning.
The real message of all these events is that the nation is healthy and therefore happy, thanks to the President.
President Berdymukhamedov declared his presidency as "an era of strength and happiness." If the outbreak of the Quad-19 spreads, it will expose their hollow messages.
That is why the Turkmen government can try to hide the outbreak, even if its citizens are affected.
And this is the reason for Professor McKee's anxiety.
They say, 'We have seen how the Cod 19 infection has moved rapidly from China to all parts of the world. In this global economy in which we are living, every country is as secure as the weakest country in the world. '
"Even if other countries are able to control the outbreak, there is a risk of continued infection from those countries that have failed and Turkmenistan could become another example."
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