54 new officially confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were reported in Tajikistan yesterday, bringing a total number of officially confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country to 5,954 as of the evening of June 30, according to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP).
4,568 COVID-19 patients (+62) have reportedly recovered as of the evening of June 30, 2020.
According to a MoHSPP, an official number of the coronavirus-linked deaths remains in the country the same – 52.
256 patients are still under supervision of doctors.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty says that investigation conducted by it indicates that Tajikistan's official death toll from COVID-19 doesn't reflect the reality and is significantly lower than the data published by local activists.
The Tajik government, which strictly controls free speech and information, has put the death toll from COVID-19 at 52.
However, an online list regularly updated by local activists puts the number of those who have died from COVID-19 in Tajikistan at 437, as of June 26, according to RFE/RL.
The data provides the name, age, last place of residence, and the date of death for each person on the list who — according to the activists — died from COVID-19.
It also shows the source that provided the information, including the deceased's family or friends, a neighbor, hospital, or social-media information. The table also shows if the information has been "verified" or is "in the process of verification."
RFE/RL has reportedly been able to verify that at least 152 people whose names are included on the activists' list have died from COVID-19.
Their diagnosis and subsequent deaths have been confirmed by relatives, local authorities, or health officials contacted by RFE/RL. In some cases, relatives provided medical documents and death certificates of the deceased to back their claims.
Some families told RFE/RL that their relatives suffered from obvious COVID-19 symptoms, but hospital administrations recorded their deaths as caused by pneumonia.
At least two hospital directors in Tajikistan reportedly told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that it was impossible to provide the exact number of COVID-19 deaths in the country because hospitals simply don't have test kits to verify the diagnosis.
Both officials said that because of the lack of testing capabilities they decided to put pneumonia as the cause of death of all patients who died with obvious COVID-19 symptoms.
RFE/RL filed a written request to the Health Ministry on June 3 asking for comment, but has yet to receive any response.
