Turkmenistan closes border with Uzbekistan to prevent spread of coronavirus

AKIPRESS.COM - Suspending flights to China and Thailand, closing the border with Uzbekistan and creating a quarantine zone in the east of the country are among the measures taken by the authorities in Turkmenistan to stop the spread of the coronavirus, turkmen.news reports.
State carrier Turkmenistan Airlines has suspended scheduled flights to and from Beijing and Bangkok until April at the earliest. Passengers are alerted to the changes via text message and are able to claim a full refund on their ticket. Tickets are on sale for flights in April, but passengers are warned at the point of sale that there is no guarantee the flights will take place.
The last scheduled flight from China to Turkmenistan landed on February 1 in the eastern city of Turkmenabat, rather than at its advertised destination, the capital Ashgabat. Turkmenabat and the whole eastern Lebap region have been declared a quarantine zone.
In a further effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus the Turkmen authorities closed the Farap and Shavat checkpoints on the Uzbek border on January 31. The Farap crossing in Lebap region has been closed indefinitely, while the northern Shavat crossing in Dashoguz region has been closed at least until February 14.
The state service for public health and disease prevention at Turkmenistan's Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry has produced public information brochures about the coronavirus, which are available at health centers and hospitals and various state bodies.
People at hospitals, schools, banks, and elsewhere in the Turkmenabat quarantine zone are being urged to wear medical masks and regularly to wipe their noses with oxoline ointment. They are advised to buy masks only at pharmacies. Masks cost between 0,50 and 1 manat.