DUSHANBE, 09.12.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – President of the Institute for International Health and Education in New York Dr. Arash Alaei, who collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan as an expert, named the main factors of Tajikistan’s success in the fight against the coronavirus.

He noted that the measures and approaches of many countries have been analyzed since 2019.

“We can divide countries into different groups. Countries that have acted successfully and have managed to maintain this success. Countries that have succeeded in some cases, but have faced difficulties, and countries that have failed from the beginning and are still struggling to control the disease,” he said.

According to Dr.Alaei, Tajikistan is a country that has so far been successful in the fight against COVID-19.

The American doctor named the main factors of this success and noted that the people and the government of Tajikistan, from the first days of the outbreak of the virus, have paid serious attention to COVID-19.

“The government has set up a national commission whose members are paying close attention to COVID-19 programs. The population has also implemented the programs developed by experts,” he noted.

Dr Alaei further noted that the government of Tajikistan, the commission, and the population listened and followed scientific advice, and not in prejudice and unscientific debate.

“We saw that the success was achieved by those countries that placed their belief in science, and governments and populations followed scientific recommendations. Those countries that faced big problems did not pay attention to scientific developments and recommendations,” he emphasized.

A very important point he noted is that the virus can evolve and develop new strains if people do get vaccinated and do not wear a mask. In this case there is a risk of a new wave of COVID-19.

“There is a new strain called omicron,” he said.

Omicron, according to Dr.Alaei, can be contracted quickly, so the doctor urges Tajiks to remain cautious.

The American doctor praised the work done by the government of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population in informing the population about the need to follow the appropriate rules of hygiene, and in implementing important measures in the fight against the spread of the virus.

“The disease is severe and its mortality rate is 1 to 3%. However, it cannot be prevented by fear, so we must be vigilant and prevent the spread of the disease with a scientific approach,” said he.

According to Dr. Alaei, those that have already been infected can be re-infected with new strains.

He also noted that even vaccinated people can become infected with the new strain, but its consequences are not as dire.