[KABAR] Journalist’s notes about observations in Bishkek - about good and bad

By Tumara Turatbekova, Correspondent of Kabar News agency

The first coronavirus patient in Kyrgyzstan was recorded in mid-March and a state of emergency was declared. Then a curfew was imposed and a state of emergency introduced. These measures had a positive impact on the situation. To date, Kyrgyzstan has the lowest number of COVID-19 cases among Central Asian countries. However, the situation among the identified patients, as well as the citizens placed on the observation for a long time, remained little known. Only after lifting tight restrictions there were given the allowance for journalists to visit on the observation campuses and talk to people in there. After that, the Ministry of Health of the country invited journalists to look at the conditions in the observations in Bishkek. This was the first press tour in three months. At the appointed hour, the car of the local TV channel arrived for me, in addition to the driver there were a cameraman and a correspondent. They were in protective suits. I had just a mask and an antiseptic from the means of protection. We were planning to visit three places in Bishkek: the hostel of the Kyrgyz-Turkish University "Manas", the hotel "Ak-Keme" and the observation campus "Semetey", which is located on the former military base of Gansi in Manas International airport. However, we were not allowed to go inside the buildings. At the entrance or in the lobby of the premises it was possible to talk with doctors, rescuers, police officers and some citizens who returned from abroad. Place No. 1 In the hostel we have witnessed on how most of the placed in the campus for observation people were allowed to go home. None of them were infected by the virus, the results were negative. Those were Kyrgyz who returned to their homeland from Korea, Japan and Qatar. The Ministry of Health allowed us to interview them. The work of medical workers and good conditions for passing quarantine were noted during the conversation with them. The main thing is that we managed to talk with the doctors. They modestly stood at the entrance to the hostel, hunched a little under the load of turbulent days and nights. Lined up, heroes in white spacesuits performed a mission to save human lives. Zuura Abylkanova, a student hospital doctor, despite the increased risk of infection, volunteered to help. For her what was happening this days was new. When asked if they were tired, the doctor said: “This is our job. We are fine". A problem arose before our trip to the next quarantine zone, to the Ak-Keme Hotel. Colleagues asked me to find another vehicle. The driver who brought us in the morning was worried that I walked without a suit. I felt uneasy after what I heard. I treated my hands, bag, phone with an antiseptic — everything that could be sanitized. Then we moved together with the employees of the Ministry of Health of the country. Place No. 2 The Ak Keme Hotel in those days received citizens from Turkey and the UAE. When talking with them, it was noticeable how happy they are that they returned to Kyrgyzstan. And this is not the only thing that pleased the patients. The source of good mood was the news of their imminent "release". Perked up, we went to the last point of the press tour. Place No. 3 The observational campus Semetey, which is located on the territory of the Manas airport thirty kilometers far from the capital, was under tense conditions. More than 400 Kyrgyz citizens were brought by bus to Bishkek and placed for observation in the former barracks of American soldiers. They arrived from Russian Sol-Iletsk city on the border of Russia and Kazakhstan. Hearing the sound of cars approaching, they leaned out of the windows and looked at us in disbelief. We approached one of the structures and, as the police indicated, kept out of the quarantine zone. Judging by the people who looked at us, it was clear that they were under tight control with all their might: tired and embittered. They reluctantly answered to our questions. They had only one desire - to get home soon. A day after our visit, they staged a protest rally. After a long wait for the buses, they threw stones at the ambulance. Most were discharged to home quarantine. During the entire press tour, reporters’ temperature was never checked in all places we visited. Nevertheless, it was recommended 15 days to be at home and not to go anywhere, which we did. And by now, none of us have any signs of infection.