President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov ordered today to intensify work to prevent entry into the country and prevention of infectious diseases, in particular, a new omicron strain of coronavirus, during a meeting with some members of the State Security Council.

As reported by the “Vatan” news program of the Turkmen television, Berdimuhamedov listened to reports on the preventive measures being taken in the country. Then the head of the Turkmen state gave a number of new instructions to the members of the State Security Council.

In particular, Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of the State Security Council, Deputy Chairman of the State Commission for Emergency Situations Ch. Amanov was instructed to keep under strict control the issues of providing markets and retail outlets with daily consumed food products.

In addition, the head of state ordered a regular analysis of information on food reserves in the country and to provide them with sufficient amounts of food.

Chairman of the State Customs Service M. Hudaykuliyev was instructed to strictly monitor the compliance of the quality and safety of imported food products with established standards and conduct their sanitization in accordance with the rules adopted by the Extraordinary Commission of Turkmenistan to combat the spread of diseases.

It was also instructed, together with the relevant ministries and sectoral departments, local executive authorities, to carry out work on the smooth implementation, in accordance with the rules, of customs procedures for products imported into the country, in particular, food and its prompt delivery to local markets and retail outlets as soon as possible.

Addressing the Chairman of the State Migration Service N. Atagarayev, the President of the country ordered to ensure the unhindered movement of trucks with food to the city of Ashgabat through the checkpoints operating along the inter-Velayat highways in accordance with the rules adopted by the Extraordinary Commission of Turkmenistan to Combat the Spread of Diseases.

Omicron, a strain of coronavirus with a large number of mutations, was first discovered in Botswana and the Republic of South Africa in November 2021.

Scientists suggest that the emergence of a new virus strain with an unusually large number of mutations is the result of a long-term illness in the body of an immunodeficient patient (an HIV-infected patient, possibly in the AIDS stage). In such a situation, the virus could mutate for several months, and it is most likely that the virus, as a result of selection, developed the ability to better bypass the immune defense of the human body in comparison with previously known strains.

According to the WHO as of December 21, the “omicron-strain of coronavirus has been identified in 106 states. In December 2021, WHO reported that according to preliminary data, omicron is less dangerous than “delta”.