The COVID-19 pandemic in Tajikistan is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). The virus was confirmed to have spread to Tajikistan when its index cases, in Dushanbe and Khujand, were confirmed on 30 April 2020.

Background On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019. The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.

Timeline February 2020 On February 10, a Somon Air charter flight flew to Wuhan, Hubei, China to evacuate the fifty-four citizens of Tajikistan in the city. The flight carried humanitarian cargo including medical supplies from Tajikistan to Wuhan. On February 13, 13,000 copies of WHO guidelines and recommendations to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection were printed and distributed to Tajik citizens. At the time, more than 900 citizens who arrived in Tajikistan from China were being supervised by doctors in Tajikistan's hospitals. No cases of coronavirus were reported. On February 21, President Emomali Rahmon received a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping thanking Rahmon for his support in connection with the coronavirus outbreak. As of February 21, 1,066 Tajik citizens who arrived from China after February 1 had been put in infectious disease hospitals for quarantine, and 577 had already been discharged. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed among the quarantined. On February 26, sixty-three Tajik citizens (forty-six Tajik students from Wuhan and seventeen crew members of the Somon Air charter flight sent to retrieve them on February 11) were released from quarantine. None of the quarantined persons showed symptoms of flu-like disease. As of February 24, 1,148 Tajik citizens who arrived in Tajikistan from China after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 955 had already been discharged.

March 2020 Tajikistan initially blocked the entry of nationals of 35 countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. On March 3, 2020, Tajikistan reduced the ban to five countries: China, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, and Italy. On March 4, some mosques in the capital city Dushanbe asked worshipers not to attend Friday prayers. A rush to stockpile food led to price hikes and shortages of flour and other staples. On March 5, the Health and Social Welfare Ministry said that there is enough food in Tajikistan to feed the country's population for two years. President Emomali Rahmon assured Tajiks there was no need to panic-buy food, but stockpiling continued. Tajikistan asked people to avoid public gatherings and mosque attendance. As of March 10, 1,583 Tajik citizens who arrived from China, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran and Afghanistan after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 1,147 had already been discharged. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. As of March 14, 1,603 Tajik citizens who arrived from China, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran and Afghanistan after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 1,280 had already been discharged. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country.

As of March 18, there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus infections in Tajikistan and plans to celebrate Nowruz had not been canceled. In late March, border closings in Russia and Central Asia were preventing Tajik seasonal migrant workers from going to their place of work. As of March 18, 1,890 Tajik citizens who arrived from foreign countries after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 1,426 had already been discharged. The Ministry of Health called on the country's people, "not to believe any false rumors concerning coronavirus cases confirmation in Tajikistan." As of March 23, 5,038 persons who arrived from foreign countries after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 1,981 had already been discharged; 3,057 persons (including 107 persons with foreign nationality) were in quarantine. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. The Istiklol health complex in northern Tajikistan was being prepared for the quarantine of Tajikistan citizens arriving from abroad. A 24-hour hotline number (511) has been activated by the Anti-crisis Information Center under the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to answer questions from the Tajikistan general public related to coronavirus issues. On March 26 and 27, meetings concerning preparations for preventing a possible coronavirus outbreak were held. As of March 27, 5,919 Tajik citizens who arrived from abroad after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 2,050 had already been discharged. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. As of March 30, 6,159 Tajik citizens who arrived from abroad after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 2,146 had already been discharged leaving 4,013 in quarantine. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. In late March, President Emomali Rahmon was photographed participating in large public gatherings.

April 2020 As of April 2, 6,272 people who arrived in Tajikistan from foreign countries after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 2,359 had already been discharged, leaving 3,913 still in quarantine. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. By April 3, face masks, though not legally mandated, had become a familiar sight in Tajikistan, including in the remote countryside and schools had reopened after the spring holidays. On the same day, President Rahmon and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation including discussion of coronavirus coordination. A 60-year old quarantined patient died of pneumonia in the Central Hospital of Jabbor Rasulov District, Sughd Region and the medical staff treating the patient were quarantined causing online rumors that the patient had died from coronavirus. Sources at the hospital said the patient tested negative for coronavirus before dying. As of April 6, 7,041 people who arrived in Tajikistan from foreign countries had been put in quarantine, and 4,291 had already been discharged, leaving 2,730 still in quarantine. Nearly 3,000 people had been tested for coronavirus, all with negative results. No cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. Thirteen people quarantined in Jabbor Rasulov District since April 5 tested negative for coronavirus. Six medical facilities in Khujand and twelve in other areas were prepared for quarantines and all coronavirus tests were to be conducted free of change. On April 9, President Rahmon called Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and discussed several topics including coronavirus. Kazakhstan stated that it agreed to send five thousand tons of flour to Tajikistan. On the same day, President Rahmon and Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev held another telephone conversation including discussion of coronavirus coordination. As of April 10, 7,367 people who arrived in Tajikistan from foreign countries had been put in quarantine, and 5,482 had already been discharged, leaving 1,880 still in quarantine. On April 13, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin met with the head of the European Union delegation to Tajikistan Marilyn Josefson. Josefson announced plans to provide Tajikistan with €48 million to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic. On April 14, Minister of Health and Social Protection Nasim Olimzoda said that coronavirus had not been detected in Tajikistan. Olimzoda explained the lack of confirmed coronavirus cases in Tajikistan as the result of the ongoing quarantine of all persons entering Tajikistan from abroad due to the danger of asymptomatic transmission. Uzbekistan's Ministry of Emergency Situations delivered aid to Tajikistan including one thousand tons of flour, antiseptics and disinfectants, medical gowns, gloves, masks and medical shoes, respirators and goggles. The Tajikhydroelektromontazh Company provided the Dushanbe Health Department with 20,000 coronavirus tests, 10 ventilation machines, and 500 sets of special medical clothing in total worth more than 5 million somoni.

As of April 17, 7,871 persons who arrived from foreign countries after February 1 had been put in quarantine, and 6,438 had already been discharged; 1,523 persons were still in quarantine. No cases of coronavirus were registered among the quarantined persons. Other diseases were registered in the general population including influenza, pneumonia, ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection), asthma and typhoid. President Rahmon made a speech to the newly elected and appointed members of the National Assembly of Tajikistan which touched on the coronavirus situation. Jaloliddin Abduljabborzoda, head of the department of internal affairs at the Dushanbe prosecutor's office, fell ill on April 15 and died on April 19. The Ministry of Health said that he died of H1N1 and explicitly ruled out death from coronavirus. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Abduljabborzoda's body was buried by medical personnel in special protective equipment. Tajik migrant workers in Russia who normally send money to their families in Tajikistan are not being paid due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. Tajikistan's ambassador to Russia, Imomuddin Sattorov, has pleaded with the heads of companies in Russia to refrain from laying off Tajik workers. President Rahmon urged Muslims in Tajikistan not to forego fasting for Ramadan saying that fasting would make people more susceptible to infectious disease. On April 23, Tajikistan closed schools for two weeks to prevent the spread of coronavirus and temporarily banned export of grains and pulses, a measure aimed at conserving domestic supplies. There were no reported coronavirus cases in Tajikistan. At the time, Tajikistan's borders and mosques were closed. As of April 27, 4,100 tests for coronavirus had been conducted in Tajikistan. Galina Perfilyeva, the WHO representative in Dushanbe, who had initially confirmed the Tajikistan government position that the country remained free of the coronavirus, said "It's impossible to conclusively say that there is no coronavirus infection in Tajikistan."

Tajikistan was one of few countries to continue professional sporting matches during the pandemic; they have been cancelled in many countries. However, on 27 April the 2020 Tajikistan Higher League was suspended until 10 May.

On 30 April, the Ministry of Health reported 15 confirmed coronavirus cases as of 29 April: 10 in Khujand and 5 in Dushanbe. Previously, questions about Tajikistan's lack of reported coronavirus cases were raised in the media.

May 2020

In early May, a ban on holding mass events with the participation of more than 400 people was introduced in Tajikistan.

On 1 May, there were 32 confirmed cases, of which 17 are in Dushanbe, 5 in cities and districts of republican subordination, and 10 in Sughd Region.

On 2 May, there were 76 confirmed cases and two deaths. All people have to wear face masks when they leave their house.

On 3 May, the number of cases went up to 128. The mayor of Dushanbe said that they will build temporary hospitals to treat 3,000 people.

102 additional cases were confirmed on May 4, which brought the total number to 230 cases, including 110 cases in Dushanbe, 22 cases in towns and districts of republican subordination, 7 in Gorno-Badakhshan, 21 in Khatlon region, 70 in Sughd region. All regions has cases.

On 6 May, the Tajikistan Football Federation extended the suspension of football indefinitely.

The total number of cases is 379 with 8 deaths and 246 recoveries.

As of May 8, there were 461 cases and 12 deaths.

July 2020