The head of the Main Penitentiary Directorate of the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan, Mansourjon Umarov, has been hospitalized on suspicion of contracting coronavirus.  He has been admitted to the City Children’s Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dushanbe.

Representatives of this hospital have confirmed the information about hospitalization of Mansourjon Umarov.  

“Mansourjon Umarov has been hospitalized on suspicion of contracting the novel coronavirus and e is currently undergoing medical treatment.  His health condition has improved, but it is not yet known when he will be discharged,” one of doctor of this hospital told Asia-Plus on the basis of anonymity. 

Umarov had previously told Asia-Plus that eleven prison inmates and three prison guards have died since late March.  They were reportedly aged 50 to 70 and according to doctors, all of them died of pneumonia. 

For the purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in penitentiary institutions short-term and long-term prison visits have been temporarily suspended.

Meanwhile, Radio Ozodi says Mansourjon Umarov’s brother, Nosir Umarov, died of the novel coronavirus in the Dushanbe-based infectious diseases hospital in early May.  He had worked with Barqi Tojik (Tajikistan’s national power utility company).