In many countries around the world, the coronavirus infection has begun its second advance, giving rise to what is being called the second wave. Abkhazia, unlike the rest of the world, is still registering only its first serious outbreak. Every day, Abkhazian doctors record a new peak in the number of infections. At one point it reached 42 cases in a single day. The total number of confirmed infections to date stands at 640. In the capital — 494 cases, in Gagra — 44, in Gudauta — 61, in the Ochamchira district — 25, in Gulripshi — 13, in Tkuarchal — 3. These figures do not include residents of the Gali district who are employees of the Inguri hydroelectric power station, whose testing was carried out on Georgian territory and whose positive results were accordingly confirmed by the Georgian side — among them, already 28 infected. Since the start of the epidemic, 6 people have died from the virus. And according to the forecasts of Abkhazian doctors, the situation with the spread of coronavirus infection in the republic will only worsen.

In Abkhazia, those infected with the virus are treated at the only Covid center, organized on the basis of the Gudauta district hospital. Following renovation, this medical institution was not fully equipped with the necessary equipment in time, but with the support of the Abkhazian business community and international organizations, the shortage of medical equipment has been partially addressed over recent months. However, the staffing problem remains unresolved. Although groups of doctors arrive from Russia to assist Abkhazian physicians, this does not fundamentally resolve the shortage of doctors. The demand for junior and mid-level medical personnel is growing daily. Furthermore, the Covid hospital is experiencing a critical shortage of oxygen cylinders and new, modern medications from among those approved by the World Health Organization's protocol for the treatment of coronavirus infection.

Abkhazian authorities continue to speak of full preparedness for a major outbreak, while remaining silent on a number of important problems — such as the absence of tests for detecting coronavirus infection, the refusal of Russian clinics to treat republic residents, and much else. But, as the saying goes, everything in its proper order.

Since the start of the pandemic, 6 people have died from the disease in the republic. At present, 7 patients are in serious condition, and 13 are in a moderate condition. A few days ago, a 74-year-old woman died in the Covid hospital — a patient whose details the Abkhazian Ministry of Health has not disclosed. But despite all the secrecy surrounding the information, it became known the very next day that the doctors had recommended transferring the woman — who had been admitted in critical condition — outside Abkhazia. Attempts were made to stabilize her condition while awaiting a response from the Russian Ministry of Health. But the response never came.

From unofficial sources it became known that, despite an earlier agreement between the healthcare authorities of Abkhazia and Russia, clinics in the Krasnodar region refused one after another to admit the patient. What is more, the section of the Dagomys infectious disease hospital allocated by Russia for the treatment of Abkhazia's residents has no available beds, making it impossible to transfer patients with severe cases of the illness there.

All attempts by Abkhazian doctors to reach an agreement with their Russian counterparts proved fruitless. The main argument cited for refusing to treat Abkhazia's residents in Russian clinics was the growing number of "their own" patients, for whom "there is already not enough room."

This is not the first time that Abkhazian residents infected with coronavirus have been refused treatment in Russia. Everyone remembers the stories of Abkhazian doctors who were transferred to Georgia in serious condition. Of course, where and how one receives treatment is a personal matter. But what then is to be made of the widely publicized support of the Russian healthcare system, which throughout the previous month was sending its representatives to Abkhazia "to coordinate joint efforts and agree on routing Covid-19 patients to Russian clinics"? It would appear these were simply empty words, behind which no action was ever planned.

Meanwhile, residents of Abkhazia have increasingly been writing on social media about their inability to get tested for coronavirus infection — a situation they attribute to a shortage of tests that the Abkhazian Ministry of Health does not have in stock. It emerged that the situation is indeed critical. Diagnostic supplies in the laboratories will last at most a couple of days. And this crisis has nothing to do with the negligence of officials who were obliged to ensure the timely delivery of the diagnostic supplies so urgently needed in these difficult times.

The Abkhazian Ministry of Health, with no small assistance from local entrepreneurs, purchased a large batch of PCR tests and more. But the transport of the cargo across the Abkhazian-Russian border has been blocked for reasons that are not entirely clear. And as people say in the corridors of high offices, without the special approval of certain senior Russian officials, the tests will not reach the republic. The situation is the same with medications and protective equipment — all of them have ended up on some list of goods prohibited from being exported from the territory of the Russian Federation.

Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in Abkhazia, a wide variety of international organizations, businesspeople, and charitable structures from various countries have been sending tests, masks, disinfectants, gloves, and other medical supplies to the republic. Thanks to their assistance, Abkhazian medicine has managed to hold the line against the disease to some degree. But this assistance, like much else, has a tendency to run out — and what doctors will do when that happens, no one can say.

What is known for now is that speaking openly about the existing problem in Abkhazia is something people are afraid to do, fearing above all a panic among the population. Publicizing to the entire world the strange behavior of the strategic partner — who constantly boasts of its assistance and support — is also considered premature. And understandably so: further damaging relations with Russia, especially now during a period of rising infections, would cost more than it is worth. Better to quietly reroute severely ill patients to Georgia, which is now even more prepared than before to provide assistance to Abkhazia without publicity or any kind of fanfare.

Several more patients from the Gudauta Covid center are being prepared for transfer for treatment in Georgian cities. Abkhazian doctors are trying to do this without attracting attention. But whatever efforts they make, they cannot do it without the knowledge of Russian border guards, who are present at all the still-closed crossing points on the border with Georgia. The information is immediately relayed to the relevant Russian agencies, and in response Abkhazia receives yet another round of unpublicized sanctions and prohibitions.

Word has it that in the coming days another batch of tests and many other medical supplies will be brought to Abkhazia. This humanitarian cargo has been assembled by representatives of Western and Georgian business communities and will be delivered to Abkhazia under the auspices of international organizations.

In defiance of Russian sanctions, it will be brought into the republic across the Abkhazian-Georgian border via the Inguri River.

In the meantime, doctors are waiting impatiently for assistance so that, sleeves rolled up, they can redouble their efforts to save patients. And while they admit that fighting this severe disease currently feels more like tilting at windmills, they have not lost faith that the support of international organizations will arrive in time. Neither have the residents of Abkhazia themselves, who have at last come to fully understand the danger of this new infectious disease.

Astanda Bgamba

The text contains place names and terminology used in the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia. Opinions expressed in the publication reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the editorial board.