Press releases

18 Mar 2020

Most coronavirus patients in Belarus show no symptoms

An archive photo

MINSK, 18 March (BelTA) – Nine people in Belarus display symptoms of the COVID-19 infection, however 37 coronavirus patients are asymptomatic, BelTA learned from the press service of the Healthcare Ministry.

“As of today, nine patients have clinical symptoms of coronavirus. In other words, nine people are sick,” the Healthcare Ministry noted.

The 37 people that tested positive for the virus but show no symptoms are under medical observation. The latest four cases have been imported from Spain, France, Germany and Saint Petersburg (they were identified at quarantine stations). People returning from abroad were screened on the border and in the places of residence, which allowed identifying and isolating them in time.

The press service added that 17 of all the cases were imported. The rest is local transmission.

As of 18 March, five people have been cured and discharged from hospital. Another three are undergoing additional laboratory tests and are expected to be discharged in the near future.

Some 1,960 people who have returned from at-risk countries remain under medical observation. Nearly 2,700 people who were under a 14-day surveillance have already been medically cleared.

The Healthcare Ministry has developed guidelines for treating coronavirus cases and for repurposing healthcare facilities depending on the situation and the number of coronavirus cases. The press service emphasized that the measures are well-timed. There are enough hospital beds for all patients that tested positive for the virus and for people that came in close contact with them.