Press releases
WHO hails Belarus’ openness in response to coronavirus
Batyr Berdyklychev. An archive photo
MINSK, 2 March (BelTA) – The World Health Organization (WHO) expresses gratitude to Belarus for a prompt response to the coronavirus, BelTA learned from a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to Belarus Batyr Berdyklychev.
A conference chaired by Director of the WHO Regional Bureau for Europe Hans Kluge took place a short while ago. Healthcare ministers of 12 countries of the region, including Belarus, took part in it. “The regional director expressed gratitude to the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry for the prompt response and openness. Indeed, the measures carried out in the country give a sense of security,” Batyr Berdyklychev said.
A great deal of work is being done in Belarus. “One cannot say that there is some extraordinary situation or reasons for panic. Everything goes on routinely, contacts are being traced, everyone in need of treatment gets treated,” the WHO representative noted.
In his words, it is very important for the population to use proven and reliable sources of information rather than rumor.
The new coronavirus situation has riveted the attention of virtually all the countries. The number of new cases continues rising. The large number of countries where the disease has been registered has prompted the WHO to reevaluate the risk of the virus spreading all over the world and upgrade it from high to very high. “In other words, today no country is insured against the disease. The WHO urges all countries to be ready for it and be ready for the emergence of new cases where the virus has been registered, even a handful of cases,” Batyr Berdyklychev said.
The WHO urges countries to focus on three priorities: continued epidemiological surveillance measures and sanitary and epidemic measures, measures to protect medical personnel, and steps to keep the public aware of all the risks in order to prevent totally unjustified rumor. No radical measures to restrict travels, trips, or trade are recommended. The WHO believes such measures would be ineffective. They also result in negative social and economic consequences.
print version
make home page
add to bookmarks
