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WHO not recommending tough restrictive measures in Belarus over coronavirus yet

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MINSK, 13 March (BelTA) – The WHO is not recommending to use tough restrictive measures in Belarus over the spread of coronavirus yet, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to Belarus Batyr Berdyklychev told reporters, BelTA has learned.

“There are seven hotbeds and 27 coronavirus patients in Belarus as of today. This indicates that all cases have been identified. There are no cases of uncontrolled transmission. Strict measures are not recommended at this stage. From the WHO's point of view, what Belarus is doing, is enough for the time being. Tougher measures may be proposed should the situation change,” Batyr Berdyklychev said.

According to the WHO representative, many countries, including European nations, are taking rather tough measures, including enhanced border measures and quarantine, to contain the epidemic. Decisions are taken depending on a situation in a particular country and the ability of its healthcare system to handle COVID-19.

“Not all countries have disease control services like Belarus has. Therefore, some measures that are taken can be excessive and unsubstantiated,” Batyr Berdyklychev said.

He commented on the decision of the WHO to label COVID-19 a pandemic. “To be precise, this is not a declaration of a pandemic, because the WHO refused from the classification that uses this word. Therefore, it is more about description of the current developments in the world. It was prompted by a sharp rise in new cases, including severe ones,” he noted. Batyr Berdyklychev went on saying that the number of cases will continue to increase throughout the world, there is no escaping it.

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