Opinions & Interviews
Lukashenko urges caution as COVID-19 numbers fall in Belarus
An archive photo
MINSK, 11 November (BelTA) – Despite the decline in the new COVID-19 cases, we should not let our guards down, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting with the leadership of the Council of Ministers in Minsk on 11 November, BelTA has learned.
The president stated that the COVID-19 cases in Belarus began to gradually decrease: "The decline is obvious. We see this even in Minsk where until recently the number of cases was high.”
In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested that the hospitals previously repurposed for COVID-19 patients gradually return to normal operations. "We need hospitals to return back to normal, routine care. Therapeutic units should provide therapeutic treatment, cancer divisions – cancer treatment. We need one- two, three-four hospitals in Minsk to deal with COVID. Others should be disinfected and be returned back to normal operations," the president noted.
However, one should not lower their guard because of the decline in the number of cases, the head of state is convinced. “Do not relax. Again, we do not know how these viruses behave. We do not know yet what impact flu might have on our society. No flu cases have been reported yet, even isolated ones. As we said, COVID-19 suppressed flu. But we do not know what will happen next. Therefore, in no case should we drop our guard,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.
The president gave an instruction to pay special attention to the situation in Minsk where many severe cases are reported. “Last night I warned the healthcare minister and all those in charge, especially you, Mrs Kochanova (Natalya Kochanova, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic], and Mr Kukharev (Vladimir Kukharev, Minsk Mayor] who are in charge of Minsk - about the number of severe cases and deaths. There are a lot of seriously sick patients. So pay attention to this,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president noted that treatment of COVID-19 patients costs Belarus a lot. Healthcare workers should keep this in mind and use medicines, diagnostic kits in a responsible, sensible and economical way, the Belarusian leader emphasized. “Yet, sometimes the way oxygen is consumed is not reasonable. The same applies for medicines, personal protective equipment. It is all money.
I would like to emphasize once again: by the end of the year, we will have spent $2 billion, from all possible sources, to fight the pandemic. We could have used this $2 billion on land reclamation during five years, but we did it on saving people. We have to take strict control over the spending of personal protective equipment and medicines,” the head of state said.
“$2 billion to combat the pandemic over more than two years. No one has been charged a penny for treatment, vaccinations, testing. No one pays for it, while the government does not get it for free. Everyone talks about the need to purchase Pfizer. No one asks how much a vial of Pfizer would cost. $20-30 for just one shot! We have our own vaccine at half the price. The same is true about testing. Doctors know how to treat and what vaccines to use. We have good vaccines, not worse than Pfizer,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.
The head of state stressed that the choice of vaccines had already turned political. “The war of vaccines is already on. This is huge money; this is why every state wants to sell their own. Our self-exiled opposition started promoting the Pfizer topic, too. After all, they are on their marks, ready to tour Europe. Yet, Europe does not recognize Sputnik V. They say Belarus needs Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca. I would like to reiterate: specialists know which vaccine we should use,” the president said.
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