Large-scale meeting on COVID-19 held at Palace of Independence

19 октября 2021

The epidemic remains a major topic around the world, and Belarus is no exception.  Combating the virus in our country and expectations for the near future were considered during a large-scale meeting at the Palace of Independence. A detailed analysis of the medical sector work in the conditions of the fourth Covid wave was held by the President. 

The entire country was on video link with the capital. Doctors insist on wearing masks and keeping a social distance. Vaccination helps to stop Covid: a little less than two million Belarusians have taken the full course. 

According to the Ministry of Health, the situation is under control. All necessary measures have been taken for a timely treatment of patients. The President noted: it is certainly necessary to be vaccinated and to observe protection measures, but there should be no pressure on people!

And also, along with a new Covid wave, another wave of fakes rose in the Internet. By spreading the unconfirmed rumors about the Covid situation, the government's opponents hope to stir up the country again. That is why it is difficult to overestimate the value of reliable information from professionals. This was announced today during the meeting (video).

The fourth wave of the coronavirus in the world.

For almost two years, the coronavirus has had a steel grip on the world. Contrary to the planet's hopes and predictions that the attack is about to wane, Covid remains a serious threat. The virus mutates, new strains emerge, the British one seems to have weakened, and now the Indian Delta is raging. Global analysis of the health care system in the context of coronavirus.

It has already become customary for the President to talk to experts in the medical field. All regions of the country and Minsk were linked by videoconferencing today. It is important to analyze the situation in each region in addition to the general assessment of the Ministry of Health.  According to the President, we need to harmonize our efforts and discuss the strategy of further work.

The President began without any lengthy preambles. He started with reproaches to the regions - they are too zealous in controlling the wearing of masks in public places.  The police raids are stressing people. Even getting to the President does not require isolation or a PCR test. The President’s opinion on anti-epidemic measures is that everyone has to control his own destiny.

By the way, the President's schedule has not really been affected by the Covid - in the sense that he has worked and still works. He does not isolate himself, he is always in contact. Video contacts are held only in exceptional cases. On the contrary, he often goes personally to the places, where the world leaders would never set foot. Dozens of times he attended the red zones, and always with a question: What do the medics need?

The opponents take every chance they can to undermine the authority and trust in the government. And Covid is a very appropriate trigger. This is how the fugitives play on people's phobias for themselves and their kin. The President exposed the fakes about the coronavirus from the Web.

We need less politics, more real action, says the President. Otherwise, if you collect all the coronafakes, you'll end up with a book. Those who are busy with the real fight against Covid have no time to read it. It certainly doesn't help medics to work. The three waves of the coronavirus are now behind us - they have left their mark. This is above all the experience that no other country in the world has had. We learned how to live in the conditions of a pandemic, we learned how to treat people, we learned how to prevent it. We didn't shut down, we worked, we withstood the pressure of critics - they said we were "too smart" and went our own way. Even today it is obvious, that the pandemics is not just health, this is big politics, too!

This year the state has allotted 825 million rubles for additional payments to the medics from red zones. The treatment of people, purchase of medicines and medical equipment requires money. We will still need additional funds including allowances for doctors.

Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Belarus:

About Br250 million more will be needed to pay co-payment allowances to physicians in the fourth quarter. This money will be found in the republican and local budgets. "What we planned for a year was actually eaten up in three quarters.


During the last period of the year Br825 million budgetary funds was spent on health care allowances, while since the beginning of the pandemic the figure rose to almost Br1.3 billion. This amount does not include the purchase of personal protective equipment, vaccines and medicines. "The load is very large for the budget," said the head of government. But even in these difficult conditions we manage to maintain high rates of industrial production due to the optimization of internal reserves. Thus, there is a significant effect of the pandemic on the national economy, nevertheless we manage to cope with it. We will find the missing funds without harming the other sectors of the economy.


Back at the beginning of the pandemic, the decision to refocus production on the domestic protective equipment was very timely. There are enough masks, in December the production of medical gloves will begin. We promptly responded to the request for oxygen. The demand for it has grown; we have strained the industry and connected all facilities in addition to the specialized Creon.

The cost of oxygen increased by 2-5 times, depending on the region. The President instructed the State Control Committee to stop all possible attempts to speculate on this topic. The work against Covid requires concerted efforts of doctors and authorities. That is why we have to meet often to harmonize our efforts. The President regularly receives information. At the moment there are 2,000 patients a day. Alexander Lukashenko needs to hear specialists in order to adjust the tactics and strategy of combating the coronovirus, if necessary.

The regional anti-Covid headquarters should be involved as much as possible. The governors, presidential commissioners and the best infectious disease specialists should work as a team. They should ring the bell if something is missing, or if there is a problem. And such a management system is truly effective.  The doctors speak about the pattern of the fourth wave: the delta hits mostly the active middle-aged people, but the elderly catch the disease more seldom. But that does not mean reducing the degree of attention to elder people. At the request of the President, parliamentarians took them under their care.

All conditions for Covid patients were created in the regions. The medical system was ready for the next wave. There are no problems with drugs in Gomel, as well as enough personal protective equipment and ventilators. Medical institutions of the region have enough beds, including for severe patients.

Gennady Solovey, Chairman of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee:

We increased the number of oxygen points, from 1,015 to 3,220 - this made it possible today to be sure that we can satisfy all oxygen-dependent people.  Our base is full, the base is supplied with materials, and we do everything to make our people healthy and get the maximum treatment.


In large cities the strain is felt more, especially in Minsk and Gomel. Alexander Lukashenko discusses general trends with experts. What are we expecting by winter, when the seasonal rise of morbidity usually takes place? When do we reach the peak? What about influenza? The Ministry of Health, having analyzed the outbreaks of delta strain in Russia and India, expects that in November the morbidity will go down.

Doctors rely on vaccination, expecting the number of vaccinated people in Belarus to reach 5 million by the end of this year. It's everyone's choice whether to get a prophylactic injection or not. They say it's really a matter of life and death for many people.

Vaccination campaign is going on all over the country - there is a choice of vaccines. But again and again Alexander Lukashenko demands to avoid the compulsory vaccinations. And such facts are getting to the President! One should not force, but to convince and stimulate. We are actively working on our own vaccine. It is planned to be launched into circulation in 23rd year.

Covid has turned life upside down on the planet. It is obvious that the pandemic is not going to end. But even in this difficult situation, much depends on ourselves, on our conscience and on our way of life.

The President has not the slightest doubt that the country's enemies will continue to use the topic for their own selfish goals. He appeals not to believe fakes and speculations, but to listen to specialists and to trust doctors more.

The Ministry of Health, reinsuring itself, has canceled scheduled inspections. But today we have come to the conclusion that this is premature. After all, it is not only the coronavirus that undermines health.

It doesn't bad to have an extra pair of hands during a pandemic. In Vitebsk, students of specialized universities help doctors. For future doctors it is not only practice, but also invaluable experience. Today, more than 200 students of the region have already been employed in the region's health care institutions. The issue of medications and ventilators is still under control in the northern region, as well as in the whole country.

We use in-patient treatment and post rehabilitation at home or in a health resort. Such a scheme proved effective in practice during the first wave. And today it is important to use the base of medical institutions as wisely as possible, so as not to overload the system on the one hand, and on the other hand, to help everyone.

They say the virus has gotten younger. In the current wave, active and energetic young people fall ill more often. But we have to keep in mind the expectant mothers and old people. The situation with COVID in the country is complicated, but manageable. The next week or two will be very revealing and decisive - the result of the common efforts should be felt in the near future.

It is too early to put an end to this conversation. Tomorrow, the monitoring of the epidemic situation will continue in one of the medical institutions. The Belarusian President will not be intimidated by the red wave. It is Lukashenko's policy to be where people face problems.