Regional Headquarters for Combating the Spread of COVID-19: The disease situation in the region and issues related to the New Year's holidays were discussed
Healthcare facilities in the region currently have 10.5 thousand beds, some of which are allocated for coronavirus patients. More than 4.5 thousand doctors and mid-level medical staff are working in the region to treat them. In Vitebsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Orsha, 307 students from the Vitebsk State Medical University are involved. The increase in morbidity in the region continues, so the provision of high-tech medical care has been suspended.
"The situation is under control. Medical workers are provided with personal protective equipment, medicines, and drugs," said Nikolai Kaspirovich, Deputy Head of the Main Department for Healthcare of the Regional Executive Committee. He assured that all medical staff receive their due additional payments on time.
Medical professionals emphasized that people should not forget about social distancing and proper mask-wearing, and should use sanitizers and gloves in stores, shopping centers, transport, etc. The administration of retail outlets and the management of enterprises must control the mandatory use of masks by their subordinates. It will also be instructed that shopping centers should have sliding doors at entrances everywhere – this way people will not have to touch surfaces unnecessarily. The idea was expressed that passengers on suburban routes could purchase masks from bus drivers. This is planned to be organized in the near future.
Vladimir Sinkevich, chief physician of the Vitebsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, said that the center's specialists check 500-700 facilities of various forms of ownership weekly for compliance with epidemiological requirements.
He also noted that PCR laboratories in Orsha and the Vitebsk City Polyclinic are expected to open by the end of the week. "The capacity of the laboratory of the regional center for hygiene, epidemiology and public health has been expanded. We work around the clock, examining about 2,000 samples per day," added Vladimir Sinkevich.
During the staff meeting, experts touched upon the issue of holding New Year's celebrations. For example, about 950 children are invited to the regional Christmas tree. It is proposed to divide them into two groups and hold the performance twice. Tatyana Kovaleva, chief physician of the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital, suggested not holding such events. Then the gifts will be handed over to the children in their institutions. This issue will be discussed in more detail at the next staff meeting and a decision will be made.
Dmitry Khoma, head of the main department for education of the regional executive committee, said that today almost 80% of students attend schools. About 60% of children attend kindergartens in the region. There are cases of infection among children and staff in all orphanages in the region. Teachers comply with the mask-wearing requirement, but there are cases when parents tell their children not to use them.
According to medics' forecasts, the peak of morbidity in Belarus is expected in early December, and the plateau will last until the first days of February.