Regional Health Department: Surgical building of Vitebsk Emergency Hospital returns to normal operation

From March 10, the surgical building of the Vitebsk City Emergency Hospital (BSMP) will be repurposed to operate in its normal mode, as reported by the main department for healthcare of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

"A decrease in the number of patients with COVID-19 under observation and treatment in outpatient clinics, and a reduction in the workload of the outpatient care system allow healthcare institutions in the region to gradually return to their normal operating mode. Today, preparations are underway at the BSMP surgical building for repurposing, and from March 10, standard medical care will be provided here. Nine central district hospitals are providing planned care: Beshenkovichi, Gorodok, Dubrovno, Liozno, Rossony, Sennno, Ushachi, Sharkovshchina, and Shumilino. The number of repurposed beds in pediatric departments of healthcare institutions is also decreasing," the regional health department noted.

Five healthcare institutions in Vitebsk are operating as infectious disease hospitals. These include the Regional Infectious Disease Hospital, the Regional Clinical Center for Pulmonology and Phthisiology, the BSMP (excluding the surgical building), the Regional Clinical Maternity Hospital, and the urology building of the Regional Clinical Hospital.

The regional health department also emphasized that the gradual decline in coronavirus incidence does not preclude preventive measures. Medical professionals recommend adhering to respiratory etiquette rules, maintaining distance in public places, wearing protective masks, disinfecting hands, ventilating rooms, and undergoing vaccination and revaccination. According to the chief sanitary doctor of the region, Vladimir Sinkevich, as of this morning, 62.6% of the residents of the Vitebsk region have received the first component of the vaccine, and 61.5% have received both components. Additionally, 12.9% of children aged 12 to 17 years in the region have been vaccinated against COVID-19.