Meeting of the regional headquarters for combating the spread of COVID-19: in the Vitebsk region, the influx of patients with pneumonia decreased over the weekend
According to Mikhail Leontievich, the influx of patients with pneumonia over the past weekend was insignificant. On Saturday, 109 people were hospitalized, and on Sunday – 56. Just a few days ago, these numbers were significantly higher – up to 300 and above.
– But it is still difficult to talk about the sustainability of this trend. It is possible that people with symptoms of diseases did not want to seek medical attention. The coming days will show the real picture. The decrease in the number of patients has allowed medical institutions to reallocate bed capacity for severely ill patients, mild cases, and those who can be discharged for outpatient follow-up treatment, – noted Mikhail Vishnevetsky.
All laboratories in Vitebsk are equipped with test systems and consumables.
On Saturday, there was a large delivery of an antimalarial drug, which is currently used worldwide, including for the treatment of coronavirus pneumonia.
Humanitarian aid arrived from China: respirators, pulse oximeters (which determine the degree of blood oxygen saturation), non-contact thermometers, and more.
In the near future, explained the head of the regional healthcare department, plasma from recovered people will also be used to treat severely ill patients.
This is already being done in Minsk. This week, severely ill patients from district hospitals will be transferred to regional healthcare institutions.
Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev, who chaired the headquarters meeting this time, emphasized the importance of social distancing, especially on the eve of Radunitsa and the long weekend, when many will want to visit the graves of relatives and their hometowns. We need to seriously consider that such trips do not turn into a disaster. One should also pay close attention to one's own health and the health of loved ones. In case of fever or other symptoms of illness, do not self-medicate, but consult a doctor. The earlier the disease is detected, the easier it will be to manage and will not lead to severe consequences.
Head of the Main Department for Education of the Regional Executive Committee Dmitry Khoma said that on the first day after the extended holidays, 35.5% of the region's students attended classes in the first shift.
In some educational institutions, the figure is up to 60%, in others – 20%. However, the first few days are not indicative, as many parents have adopted a wait-and-see approach.
– Today, organizational measures have been carried out in schools to ensure sanitary and epidemiological standards and compliance with all recommendations. Educational institutions are supplied with antiseptics. Constant control will be maintained over the safe organization of the educational process, – noted Dmitry Leonidovich.
Chairman of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee Alexander Khristoforov spoke about the employment of those who lost their jobs in the difficult epidemiological situation. Their number is small – 40 people, with only three registered with the employment service. Alexander Nikolaevich also explained that the region's boarding schools, where elderly people live, are most vulnerable to various infections, and have switched to isolation mode.
And their future colleagues came to the aid of medical workers. Rector of Vitebsk Medical University Anatoly Shchastny noted that 37 students have started working as mid-level medical staff at the Regional Clinical Hospital, and another 60 – in polyclinics. Created consultative groups conduct video conferences with doctors of district hospitals and visit medical facilities.