Decision to reopen Belarusian schools prompted by analysis of situation

BOBRUISK, 21 April (BelTA) – The decision to reopen schools was made after the analysis of the epidemiological situation in the country, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as talked to the personnel of the Bobruisk-based enterprise Slavyanka on 21 April, BelTA informs.

“The morbidity of acute respiratory diseases is close to zero (this is a common disease for our children), even in northern Vitebsk Oblast it is close to zero. As for this virus, we have analyzed everything, studied opinions, there were reports. I made a decision that students should be sent back to schools. I realized that many parents will not send their children back to schools immediately. It is okay, we will not insist, those are their children, I understand it as a father,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We need to restart this process in a slow and calm manner within a week.”

The president also responded to those who criticized him for putting the responsibility on parents. “I am keeping an eye on people's reactions. People are different. Opposition members started to write in certain Telegram channels, yellow press that Lukashenko had put the responsibility on parents. Listen, this is absurd. Maybe, I am taking the responsibility too much. I have put this burden on myself. Although many people are saying that the presidential election is coming… Don't put the carriage before the horse! I am the president, and I am responsible for all this. Whether I will try to put the responsibility on somebody else or not, you will ask from me. We have this practice in our country. The president is always the one who is taking the responsibility. Therefore, I am dealing with all these issues. I said openly and honestly that I was absolutely against prolonging the school break. We analyzed opinions and found out that people wanted to have them prolonged for a week. Well, we did it. But I said that I was totally against.”

The president also spoke about protective measures that are taken at schools. He criticized those who make children wear face masks, use alcohol-containing sanitizers and so on. “This is absurd. They should not make children wear face masks, especially in schools. There were no such orders. Those who introduced such practices will be held accountable,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “You'd better open windows to get in some fresh air.”

One of the workers of the enterprise asked the president to support the construction of a school in the new seventh district of Bobruisk. In her words, many young families with children are living there, and children have to go to schools which are located far away. Bobruisk mayor also thinks that it is necessary to build one more school. The head of state instructed Mogilev Oblast governor to pay close attention to this issue. “If the construction of a school is planned in this district, we will think about it.”