BOBRUISK, 21 April (BelTA) – Belarus has turned out to be better prepared to combat coronavirus thanks to preserving the necessary capacities in the healthcare system, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he inspected the Bobruisk-based Slavyanka garment factory on 21 April, BelTA has learned.
“This coronavirus has become a part and parcel of politics. Everyone is looking where to bite Lukashenko, Belarus, as they are believed to have gone rogue. Don't be surprised. We have preserved the system and got it into shape. Thus, it turned out that we were more or less prepared to respond to this infection and not only to it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
At the same time the president pointed out: coronavirus and similar infections kill much fewer people than, for example, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. “People around the world are poking fun at me, in particular in Russia (as if they had nothing else to discuss) quoting me saying that Belarus has no coronavirus deaths yet. I want to reiterate: no one even here, in Mogilev Oblast, has died of coronavirus. They all die of chronic diseases, while any virus hit the weakest people with immunodeficiency. That was what I meant,” the head of state noted.
He urged not to neglect other diseases and to continue regular health checkups, otherwise doctors can miss a serious condition in a patient. “Today we should deal with all diseases and pay particular attention to respiratory diseases,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president noted that if needed additional resources can be used to tackle coronavirus, just like it was done at the very beginning. “Some time ago only healthcare workers and the Healthcare Ministry were involved in it. When we saw a surge in pneumonias, I asked the governors to pitch in: every morning a coronavirus response team should convene to hear out updates provided by doctors and other professionals. Doctors should be subject to close scrutiny,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said addressing Mogilev Oblast Governor Leonid Zayats. “You should keep people safe. We lavish so much attention on doctors and they should give back. No offense meant, but we are caring a lot for them. Doctors should respond to it with their work, which they are doing. Everyone should do their job properly,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Talking to the company's staff, the head of state commented on critical remarks against Belarus. “I have become superstitious over this time. You cannot even imagine what it means to be alone against the world, to swim against the tide. I warned and keep warning the government, civil servants that we have no supporters or sympathizers in the world. I once said that time will come and we, politicians, will have to give an account of how we lived, worked, protected you and what measures we took. And then we will see what politicians will say to their people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed gratitude to all the countries that support Belarus and send humanitarian aid, sometimes without waiting to be asked for that, like Uzbekistan did. He noted that Belarus does not take it for granted and returns the favor by sending its products via return flights. Thus, Belarus tractors were sent to China and Uzbekistan.
The president believes that the situation is stable now: seasonal infections are on the decline, there is no surge in coronavirus cases. “Even Easter has not added problems. There is a small gleam of hope that we will cope with it and pull through,” the head of state added.
