MINSK, 13 March (BelTA) – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen to 27 in Belarus, head of the main department for public health, medical evaluation and appeals at the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry Yelena Bogdan told reporters on 13 March, BelTA has learned.
“Coronavirus RNA has been identified in test samples of 27 patients. Three of them have already been cured. These are Belarus' first coronavirus patient and people who came in close contact with previously confirmed coronavirus cases,” Yelena Bogdan said. At present, 24 people are in hospital now. The condition of one of them can be classified as moderate. The others show mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
According to deputy head of the department for hygiene, epidemiology and disease prevention at the Healthcare Ministry Inna Karaban, all the coronavirus cases in Belarus were linked to seven imported cases. Imported cases were reported in Grodno and Gomel (one case in each), Minsk and Vitebsk (two cases in each) and Minsk Oblast (one case).
“We are handling the virus with the help of our own resources. The situation is really under control,” Yelena Bogdan added. Enhanced border measures are in place, work is underway to detect imported cases and local transmission. All people who came in contact with the confirmed cases or their contacts are tested for the virus with a view to minimizing the further spread of the infection.
