MINSK, 22 April (BelTA) – Vitebsk has started to flatten the curve. An increase in the number of cases in other regions is within the forecast, Belarus Healthcare Minister Vladimir Karanik told BelTA.
During a briefing for the press on Friday, 17 April, the minister noted that the situation in Vitebsk stabilized: there was a feeling that the region reached a plateau and could expect a decrease in the number of cases soon. “The trend in Vitebsk is confirmed. In other regions, the growth is within the projected numbers,” he said.
“The main task is to prevent an avalanche-like growth in order not to leave the healthcare system overstretched. Our healthcare facilities are using less than 10% of the available bed capacity and less than 10% of the fleet of ventilators to provide treatment today,” the minister said.
“At the moment, the healthcare system has enough resources to maintain high-quality healthcare delivery ,” Vladimir Karanik stressed.
“The situation remains manageable. We have been able to prevent an avalanche-like increase in the number of cases,” he added.
Speaking about the WHO recommendations issued the day before, Vladimir Karanik recalled that at a press conference in Minsk the WHO experts spoke about the need to raise the awareness of people, as much as possible, about possible risks and safety rules. “We regularly publish figures. But we would like the population to hear our recommendations about possible risks and safety rules,” the minister stressed.
He did not rule out WHO sending another mission to Belarus “should such a need arise as the situation develops”. At the moment, the Healthcare Ministry is in constant contact with WHO. “We are keeping in touch. We do not have any misunderstandings and problems with WHO," Vladimir Karanik said.
