The face mask requirement lasted only 13 days in Belarus: it has been lifted on the back of Lukashenka’s recently blasting new anti-covid restrictions.
On October 19, he spoke against mandatory mask, social distancing and vaccination requirements during the meeting regarding the epidemiological situation and the COVID-19 response in Belarus.
“I have already expressed my opinion regarding face masks, PPE, social distancing and vaccination. No pressure on people. God forbid I get information that you kick people out of retail outlets, metro or buses. Because this is already turning into a political problem. People start hating each other. This should be done only on a voluntary basis,” state-run news agency BelTA quotes him.
Decree Nr 11 by the Belarusian Health Ministry of October 20 excludes paragraph 41 from the sanitary rules introduced on October 9. It obliged people to wear face masks and observe social distance indoors. The decision has come into force today.
In addition, Minsk City Executive Committee has canceled its order under which taxi drivers and couriers were bound to be vaccinated by November 1.
Meanwhile, on October 21, the Belarusian authorities officially confirmed 2,097 new cases of COVID-19, which is a new sad record.
