Belarus govt: Businesses affected by pandemic may count on ‘supportive measures’
The Belarusian government intends to provide support to Belarusian enterprises and individual entrepreneurs who have suffered losses due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Alyaksandra Isayeva, the press secretary of Prime Minister Syarhei Rumas, announced on Tuesday.
In late March, the cabinet is expected to initiate the first package of measures to support enterprises and businesses amid the spread of COVID-19 in the world.
“The Economy Ministry presented a fairly wide range of tools, including tax and repayment holidays as well as backing self-employed persons. But I do not want to jump ahead, as my colleagues and I have not discussed those measures yet. On March 31, the government is set to adopt the first package of measures,” Syarhei Rumas stressed.
The support plan is to be approved by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the prime minister added.
As reported earlier, the government officials collected appeals and petitions from business associations and discussed the ways of solving the most acute problems with the representatives of businesses that had first-hand knowledge of the consequences of the outbreak.
As of March 23, the number of the infected with COVID-19 totalled to 81 in the country. 22 patients have already been discharged or are ready to be discharged; another 59 people are under supervision and and receive medical treatment, the Belarusian Health Ministry reported on Monday. But still, imposing quarantine measures does not seem to on the Belarusian government’s agenda at the moment.
On March 16,Lukashenka shared with the newly appointed officials his own ways of fighting infections, including the novel coronavirus. He advised going to a dry sauna, claiming that the virus dies at 60 degrees; more frequent handwashing, regular diet, and… drinking some vodka are also on his list.
