On Monday, the Health Ministry has updated the information on the novel coronavirus cases in Belarus.
By the moment, the number of the infected with COVID-19 has 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 ministry reports. No further details about the condition of the diseased are provided.
As of March 23, more than 21,000 people have been examined for COVID-19 in the country, health officials state. If their words are anything to go by, Belarus is one of the top 10 countries leading in taking coronavirus tests.
The ‘zero’ patient in Belarus was a student of the Belarusian National Technical University from Iran who had got infected while being in his native country. In late February, when the first coronavirus case was reported, the university was closed, but only for two weeks. Over 16,000 Belarusians have signed the petition to introduce distance learning in the country. But still, imposing quarantine measures does not seem to on the Belarusian government’s agenda at the moment.
On March 16, Belarusian President Alyaksandr 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.
