On January 19, the Belarusian authorities launched the process of vaccinating the most vulnerable groups of health workers in the country.
“There are plans to vaccinate 2,285 health workers in Minsk, 3,460 in Brest region, 3,260 in Vitsebsk region, 4,365 in Homiel region, 1,735 in Hrodna region, 1,610 in Mahiliou region 2,485 in Minsk region. About 800 doses are meant for the staff of national healthcare centres,” state-run news agency BelTA reports with reference to the Belarusian Health Ministry.
As reported earlier, the vaccination of all interested people (out of the risk groups) may begin in April, 2021.
According to the official data, since late February, there have been 228,716 COVID-19 cases in Belarus; 212,074 patients have recovered, 1,601 persons have died.
Even on the back of the increasing infection rate, the Belarusian authorities did not introduce any quarantine measures in the spring of 2020. Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed that imposing a nationwide lockdown would not improve the situation in Belarus. In his opinion, such steps might deal a crippling blow to the daily life of the nation. Although the Belarusian leader admitted that the recommendations by the WHO should be studied in detail, he stressed the country would run its own course.
