President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has impliedly confirmed four coronavirus deaths in Belarus when interviewed by TV station Mir on Thursday.
“We have only four of them, those who died of pneumonia complicated by the coronavirus. We are still clarifying whether the fourth death was caused by the coronavirus. Any virus aggravates chronic diseases,” he said.
According to the Belarusian leader, the authorities are not hushing up about the pandemic in the country, because it is ‘impossible’ to brush up a human death under the carpet.
“We are holding a meeting on a number of issues next Tuesday. I will provide information and all statistical data. We are not withholding anything at all,” he stressed.
Lukashenka urged Belarusians to avoid panic and keep calm. The outbreak failed to have any impact on his usual working schedule, the head of state added.
“I have not taken tests for coronavirus, however I am attentive to my health condition. I am not changing my way of life. I keep doing sports and increased physical activity. However, I have just realized that it is probably not a good idea to overburden a body with physical activity during the peak of diseases,” state-run news agency BelTA quotes him.
Over the past month, Alyaksandr Lukashenka has gained notoriety for his careless attitude to the pandemic of COVID-19.
On March 16, he 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. Later, he called the situation ‘psychosis and foolishness’.
Last week, Lukashenka promised that despite the coronavirus, no festivities on the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War would be canceled. What is more, introducing quarantine measures is not even considered at the official level. There are sports competitions with fans in the stands. The head of Belarus plays sports and shares antivirus observations.
To date, the Belarusian Health Ministry has officially confirmed two coronavirus deaths.
