Regional Headquarters for Combating the Spread of COVID-19: The disease situation in the region and issues concerning the New Year holidays were discussed.

Today, a meeting of the regional headquarters for combating the spread of COVID-19 was held at the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

Today, a meeting of the regional headquarters for combating the spread of COVID-19 was held at the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. Participants discussed the disease situation in the region, addressed issues related to the New Year holidays, and focused on the importance of preventive measures.

Healthcare facilities in the region currently have 10.5 thousand beds, some of which are allocated for coronavirus patients. Over 4.5 thousand doctors and mid-level medical personnel are working in the region to treat them. In Vitebsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Orsha, 307 students from the Vitebsk State Medical University are involved. The incidence rate in the region continues to rise, therefore, the provision of high-tech medical care has been suspended.

"The situation is under control. Medical workers are provided with personal protective equipment, medicines, and drugs," said Nikolai Kaspirovich, Deputy Head of the Main Department for Healthcare of the Regional Executive Committee. He assured that all medical staff are receiving their due additional payments on time.

Medical professionals emphasized that people should not forget about social distancing and proper mask-wearing, and should use sanitizers and gloves in shops, shopping centers, and on public transport, etc. The administration of retail outlets and the management of enterprises must ensure that their subordinates strictly adhere to the mandatory use of masks. Shopping centers will also be instructed to ensure that automatic sliding doors are installed at entrances, so that people do not have to touch surfaces unnecessarily. The idea was put forward to allow passengers on suburban routes to purchase masks from bus drivers. This is planned to be implemented in the near future.

Vladimir Sinkevich, Chief Physician of the Vitebsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, reported that the center's specialists inspect 500-700 facilities of various ownership forms weekly for compliance with epidemiological requirements.

He also noted that PCR laboratories in Orsha and the Vitebsk City Central Polyclinic are expected to open by the end of the week. "The capacity of the laboratory of the Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health has been expanded. We operate around the clock, processing about 2,000 samples per day," added Vladimir Sinkevich.

During the headquarters meeting, experts touched upon the issue of holding New Year's celebrations. For example, about 950 children are invited to the regional New Year tree event. It has been proposed to divide them into two groups and hold the performance twice. The Chief Physician of the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital, Tatyana Kovaleva, suggested not holding such events. In that case, gifts will be presented to the children at their institutions. This issue will be discussed in more detail at the next headquarters meeting, and a decision will be made.

The Head of the Main Department for Education of the Regional Executive Committee, Dmitry Khoma, stated that today almost 80% of students attend schools. About 60% of children attend kindergartens in the region. There are cases of infection among children and staff in all orphanages in the region. Educators comply with the mask-wearing requirement, but there are instances where parents tell their children not to use them.

According to medical forecasts, the peak of morbidity in Belarus is expected in early December, and the plateau will last until the first days of February.