On April 7, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee hosted a regular meeting of the regional headquarters for combating the spread of COVID-19.
On April 7, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee hosted a regular meeting of the regional headquarters for combating the spread of COVID-19.
- The situation in the region is quite complex, exacerbated by the increase in respiratory diseases and pneumonia, - Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev told reporters today before the start of the regional headquarters meeting on COVID-19. – At the same time, it is under control. Everything possible is being done to ensure that the healthcare system functions normally, to provide our medical staff with the necessary protective equipment, and to ensure that all government bodies are working. Special attention is also paid to self-isolation recommendations for the elderly.
Lyudmila Kovaleva, Deputy Head of the Main Department for Healthcare of the Regional Executive Committee, detailed the decisions being made in connection with the increase in the incidence of diseases, including pneumonia. She reported that patients with COVID-19 continue to be hospitalised in medical institutions, isolated for observation, and first-level contacts. For these purposes, the Lyottsy sanatorium has been repurposed for the regional centre. However, the second part of this action algorithm is relevant for the regions of the oblast.
It was also decided today that personal protective equipment (respirators, coveralls) should be provided not only to medical workers providing care to coronavirus patients in hospitals but also to all ambulance staff and outpatient clinic employees. These supplies are constantly provided by the Ministry of Health, but there is a severe shortage. It was announced that the Vitebsk enterprise "Display" has organised the production of protective face shields for medical personnel from plastic. Today, 200 units will be shipped, with a continuous increase in volume. Many workshops and small production facilities in all districts and cities are involved in the production of masks.
All public organisations (Belaya Rus, FPB, BRSM, Belarusian Peace Foundation) are involved in providing medical staff with assistance, utilising their capabilities to purchase disposable gloves, dishes, etc., in chain stores, including with cash, bypassing procurement procedures. The regional organisation of the trade union of medical workers is purchasing protective equipment and delivering ready-made meals for the staff of medical institutions, having accumulated over 100 thousand rubles for these purposes.