“The disease will not disappear quickly, but life and work must go on.” With an understanding of this current reality, another meeting of the regional headquarters for combating respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, was held on April 15.
“The disease will not disappear quickly, but life and work must go on.” With an understanding of this current reality, another meeting of the regional headquarters for combating respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, was held on April 15.
The situation observed in neighbouring countries and around the world prompts us to this conclusion, said the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev. Based on this, we must build public protection and organise economic activities to prevent any negative scenarios. This must be clearly understood by everyone, both authorities and citizens, to mobilise all forces and capabilities to overcome this difficult challenge.
The Head of the Main Department for Healthcare of the Regional Executive Committee, Mikhail Vishnevetsky, outlined the operational situation. The incidence of acute respiratory infections in the Vitebsk region, he noted, continues to decrease (-16.8 percent), with a good decrease in cities. Adults account for 79 percent of the structure, and children for 21 percent. The number of pneumonia cases in Vitebsk is comparable to the number from last week. Overall, in the region, it is gradually increasing, but this is an expected, forecast level. Each case of pneumonia is now under individual control. The situation with bed capacity is stable, and the incidence is fully under control, concluded Mikhail Leontievich.
The preliminary results of the region's real sector performance for the first quarter were analyzed in detail. The Chairperson of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Economy Committee, Anzhelika Nikitina, reported that they are not bad for the current situation. Industrial enterprises in Vitebsk and its districts are operating, with the exception of those that have paused operations for technical reasons. Those who sent employees on leave fulfilled the required volumes in March. The situation is more challenging for public catering, the tourism industry, small businesses, and individual entrepreneurs. Here, the hope is placed on the support measures being implemented by the government. The volume of construction and installation works reached 126.7 percent compared to the same period last year. Light industry has improved due to the production of protective items for medical personnel. OJSC "Naftan" has achieved a good workload in April. Agriculture has increased by 3.2 percent. The food industry is operating stably, all products are sold, and there are no significant stockpiles. The situation is worse for manufacturers dependent on imported raw materials. A positive growth dynamic is also predicted for April, noted Anzhelika Nikitina.
Taking the information into consideration, Nikolai Sherstnev instructed to review the range of food products, considering a reorientation towards the production of high-revenue items, in order to sell them more effectively in countries under quarantine. Despite the complexity of the epidemiological situation and the importance of treatment and protecting people from infection, he emphasized, it is necessary to keep enterprises operational so that people have money to live on. The Economy Committee needs to monitor the situation and intervene where enterprises are considering reducing the working week or sending people home, even temporarily. Possibly, with targeted government support, such measures may not be necessary.
On other issues. It was stated at the meeting that 17,315 rubles have been collected in a charitable account opened at the Vitebsk Regional Marketing Center. The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee instructed to allocate these funds by decision of the headquarters for financing the most necessary areas. The movement to provide for the needs of healthcare and support for medical workers is expanding. The Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, Vadim Zaryankin, reported that by decision of the city headquarters, similar collections from organizations, enterprises, and citizens will be channeled to the account of the city central polyclinic to cover the additional needs of this link of medicine. From April 14, 14 units of transport from city organizations have been allocated to ensure the work of polyclinic medical staff at home. He also informed about the progress of disinfection of residential building entrances by the housing and communal services (there are 5300 of them). Gorodormost is responsible for streets, bus stops, and underground passages. Additional disinfectants and six portable sprayers are being purchased for it. The enterprise "Vitmil" is involved in providing meals for medical workers at the expense of its profits and sponsorship funds. Taking into account the initiatives of private entities, the demand for it will be largely met. In addition to pharmacies, domestic face masks have already arrived in city chain stores. The population's demand for these protective measures is being met. Antiseptics produced at the facilities of the Vitebsk Distillery "Pridvinye", after fulfilling the orders of RUP "Farmatsiya", will be supplied to enterprises and organizations of the region that need them to maintain the proper sanitary regime. For now, infectious morbidity does not allow for relaxation, and this is not a short-term combat readiness.