How is assistance to the population organized in connection with the spread of COVID-19? Mikhail Vishnevetsky, head of the regional health department, spoke about this.
— Mikhail Leontievich, what is the epidemiological situation in Vitebsk and the region?
— In the region, as in the country as a whole, a predictable trend towards an increase in the incidence of acute respiratory infections, including those caused by the coronavirus COVID-19, is observed. This process is associated both with the characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and with an increase in population density in settlements, especially cities, due to the end of the vacation period, the start of the academic year, and so on.
— In what mode are the outpatient-polyclinic link and hospitals operating?
— Planned high-tech medical care is provided in full. The regional diagnostic center continues to operate as usual. All outpatient-polyclinic institutions are operating under restrictive measures; visits by patients in hospitals are strictly prohibited. Patients with mild and asymptomatic courses of the disease, as well as first-level contacts, are at their place of residence in self-isolation under the control of the outpatient-polyclinic service. Those in need of hospitalization are admitted to hospitals. The number of beds for this is sufficient; if necessary, we will promptly increase their number.
— How ready are the personnel and material resources for a possible worsening of the situation with morbidity?
— The healthcare system is timely prepared to provide the necessary medical care to the population related to the so-called second wave of coronavirus infection. Institutions are fully equipped with the necessary equipment, medicines, disinfectants, and personal protective equipment, and are staffed with trained medical personnel.
— What changes in approaches to providing assistance are there today, considering the experience of working in the spring?
— For a successful fight against coronavirus, it is extremely important to use both domestic and international experience, real practices, approaches to isolating people with suspected illness, diagnostics, treatment, protective measures, and recovery after infection. A diagnostic department and a center for coordinating patient referrals for hospitalization based on the severity of their condition have been created at the Vitebsk City Emergency Hospital, where differential diagnostics of pneumonias are carried out based on their causes, after which patients are hospitalized in specialized departments. Mobile teams of doctors, together with staff from the medical university, have been organized to provide consultative and organizational-methodological assistance.
— Is it planned to strengthen restrictive measures for the population regarding mass events to prevent an increase in infections?
— A set of measures aimed at reducing the spread of acute respiratory infections, including COVID-19, is being implemented in the region. In addition to previously adopted documents, the "Comprehensive Plan of Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Infection in the Vitebsk Region During the Period of Increased Incidence of Acute Respiratory Infections (Autumn-Winter Period 2020–2021)" was approved in September. The established regional headquarters continues its work. If the epidemiological situation worsens, according to the mentioned comprehensive plan of measures, the issue of introducing a ban on sports, cultural, entertainment, scientific, religious, and other mass events with a certain number of participants will be considered.
— Are quarantine measures provided for educational institutions and work collectives where non-isolated cases of infection are detected?
— In accordance with current regulatory documents, if more than 30 percent of the total number of students are absent from an educational institution due to acute respiratory infections, local authorities are informed to make a decision on suspending the educational process. Given the current epidemic situation, no such suspension has occurred. To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread in educational institutions, a set of sanitary and anti-epidemic measures is being implemented in accordance with the methodological recommendations approved by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus
on August 20, 2020.
— And about prevention. A lot is said about social distancing, but not everyone knows what it actually is.
— Adherence to the principles and rules of social distancing is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19. It is very important that residents, every person, understand and follow this. Social distancing is a set of sanitary and epidemiological measures, actions aimed at stopping or slowing down the spread of infectious diseases. Its goal is to reduce the probability of contact between infected and uninfected people in order to reduce the transmission of infection. To achieve this, a person must organize their life in such a way as to reduce contacts outside the home and work by 75 percent and at work by 25 percent. Do not leave home unless absolutely necessary, avoid visiting non-essential places (libraries, museums, cinemas, theaters, and others). Children can only go out with their families. Refrain from attending classes in clubs, sports clubs, gyms, even with a minimum number of participants. If you continue with sports activities, make sure that the group size does not exceed five people and that a distance of 1.5–2 meters is maintained between people during the activities. Do not visit friends and family members who do not live with you, and do not host them. Communicate with other people remotely using communication tools. Every employer must ensure that a distance of 1–1.5 meters is maintained between employees' workplaces, and that personal hygiene and environmental hygiene rules are observed. Choose delivery services and only to the doorstep of your apartment, house, or office. It is recommended to postpone scheduled dental care. If you leave home for necessary reasons, try to reduce contact with other people and maintain a distance of 1.5–2 meters from each other.
Representatives of high-risk groups should follow these recommendations with particular care — elderly and senior citizens, individuals of any age with chronic diseases. If medical assistance is required, it is advisable to use remote medical services without visiting a polyclinic. If you are over 60 years old and need a medical examination due to a deterioration in your well-being, call the registry, information desk, or call center of the healthcare institution at your place of residence, inform them about it, and leave your contact details. A healthcare professional will contact you during working hours and arrange a time for a home visit. The same procedure applies to issuing prescriptions for medications for continuous use, previously prescribed by a doctor.