Natalia Kochanova on the situation in Vitebsk: the situation is absolutely manageable, doctors understand what needs to be done
The speaker visited the Vitebsk region a few days ago on the instructions of the President to ascertain the situation in the region. The Minister of Health, Vladimir Karanik, also traveled to Vitebsk. "The situation is absolutely manageable. Doctors know what needs to be done," Natalya Kochanova said. "Today they are writing that the Vitebsk region has been closed, no one can enter or leave - this is a fake, it does not correspond to reality at all."
The Chairperson of the upper house of parliament visited healthcare facilities in Vitebsk, familiarized herself with the work of laboratories that have started producing coronavirus detection tests. "Of course, there were issues that needed adjustment. A decision has now been made: laboratories will be opened in all regional centers in order to provide faster conclusions on coronavirus tests. Therefore, there is no emergency, the situation is absolutely controlled and manageable," she stated.
The day before, an actor from the theater, who had previously been diagnosed with coronavirus, died in Vitebsk, so the situation in the region is under special control of the head of state. "I'm not saying it's some kind of catastrophe. It's just that the Vitebsk region has a different climate, and the peak of the disease has shifted slightly. Yes, there were some mistakes. I would like to hear about them. Today, the Minister of Health is working there, I sent him and specialists there to pay attention, analyze and draw conclusions," Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting with Natalya Kochanova.
The President noted that the elderly man also had other underlying diseases. "His wife is healthy (she lived with her husband), his daughter is healthy. Because of a strong immune system. And he, the poor fellow, could not withstand it. He was admitted with severe pneumonia, was on a ventilator, they were trying to save him," he added.
The Head of State emphasized that in the current situation, efforts should be made to protect elderly people: "Not because they are old, but because their immunity is weakened. And secondly, they have a bouquet of diseases."