In the Vitebsk region, the number of COVID-19 cases has decreased by 2-2.5 times
As reported today by Mikhail Vishnevetsky, Head of the Main Department for Healthcare of the Regional Executive Committee, since December 2020, the region has maintained a trend of the number of recovered patients exceeding the number of incoming patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Moreover, in the last two weeks, 30-50% more people have been discharged than have sought medical help, he noted.
— Currently, healthcare facilities primarily house severe patients whose treatment must be carried out exclusively in inpatient settings. Patients with mild forms of the disease receive outpatient care, — said Mikhail Vishnevetsky.
With the stabilization of the situation, the burden on inpatient medical facilities is decreasing. According to the head of the regional healthcare department, 3 hospitals in Vitebsk are currently used for COVID-19 patients.
- If the trend continues (and it most likely will), the next step in Vitebsk will be to repurpose the surgical building of the emergency hospital from its infectious profile so that the regional hospital can resume providing planned high-tech care, and the emergency hospital can take back emergency cases, — explained Mikhail Vishnevetsky. In the near future, the reverse repurposing of beds will be organized in all districts of the Vitebsk region, he added.
In addition, another batch of vaccine is currently arriving in Belarus, and a decision on vaccinating social service and education system workers is being prepared in parallel. The specific timelines for vaccinating these categories of specialists will be determined after the necessary vaccine approval procedures are completed. Organizational issues may be resolved within the next two weeks, suggested Mikhail Vishnevetsky. Vaccination of medical workers will also continue: this procedure will be completed for those working in Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk, and Novopolotsk on February 5, and subsequently, medical professionals from all regions of the Vitebsk Oblast will be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19.