Meeting of the regional headquarters for combating COVID-19: the situation in the Vitebsk region is difficult, but under control

On April 7, an очередное meeting of the regional headquarters for combating the spread of COVID-19 was held at the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

- The situation in the region is quite difficult, it is aggravated by the increase in respiratory diseases and pneumonia, - Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies, told reporters today before the meeting of the regional headquarters for combating 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 authorities work. Special attention is also paid to self-isolation recommendations for representatives of the older generation.

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 hospitalized in medical institutions, isolated for observation, and first-level contacts. For these purposes, the "Lyottsy" sanatorium has been repurposed for the regional center. But the second part of this action algorithm is relevant for the regions of the oblast.

It was also decided today that not only medical workers providing assistance to patients with coronavirus in hospitals, but also all ambulance workers and outpatient clinic staff should have personal protective equipment (respirator, overalls). 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 organized the production of protective shields for medical personnel made of plastic. Today, 200 units will be shipped, with a constant increase in volume. Many workshops and small productions in all districts and cities are engaged in the production of masks.

All public organizations (Belaya Rus, FPB, BRSM, Belarusian Peace Foundation) are involved in providing medical workers with the opportunity to use their capabilities to purchase, including with cash, without procurement procedures, disposable gloves, dishes, and so on in chain stores. The regional organization of the trade union of medical workers is purchasing protective equipment and delivering ready-made meals for the staff of medical institutions, having accumulated more than 100 thousand rubles for these purposes.