Belarus has enough vaccines against COVID-19, Deputy Healthcare Minister Dmitry Cherednichenko told BelTA.

“The immunization program continues in Belarus. There are enough vaccines in the country. Vaccination is voluntary. Healthcare professionals explain the importance of getting a shot,” Dmitry Cherednichenko said.

The deputy minister recalled that a million doses of the Chinese vaccine against COVID-19 will be delivered to Belarus in early September. The documents to purchase the vaccine were approved. The ministries of foreign affairs and the embassies of the two countries actively helped the Healthcare Ministry of Belarus to formalize the purchase. Belarus will get a million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine that was previously delivered as part of humanitarian aid.

In addition, China will provide Belarus with another 500,000 doses of the vaccine in the form of humanitarian aid.

According to Dmitry Cherednichenko, Belarus and China have a long-standing history of mutual assistance. In fact, Belarus was the first country to provide humanitarian aid to China following the outbreak of the coronavirus infection. Afterwards, China returned the favor helping Belarus.

Source: БелТА

Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko has had a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, BelTA learned from the press service of the government.

“In the follow-up to the Belarus-Russia talks held in Cholpon-Ata, the Kyrgyz Republic, on 19 August, the heads of government discussed trade and economic cooperation, as well as joint projects in various fields,” the press service informed.

Roman Golovchenko and Mikhail Mishustin paid special attention to the efforts to deepen integration in the Union State. They also touched upon the schedule of upcoming contacts at the government level.

Source: БелТА

Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko held a working meeting with Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, BelTA has learned.

The heads of government discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting running in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan on 19-20 August.

Source: БелТА

Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko summed up results of the country’s social and economic development in H1 2021 at a session of the Council of Ministers, BelTA has learned.

Roman Golovchenko said: “Four out of the six performance indicators of the government and the central bank were secured in H1 2021. The resulting indicator of performance of the entire economy – real disposable income of the population – rose by 3.5% in January-May or above the projections. Te average salary grew steadily in the first half of the year. It exceeded Br1,400 in June, thus demonstrating a growth of 5.6% in real terms.”

In his words, persistent efforts are being taken to raise income in the public sector, first of all, earnings of pedagogical workers and healthcare workers. “The target has been hit: the ratio of public sector salaries to the country’s average exceeded 81%. In line with the government’s resolution the base rate of labor remuneration of public sector workers was raised by 1.5% on 1 August. We’ve virtually completely accomplished the task of reducing the number of organizations with salaries under Br500. Their number dropped by more than 15 times in the period. Thanks to the creation of conditions conducive to the stable operation of the real sector of the economy an increase in unemployment was prevented,” the prime minister noted.

Roman Golovchenko pointed out that Belarus’ foreign trade remains balanced and continues demonstrating a high export growth rate. Foreign trade surplus totaled $1.73 billion in H1 2021. Belarus honored foreign and domestic commitments on time and in full. The country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves were preserved within projected parameters, he added.

“On the whole, results so far this year testify to quality growth of the economy, with the GDP growth rate at 103.3%. Some slowdown in the manufacturing sector has been compensated for by a recovery of the sector of paid services,” the prime minister concluded.

Source: БелТА

Healthcare facilities of Belarus are getting ready for a possible rise in COVID-19 cases this autumn, BelTA learned from the press release posted on the website of the Healthcare Ministry, BelTA informs.

"Despite a slight drop in cases this summer, the pandemic has not gone away, and we certainly expect another rise in cases in September-October. Healthcare workers could have a little respite in the summer, but now we are starting to prepare for the autumn,” the press service wrote quoting Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich.

According to him, Belarus has learned to live with COVID-19. Healthcare facilities have a 6-month supply of medicines, and more than a 3-month supply of personal protective equipment. About 6,000 out of almost 77,000 hospital beds are now used by COVID-19 patients. Over more than a year, a total of more than Br1.2 million was paid to frontline healthcare workers.

Dmitry Pinevich inspected Minsk Central District Hospital that was converted into an infectious diseases hospital on 3 April 2020. Depending on the intensity of the pandemic, the hospital used from 262 to 342 beds. Over this time, the hospital staff cured more than 6,000 patients, over 250 of them were on mechanical ventilation. The hospital admitted people from nearly all parts of Minsk Oblast, and the city of Minsk.

At the meeting with healthcare professionals of Minsk District, the minister discussed schedules of doctors and nurses, vaccinations and the pandemic curve. In the intensive care unit, the minister was told about the case history of each patient, as well as the chosen treatment. The specialists also discussed the use of glucocorticoids in patients with acute respiratory failure and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for most severe cases.

Source: БелТА