“Psychosis” defeated Lukashenko. Belarus goes into quarantine
The government of Belarus today published a decree introducing a self-isolation regime for coronavirus carriers, as well as for their first and second level contacts.
The text of the resolution is posted on the Belarusian National Legal Portal, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Today, the number of people infected with coronavirus has increased by 39%, Belarus has taken a leading position in the world in terms of growth rates.
“Well, gentlemen, preparations begin for what is called quarantine. Quarantine is when the resources of a country’s healthcare system cannot cope with the surge of sick people. In the case of “quarantine”, all lungs (and especially contacts) return home. With mandatory self-isolation (the regime of which some of them will try to violate) to the “joy” of their neighbors,” political scientist Igor Tyshkevich commented on the resolution in his Telegram channel.
Previously, in Belarus, all carriers and their contacts were hospitalized.
Teams of doctors in special clothing came for the citizens, packed them into special capsules and took them away. The actions of the “cosmonauts” sowed alarm in Belarusian society, but the country’s President Alexander Lukashenko constantly stated that the coronavirus was a “psychosis” and refused to impose quarantine and cancel public events.
The partisan region did not really believe in the words of its leader and still quarantined semi-underground.
Parents stopped taking their children to kindergartens and sending them to schools. Lectures were canceled at universities and students were transferred to independent work. It was allowed to switch to free visits, but coronavirus could not be mentioned in applications.
Private enterprises, especially in the IT industry, transferred employees to remote work. Drivers of Minsk trolleybuses have stopped selling tickets.
A chain of cinemas closed on its own initiative. Cafes and restaurants are half empty; in shops, people keep their distance in queues.
Prices for antiseptic masks have soared in Belarus - citizens do not believe in the “psychic” nature of the coronavirus. There are already 153 thousand signatures on an online petition demanding a quarantine. This is significantly more than the appeals of opposition zmagari usually collect, that is, Lukashenko’s electorate does not support the “weakness and courage” with which the president denies the danger of the virus.
According to a sociological survey conducted by SATIO, 70% are in favor of banning all public events, 56% are in favor of closing all educational institutions for quarantine, and 53% are in favor of the state forcing employers to transfer all possible jobs to remote work.
Let us note that the anti-hat spirit in the government is gradually subsiding. It all started with the fact that on March 26, everyone entering the country began to be quarantined. At the same time, the borders remain defiantly open, neighbors are fenced off from brave Belarus.
While Lukashenko defiantly does not wear a mask, attends public events and touches people with his hands, his country has begun to disinfect public transport and entrances. Under pressure from parental public opinion, they were forced to extend the school holidays.
Finally, on April 7, all executive committees in the Minsk region were closed to visitors. In the capital itself, a plan “for the prevention of infectious diseases” was approved. Parents were finally allowed not to send their children to kindergartens and not to let them go to schools. Visits to nursing homes, as well as funerals, weddings and other banquets are prohibited. Public events are partially limited, reading rooms are closed, and in cafes it is recommended that visitors be seated further away from each other. Owners of nightclubs, bowling alleys, and hookah bars were advised to close.
However, this does not prevent the guard crews from marching through the streets of Minsk - rehearsals are underway for the Victory Day parade, the mass of which no one is thinking of limiting. The Ministry of Education of Belarus has not canceled not only entrance exams, but also graduation balls. What can we say about the now internationally popular Belarusian football championship. Thus, the fight against “psychosis” continues – merciless and senseless.
Alexander Lukashenko always explained his rejection of quarantine measures by his reluctance to ruin the economy. But the scheme didn't work. The coronavirus has already been detected at the largest Belarusian enterprises (MAZ, MTZ, Naftan), and they face the threat of closure.
Nevertheless, Health Minister Vladimir Karanik, speaking in the Belarusian parliament today, confidently stated that the authorities will not be ashamed of the policies they are pursuing. At the same time, he predicts that the peak of the epidemic is still ahead, it will occur at the end of April - beginning of May.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.