The COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). The virus was confirmed to have spread to Belarus, when the first case of COVID-19 in the country was registered in Minsk on 28 February 2020. As of 29 January 2023, a total of 19,047,714 vaccine doses have been administered.
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Background On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant death toll.
Timeline
February 2022 February 2022On 1 February, a total of 744,871 confirmed cases were reported, including 734,885 recoveries and 6,067 deaths. More than 11,731,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 2 February, a total of 748,505 confirmed cases were reported, including 738,181 recoveries and 6,084 deaths. More than 11,773,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 3 February, a total of 753,495 confirmed cases were reported, including 742,762 recoveries and 6,099 deaths. More than 11,823,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 4 February, a total of 760,845 confirmed cases were reported, including 749,595 recoveries and 6,116 deaths. More than 11,870,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 5 February, a total of 769,076 confirmed cases were reported, including 757,436 recoveries and 6,132 deaths. More than 11,909,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 6 February, a total of 777,391 confirmed cases were reported, including 765,467 recoveries and 6,147 deaths. More than 11,945,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 7 February, a total of 783,260 confirmed cases were reported, including 770,567 recoveries and 6,159 deaths. More than 11,967,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 8 February, a total of 788,934 confirmed cases were reported, including 775,634 recoveries and 6,175 deaths. More than 11,978,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 9 February, a total of 797,188 confirmed cases were reported, including 783,649 recoveries and 6,190 deaths. More than 12,010,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 10 February, a total of 805,651 confirmed cases were reported, including 792,007 recoveries and 6,204 deaths. More than 12,045,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 11 February, a total of 814,262 confirmed cases were reported, including 800,239 recoveries and 6,221 deaths. More than 12,078,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 12 February, a total of 823,045 confirmed cases were reported, including 808,784 recoveries and 6,237 deaths. More than 12,108,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 13 February, a total of 831,966 confirmed cases were reported, including 817,900 recoveries and 6,253 deaths. More than 12,137,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 14 February, a total of 838,571 confirmed cases were reported, including 823,890 recoveries and 6,265 deaths. More than 12,153,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 15 February, a total of 843,717 confirmed cases were reported, including 828,579 recoveries and 6,278 deaths. More than 12,161,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 16 February, a total of 851,636 confirmed cases were reported, including 836,809 recoveries and 6,295 deaths. More than 12,188,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 17 February, a total of 859,884 confirmed cases were reported, including 845,171 recoveries and 6,313 deaths. More than 12,218,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 18 February, a total of 868,078 confirmed cases were reported, including 853,535 recoveries and 6,329 deaths. More than 12,248,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 19 February, a total of 875,934 confirmed cases were reported, including 861,397 recoveries and 6,348 deaths. More than 12,272,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 20 February, a total of 883,217 confirmed cases were reported, including 869,256 recoveries and 6,361 deaths. More than 12,299,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 21 February, a total of 887,582 confirmed cases were reported, including 873,353 recoveries and 6,375 deaths. More than 12,311,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 22 February, a total of 890,089 confirmed cases were reported, including 875,660 recoveries and 6,392 deaths. More than 12,317,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 23 February, a total of 896,319 confirmed cases were reported, including 882,376 recoveries and 6,407 deaths. More than 12,343,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 24 February, a total of 902,315 confirmed cases were reported, including 888,963 recoveries and 6,421 deaths. More than 12,367,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 25 February, a total of 907,978 confirmed cases were reported, including 895,092 recoveries and 6,438 deaths. More than 12,389,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 26 February, a total of 913,333 confirmed cases were reported, including 901,068 recoveries and 6,454 deaths. More than 12,408,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 27 February, a total of 917,468 confirmed cases were reported, including 906,043 recoveries and 6,470 deaths. More than 12,427,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
On 28 February, a total of 919,736 confirmed cases were reported, including 908,132 recoveries and 6,480 deaths. More than 12,438,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Belarus to date.
Government response 2020 On 16 March, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, dismissed the threat of coronavirus and encouraged working in fields and driving tractors as a way of overcoming the pandemic: "You just have to work, especially now, in a village [...] there, the tractor will heal everyone. The fields heal everyone." In his further comments on the pandemic, the Belarusian leader referred to it as "psychosis", and on 28 March he played a game of hockey, later stating in an interview "it is better to die on our feet, than live on your knees [...] sport, especially on ice, is better than any antiviral medication, it is the real thing". Prior to that, in an official meeting, Lukashenko proposed "poisoning" the coronavirus with vodka, as well as attending banyas as the best cures for the disease.
On 25 March, a mandatory 14-days self-quarantine requirement was instituted for persons entering Belarus from countries affected by the pandemic, with the exception of diplomats and their families, air crews and persons transiting Belarus on return to their home countries.
As of 30 March, Belarus had not initiated a nation-wide quarantine effort.
On 4 April, the Ministry of Education of Belarus announced a one-week extension of spring vacation for schools. On 10 April another one-week extension followed.
On 9 April, a mandatory 14-day self-isolation requirement was issued by the government for foreign and Belarusian citizens with either confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, or the status of first- or second-level contact. The penalties for breaking the requirement include administrative detention, fine and imprisonment.
In an interview given to Tut.By on 10 April, Vladimir Makei, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, stated he "felt shame" having to wear a face mask when "walking to a store" and expressed skepticism about nation-wide quarantine as a rational approach to fighting the pandemic: "I don't think the implementation of 'total' quarantine would have spared us from growth of this curve, which we would see anyway." When asked about the help Belarus received from other countries, Makei noted the Chinese humanitarian aid (COVID-19 tests and medical equipment) and criticized Russia, mentioning unreliable COVID-19 tests and 15 infected workers sent to the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Astravyets from Nizhny Tagil. According to Makei, approximately 4,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Belarus daily.
In a Ministry of Health briefing given on 10 April it was clarified that Belarus did not plan any postponement of conscription. According to Elena Bogdan, the Deputy Minister of Health, 8-10% of COVID-19 tests give positive results, and more than 65,000 COVID-19 tests were available in Belarus at the time. It was also reported that 10 out of 169 recovered COVID-19 patients had agreed to become the donors of isoimmune blood plasma: "This is a new scientific direction for the RSPC of Transfusiology and Medical Biotechnologies. We will be developing a new method of treating the most severe cases of coronavirus infection with isoimmune plasma of the recovered patients".
According to the Deputy Minister of Defense of Belarus, Sergei Potapenko, as of 11 April, preparations for the 9 May Victory Day Parade were continuing as planned: "As of now, everything is normal, a complex of antiepidemiologic and therapeutic measures is taking place, which assures the health of soldiers is on due level. So far, we have no problems with preparing for the parade".
According to Alexander Lukashenko remarks from the 13 April official meeting, no people had died from COVID-19 per se in Belarus to date: "People are afraid. Thus, I want to tell them the following: not a single person had died from coronavirus in our country. Not a single one! They died from a bouquet of chronic diseases, which they had. [...] Coronavirus is not even a push, it is the atmosphere in which their chronic diseases develop." In his further remarks, Lukashenko addressed the currently hospitalized COVID-19 patients: "There's no reason for them to worry. No one will die from coronavirus in our country. I am stating this publicly".
On 21 April, during his visit to the "Slavyanka" clothing factory re-purposed for the production of medical masks, Alexander Lukashenko criticized the protective measures taken in schools: "Utter nonsense. Children can not wear these masks, especially in schools. There was no such requirement. If there are those who required it, they will answer for it. It's better to open the window and let fresh air in." According to Lukashenko, wearing a mask, using ethanol-based antiseptics and keeping social distance in schools was a "fraud" (). Later that day Natalia Ejsmont, the Belarusian president's press-secretary, reported one of the members of the presidential hockey team had been diagnosed with COVID-19. According to Ejsmont, no self-isolation or remote working were planned for the president.
On 25 April, a nation-wide Subbotnik (day of community service) took place in Belarus, reportedly involving as many as 2.3 million people.