Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed global efforts to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak, suggesting that other countries have implemented lockdowns as acts of “frenzy and psychosis”. Rather, Lukashenko is encouraging his 9.5 million citizens to drink vodka, return to work, and go to saunas. He also has no plans to postpone the country's upcoming Presidential elections, stating that there are no reasonable grounds to reschedule it.
The global pandemic has prompted governments around the world to impose strict containment measures on millions of people. The restrictions range from full lockdowns and institutional closures to strict restrictions on public gatherings and social events. But Lukashenko, who has kept Belarusian borders open, told a local reporter at a hockey game on Saturday, “It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees!”
Regardless of their President's attitude towards the pandemic, many institutes and citizens have started taking matters into their own hands. Evgeniya Gushchina, a teacher at Minsk's Stembridge Private School said, “We monitored the international situation and the overall picture looked like it would be more responsible to organize distance learning.” Some cinemas, restaurants, and cafes have also closed down voluntarily, with many individuals choosing to limit their social interactions without an official quarantine order. The number of passengers on the Minsk Metro has also fallen by 25%.
On Tuesday, Belarus confirmed its first fatality from the virus, with 152 confirmed cases in the country.
Image Source: 112.International