Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

A session of the interstate network of institutes of public health and informatization of healthcare of the CIS member states was held via videoconferencing, BelTA learned from the department of cooperation in humanitarian affairs, political and social issues of the CIS Executive Committee.

The participants of the session assessed the performance of the network of institutes in 2020 and considered proposals from the CIS member states relating to the draft action plan for 2021. Plans are in place to focus on prevention and combating of non- communicable diseases, HIV, tuberculosis, and the novel coronavirus. The session intends to take stock of the execution of the action plan to implement the strategy on health of the population of the CIS member states for 2020-2021.

In addition, plans are in place to translate the 11th version of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems into the Russian language.

The participants of the session also discussed the status of implementation of decisions and instructions of the CIS council for cooperation in healthcare. The next session will take place February 2021.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has approved social and economic development targets for the year 2021. The head of state signed the relevant decrees on 22 December, BelTA has learned.

Presidential decree No.480 outlines the most important parameters of the forecast of Belarus' social and economic development for the year 2021. The document specifies the following important parameters, which are supposed to improve living standards:

growth of real disposable monetary incomes of the population at 101.6%,

working-age unemployment in accordance with International Labor Organization methods at 4.2-4.4%,

housing to be commissioned with state support at 1 million m2 at least,

growth rate of prices for socially important goods at 104.9% (December 2021 as against December 2020). It is the first time this indicator has been introduced. It targets changes in prices for the main products that the population uses every day. This is why for the sake of social protection of the population this parameter has been set below the overall inflation (5%),

the share of fixed-capital investments in the GDP at 21.3-21.7%,

GDP growth rate in 2021 at 101.8%.

In order to achieve the social and economic development targets the presidential decree specifies, the government has been authorized to pass a plan on the social and economic development of the Republic of Belarus in 2021. The plan will have to mobilize resources in order to resume economic growth while maintaining macroeconomic balance.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also signed decree No.481 on approving the main guidelines of Belarus' monetary management policy for the year 2021.

The next year's monetary management policy will be geared towards stabilizing inflation, which is measured with the consumer price index, at 5% at most.

The central bank will have to make sure prices remain stable by controlling money supply in the monetary targeting mode. Balanced growth of money supply will be facilitated by keeping positive interest rates in the economy.

It will be necessary to maintain financial stability by means of taking measures to limit systemic risks, keep up the level of the gold and foreign exchange reserves, ensure the safe operation of banks, non-banking credit and finance institutions and non-credit financial organizations, the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus, and effective work of the payment system.

The central bank's communications policy will be aimed at increasing the openness and transparency of the monetary management policy.

On December 23, deputies of the Standing Commission on Labor and Social Issues of the House of Representatives, within the framework of the republican charitable action "Our Children", visited the Ivenets boarding school for disabled children with physical disabilities.

“The eve of the New Year and Christmas is a time of good deeds and miracles. These days you want to talk about gifts, make compliments, make and make wishes come true. The Permanent Commission on Labor and Social Issues of the House of Representatives has picked up the baton from the parliamentarians of the previous convocation to make gifts to children in residential institutions at their own expense, ”BelTA learned from the press service of the House of Representatives.

According to the chairman of the commission, Lyudmila Kananovich, it is necessary to continue close friendship not only in the format of the action "Our Children", but also to meet with the guys and the team outside the holidays.

Today, 27 boys and 24 girls live in the Ivenets boarding house, most of them are children under 18 years old, 19 of them are wheelchair users. Therefore, the gift was not traditional sweets, but a large TV and a microwave oven.

The gifts will not end there. The deputies will disperse to their districts and will continue to support disabled children, children from needy and large families, children who find themselves in a difficult life situation without parental care.

Creating a proprietary coronavirus vaccine is part of the national security.

Belarusian Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich made the statement after the government conference held by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 22 December to discuss the development of antiviral vaccines and the localization of production of foreign vaccines in Belarus, BelTA has learned.

Dmitry Pinevich is convinced that in modern conditions vaccination and the healthcare system as a whole have become part of the economy and politics. “Creating a vaccine of our own is an element of the national security,” the healthcare minister stressed. “Creating a vaccine manufacturing facility (we don't have one) is a strategic direction.”

Dmitry Pinevich noted that for a long time the Belarusian pharmaceutical industry has been successfully taking care of transfer of technologies for the sake of setting up large-scale production of medications. It creates a good foundation for starting the production of vaccines using a similar scheme. The emergence of such a new enterprise for the country will lead to the development of the potential of research teams, manufacturing facilities, equipment, and so on right up to all the components the creation of a proprietary vaccine involves.

Every person in Belarus will have access to vaccines, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the meeting held on 22 December to discuss the development of virus vaccines and the localization of production of foreign vaccines, BelTA has learned.

According to the head of state, Belarus can do large-scale vaccination against COVID-19 in two ways. The first one is to produce its own vaccines. “We have scientists, projects, schools – we should work on that. I want you tell me about the prospects because we cannot waste money. Therefore, we will work on Belarusian vaccines,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that the production of immunological medicines of such level is a brand-new task for Belarus. “There is a certain potential in the Healthcare Ministry, and in the Academy of Sciences. I am told that leading researchers and scientists in virology, immunology, genetics, cellular engineering are already working on that,” the head of state said.

In order to choose the most widespread strain of the virus for the production of the vaccine, scientists have studied the genetic variety of its strains. Three possible technologies of getting a vaccine prototype are being developed. The immunity dynamics in patients after the coronavirus pneumonia and the aspects of preserving the immune response are being analyzed.

It will help choose a major “target” for the production of the Belarusian vaccine, the president said. Researchers are also working on the technological process and are looking for the suppliers of equipment.

The second approach is to localize the production of foreign vaccines. Aleksandr Lukashenko asked about the state of affairs in this field – the terms, volumes, sources of financing, prospects, and the future of the joint project of Belfarmprom and Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

“However, whether or not we launch the production of the vaccine within a reasonable period of time, I want the society to know that the country will have enough vaccines, and that every person in Belarus will have access to them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to the president, the most vulnerable population groups will be vaccinated in the first instance. These include elderly people, doctors, teachers, trade workers. “We will always find funds for that, we must do it,” he stressed.

The visit of the Minister of Culture of Belarus Anatoly Markevich took place to Vileika specialized secondary school for children with severe speech impairments on December 22 as part of the annual charitable action "Our Children" The department donated basketball and soccer balls to the pupils.

Among the guests were the chairman of the Vileika regional executive committee Oleg Begunets and the chairman of the regional organization "Belaya Rus" Sergei Pavlovsky. A gift from the regional executive committee - sweet treats.

Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the boarding school has lasted for over a quarter of a century. Over the years, the department has helped the institution with a material base: new televisions, musical equipment and computers have appeared in the boarding school. Also, with the support of the Ministry, the students went on educational excursions to the famous sights of the country.

The director of the institution, Vladimir Borisov, noted that the outgoing year 2020 was bright, dynamic and eventful and thanked the teachers and children for the work, which, he believes, has brought certain results.

- We are proud of the achievements of our students in education, in sports, and in creativity. And let the coming 2021 allow us to realize our plans, let all your dreams come true, - said the director of the boarding school.

- I catch myself thinking how quickly time flies, and we are already on the threshold of the most wonderful and magical holiday that leaves behind all hardships and difficulties, and let us have good health and prosperity ahead of us, and, of course, good mood, - the new one wished Minister of Culture Anatoly Markevich.

He noted that for each year 2020 has developed differently, "but most importantly, we managed to preserve and defend our country."

“Guys,” the minister addressed the children, “you are an integral part of our youth, and youth are the future. A little more time will pass, and you will have to solve difficult problems, raise Belarus to new heights. The state is doing everything to ensure that every child has a happy childhood. Conditions are created for self-realization, the disclosure of creativity and conditions for a calm and peaceful life. They say that on New Year's Eve everything always comes true. I would like to sincerely wish your dreams in 2021 to come true,” the minister said.

The head of the region, Oleg Begunets, joined in the congratulations.

- On New Year's Eve, everyone is waiting for a miracle, and I wish you all to come true.

By tradition, the culmination of the holiday was a theatrical performance with the participation of the main New Year's characters.

Belarus will start administering the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to its citizens in January, Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich told reporters, BelTA has learned.

“The first batch of the vaccine will arrive in January. We will start the vaccination program in January,” Dmitry Pinevich said.

He informed that after the comprehensive study of the application for conditional marketing authorization submitted by Russia to Belarus' authorities, a decision was made to register the Sputnik V vaccine and allow administering it in Belarus. “The vaccine has been registered in the country; permits have been issued to allow its clinical use. The vaccine shots can already be administered in the territory of our country as part of routine work, not within the framework of clinical trials. Now we are discussing the further delivery of the vaccine and other matters,” Dmitry Pinevich said.

In line with Belarus' vaccination priority criteria, the first to get the shots will be healthcare professionals, teachers, retail workers and other people who contact with the general public. They will receive the vaccine free of charge.

According to the minister, “200,000 people are to be vaccinated at the first stage, with 2 million people vaccinated later”. “The figure might change, it all depends on the epidemiological situation,” he said. The minister added that a step-by-step strategy will be developed together with experts.

Answering the question whether negotiations with other vaccine suppliers are held, Dmitry Pinevich said that all options are being considered. “However, collaboration with Russian counterparts is a priority. After all, we are working on the possible localization of the vaccine production in the country,” he added.

The application for conditional marketing authorization of the Sputnik V vaccine was submitted to the Center for Examinations and Tests in Health Service in November 2020. An expert group was put together by the Healthcare Ministry to study the application. The group includes experts of the Center for Examinations and Tests in Health Service, the country's leading specialists in communicable diseases and members of the national research centers. They scrutinized the materials on the pre-clinical trials of the vaccine. It was established that the Sputnik V vaccine passed all the stages of pre-clinical trials and proved its safety and efficacy.

According to the press service of the Healthcare Ministry, 100 volunteers took part in the clinical trials of the vaccine in Belarus. They were randomly divided into two groups: the first group received the vaccine, and the second received a placebo. The two-dose coronavirus vaccine regimen provides for two injections spaced 21 days apart. Researchers assess antibody production (“humoral immunity”) and T-cell responses (“cellular immunity”) in volunteers.

As of 9 December, all the 100 participants in the Phase III clinical trials in Belarus received the first dose and 98 received the booster shot. Two volunteers were diagnosed with coronavirus infection during the mandatory testing for SARS-CoV-2 before getting the second shot. “The second injection was given to 98 people, the remaining two volunteers contacted with coronavirus cases between the first and second shots and got sick, so they did not receive the second injection,” Dmitry Pinevich noted.

The follow-up study will be in progress for 180 days (6 months), after which a final report will be prepared.

At the same time, the press service noted that vaccinated people develop a stable humoral and cellular immunity. This is achieved through the use of two different vectors delivering the drug and at the same time solving the problem of a possible neutralizing effect on the second injection.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Aleksandr Guryanov has met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Belarus Armen Ghevondyan, BelTA learned from Belarus' Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The meeting took place on the occasion of completion of the ambassador's diplomatic mission in the Republic of Belarus,” the ministry informed.

At the meeting the parties discussed the main avenues of bilateral cooperation, including contacts between the ministries of foreign affairs of the two states.

More than 200 pupils of Minsk Regional Cadet School will dance to the sounds of a waltz and a polonaise at the ball, which will be held on December 23.

The event will become part of the program of the republican charitable action "Our Children". Deputy Director for Academic Affairs of the Minsk Regional Cadet School Tatyana Bletsko told BelTA about this. 

"Holding the ball is a tradition that has developed in cadet schools. We hold this festive event every year. All pupils are looking forward to it, they begin to prepare with a choreographer already in September. This year was no exception. 221 pupils of the school will take part in the dance event", - said Tatiana Bletsko.

The ball program is intense. It is planned that the couples will dance about 10 dances, including the Viennese waltz, polka, polonaise, padegras, paddespan and square dance. “Now the final rehearsals are underway. All movements are being honed, the last ballroom dresses are being tried on: girls will wear fluffy dresses, and boys will be in full dress,” said the deputy director. In addition to dancing, the program of the event includes traditional ball games and fun. Grandfather Frost and Snow Maiden will create a festive mood for the pupils.

Tatyana Bletsko noted that most of the guys and girls who graduate from the cadet school later recall the preparation and holding of balls with warmth and gratitude. They gave many people the opportunity to get dance skills and taught them to confidently stand in front of the audience.

Belarus registered 1,944 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours; another 2,282 coronavirus patients recovered, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.

The nationwide COVID-19 tally has reached 173,523 cases. A total of 151,635 patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered in Belarus.

As many as 1,324 COVID-19 patients suffering from a number of chronic diseases have died since the infection's outbreak in Belarus.

Belarus performed 3,778,152 tests, 30,079 – in the past 24 hours.