MINSK: Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday nobody would die from the coronavirus in his country and again rejected any need for the strict lockdown measures adopted by most countries to contain the spread of the pandemic.
It was the latest show of defiance by the strongman leader, who has dismissed worries about the disease as a “psychosis” and variously suggested drinking vodka, going to saunas and driving tractors to fight the virus.
In stark contrast to other European countries, Belarus has kept its borders open and even allowed soccer matches in the national league to be played in front of spectators.
Its churches have also remained open in the run-up to Orthodox Easter on April 19.
“No one will die of coronavirus in our country. I publicly declare this,” Lukashenko said. “We have already found combinations of drugs to save people.”
The health ministry has reported 2,919 confirmed coronavirus cases and 29 deaths in Belarus. But Lukashenko said the fatalities were the result of underlying health conditions in the patients, such as heart disease and diabetes.
“Therefore, I say that not a single person died purely from the coronavirus.”
He also encouraged people to maintain a positive attitude.
“If a person stays positive, they will be healthy,” said Lukashenko, as quoted by the BelTA state agency.
His comments came after a World Health Organization mission on Saturday said Belarus should introduce new measures to fight the pandemic, which was entering a “concerning” new phase in the eastern European country of nine million people.
Lukashenko has repeatedly said he is more concerned about the state of the economy than the virus.
But without waiting for strict action from the authorities, many Belarusians have adopted their own self-isolation measures to avoid catching the disease.
The number of passengers on the Minsk metro fell by a quarter in March. According to surveys conducted by business associations in early April, restaurant revenue in March fell by 80%, and the sales of non-food items by 20%.
The health ministry has encouraged citizens to reduce their social contact but the state-owned media has ridiculed concerns about the disease.
One pundit recently said “the time has come to prove that Belarus is not a hysterical young lady who covers her face with a mask.”
Lukashenko said the turning point in the battle against the coronavirus would come a week after Orthodox Easter.
He has continued to play ice hockey in front of spectators. At the weekend, his team won an amateur tournament for the 11th time.
Nobody will die from coronavirus in Belarus, says president
https://arab.news/5wc58
Nobody will die from coronavirus in Belarus, says president
- Alexander Lukashenko has variously suggested drinking vodka, going to saunas and driving tractors to fight the virus
- Belarus’ churches have remained open in the run-up to Orthodox Easter on April 19
UK Police arrest 86 people at prison protest for Palestine Action hunger striker
- Demonstration outside Wormwood Scrubs held in support of Umer Khalid
- Khalid 1 of 5 people charged in connection with break-in at RAF base last year
LONDON: A protest outside a prison in the UK in support of a man detained for supporting the banned group Palestine Action has led to the arrest of 86 people.
London’s Metropolitan Police said a group of demonstrators breached the grounds of Wormwood Scrubs prison in the capital, refused to leave when ordered to do so, and threatened officers. They were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
The group, several of whom attempted to gain access to the prison itself, were protesting in support of Umer Khalid, who is currently on hunger strike at the facility.
Khalid is one of five people charged in relation to a break-in by Palestine Action members at an RAF base at Brize Norton last year, in which two military aircraft were damaged.
Khalid, who denies the charges, is one of several people who are on or who have taken part in hunger strikes in recent months, all of whom have been held on similar charges for over a year without their cases being brought to trial.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Ministry of Justice said: “The escalation of the protest at HMP Wormwood Scrubs is completely unacceptable. While we support the right to peacefully protest, reports of trespassing and threats being made to staff and police officers are deeply concerning.
“At no point was prison security compromised. However, where individuals’ actions cause risk or actual harm to hardworking staff, this will not be taken lightly and those responsible can expect to face consequences.
“Prisoners are being managed in line with longstanding policy. This includes regular checks by medical professionals, heart monitoring and blood tests, and support to help them eat and drink again. If deemed appropriate by healthcare teams, prisoners will be taken to hospital.”
