While the global community closes airports, imposes lockdowns, and takes on mounds of debt to develop ways of fighting the virus that has shaken the world, Belarus is tackling the corona pandemic a little differently. President Alexander Lukashenko has encouraged his fellow citizens to drink vodka and visit the sauna at least twice a week to tackle this ‘psychosis’ that, he claims, has caused unnecessary and harmful panic in the West.
The World Health Organization (WHO) responded by advocating cautious consumption of alcohol. Belarus’ neighbors have reacted differently. For example, Lithuania has challenged the accuracy of the Lukashenko government’s data on cases of COVID-19. At the end of March, confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 152 Belarusians with no deaths, but numbers spiked on Apr. 3, with four deaths and over 351 infected. On the other hand, Sweden has followed a similarly light approach to its neighbour by adopting soft, possibly ineffective measures like encouraging voluntary citizen responses to the pandemic.
Retaliating to criticism, Lukashenko asked Lithuania to ‘mind its own virus’ and claimed “it’s better to die standing than to live on your knees.” The President walked the talk, participating in a game of ice hockey, and thereby justifying the continuation of Belarus Football League matches amidst the global pandemic. Such a strongman projection has kept Lukashenko in power since 1994, but may be misguided as Belarus becomes an ‘uncontrolled hotspot’ where -- ironically as a result of airports staying open -- Minsk has become an escape route for internationals living in the country.
There are economic concerns steering the Belarus government’s reactions. So far, the country’s health ministry has taken a test-and-treat, anti-quarantine approach to monitor the virus with 36,000 tested and 1,500 under screening. Minsk has also requested a loan of $900 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to facilitate this effort.
Regardless, gauging the seriousness of the virus from governments abroad, medical workers, students, reporters and even soccer fans are calling for a more stringent set of policies to counter the situation. And while most would say it is usually the duty of the government to protect its citizens amidst such times of difficulty, the wisdom of masses could prove more effective than that of its leader, in Belarus.
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