Belarus' Covid Response: Strategies And Successes

Belarus's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been characterised by a denial of the severity of the situation by the country's president, Alexander Lukashenko, and the absence of mandatory quarantine measures. Instead, Lukashenko has recommended unusual methods of combatting the virus, such as playing hockey, drinking vodka, and working in the fields. Despite this, Belarus has seen over 800,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and over 6,000 deaths. The country's approach to the pandemic has been the subject of international criticism and scrutiny.

COVID-19 denial

Belarus has been accused of COVID-19 denial, with the government failing to implement a nationwide quarantine and the country's president, Alexander Lukashenko, repeatedly denying the severity of the pandemic. Instead, Lukashenko encouraged citizens to continue their lives as normal, recommending activities such as playing hockey, drinking vodka, and working on tractors in the fields. Lukashenko also held a large military parade in May 2020, which gathered thousands of people, including elderly war veterans, in the capital of Minsk.

The Belarusian government's response to the pandemic has been characterised by a lack of transparency and a crackdown on media attempting to report the truth. The government has been accused of promoting inaccurate information and endangering public health by failing to implement official information campaigns. While the existence of COVID-19 was not denied, the severity of the virus was heavily downplayed, with Lukashenko stating that no one would die from the virus itself but from pre-existing illnesses. This claim was contradicted by data suggesting excess mortality in the country during the pandemic.

The government's inaction and denial of the pandemic's seriousness led to criticism from both the press and the population. Belarusian citizens introduced their own "people's quarantine" and doctors recorded videos encouraging citizens to stay home and follow medical requirements. Almost 50,000 people signed a petition to the World Health Organization demanding a mandatory quarantine, and Belarusians crowdfunded over one million euros to purchase protective equipment for healthcare workers.

The Belarusian government's failure to acknowledge the severity of the pandemic and implement effective measures to control its spread had significant consequences. By May 2020, Belarus had one of the fastest-growing infection rates in Europe, with over 26,000 confirmed cases reported by mid-May. The true number of cases was likely higher, as suggested by statistical analysis indicating the presence of an artificial limit of 1,000 cases per day in official reports.

In addition to the government's denial and inaction, there were also reports of censorship and repression targeting those who spoke out against the government's response to the pandemic. Sergei Satsuk, the chief editor of an online newspaper, was arrested on bribery charges after publishing an article critiquing the government's handling of the pandemic. Additionally, doctors and journalists who shared information about the situation in Belarus were summoned, arrested, or dismissed from their positions.

No lockdown or quarantine

Belarus is the only country in Europe, along with Sweden, that has not imposed quarantine measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has also not enforced a lockdown.

On 19 March 2020, President Alexander Lukashenko explained his decision not to implement mass quarantine in Belarus. He stated that everyone returning to the country from abroad would be under medical observation, and that there was no need to close borders. Lukashenko also expressed his opposition to quarantining schools and rescheduling school holidays, arguing that it would be detrimental to the elderly, who are at greater risk. He emphasised the importance of educating children, parents, teachers, and janitors about hygiene practices, such as handwashing, using disinfectants, and wearing masks.

Lukashenko has repeatedly denied the severity of the pandemic, recommending activities such as playing hockey, drinking vodka, going to the sauna, and working on tractors in the fields as protection against COVID-19. He has also referred to the pandemic as “psychosis" and claimed that "the most dangerous epidemic is panic".

Despite Lukashenko's dismissal of the virus, Belarus has seen over 900,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with more than 6,000 deaths as of February 2023. The country has also faced criticism for its lack of transparency in reporting pandemic-related data, with independent press outlets questioning the accuracy of the government's COVID-19 statistics.

While Belarus has not enforced a nationwide lockdown or quarantine, some cities, such as Mogilev and Gomel, have introduced the compulsory use of facial masks in public places.

Vaccination status

Belarus's COVID-19 vaccination programme has been characterised by the country's tacit denial of the pandemic and rejection of compulsory protective measures. President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly denied the scope and seriousness of the pandemic, instead encouraging citizens to protect themselves against COVID-19 by playing hockey, drinking vodka, going to the sauna, and working on tractors. Despite this, Belarus has supported vaccination efforts, receiving the first batch of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in late 2020 for clinical trials. Lukashenko himself reportedly recovered from an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection in July 2020.

In early 2021, the government imposed a mandatory 14-day self-isolation requirement for those with confirmed COVID-19 or those who were first- or second-level contacts. However, in October 2020, the country-wide facial mask mandate was lifted, and social distancing measures were not enforced. This stance has been criticised as contributing to the spread of the virus and putting vulnerable groups, such as elderly war veterans, at risk.

In December 2020, the vaccination campaign was expanded to include children aged 12 and above, with the Chinese Vero Cell vaccine being the only one used for this age group. By May 2021, more than 261,000 people in Belarus had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and over 367,000 people had received their first dose. The country has also received vaccine doses from China as humanitarian aid, including 300,000 doses of the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine in May 2021 and 1,500,000 doses in November 2021.

In July 2021, Belarus received the first batch of the Russian single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine, and in December 2021, the country approved the use of the CoviVac inactivated vaccine. The first test batches of the Sputnik V and Sputnik Light vaccines were locally produced by the Belarusian Belmedpreparaty pharmaceutical company in late 2021 and sent to Russia for quality control.

Economic impact

Belarus's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been characterised by a denial of the severity of the situation by the country's president, Alexander Lukashenko, and the absence of mandatory lockdown measures. This is in contrast to most other countries, which implemented strict quarantine measures and social distancing guidelines. Lukashenko has made various statements downplaying the threat of the virus, suggesting that working in fields, drinking vodka, and playing hockey would help combat the virus. He also hosted a large military parade in May 2020, which gathered thousands of people, including elderly war veterans, in the capital of Minsk.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus has been relatively limited due to several factors. Firstly, the country did not impose any nationwide lockdown or mobility restrictions, which allowed businesses, schools, sports facilities, restaurants, and other sectors to remain open and functional. This decision was in line with Lukashenko's stance on the pandemic and resulted in a continuation of economic activities without significant disruptions.

Secondly, the Belarusian government provided credit support to state-owned enterprises, which helped stabilise the economy and prevent a sharp decline in economic output. This was particularly important for industries that were heavily impacted by the pandemic, such as tourism, hospitality, and transportation. The credit support aimed to provide liquidity and financial assistance to these sectors, ensuring their survival during the crisis.

Thirdly, Belarus benefited from strong export growth, particularly in the energy commodities sector. This contributed to a cyclical upturn in the economy in 2021, as the country was able to maintain and expand its trade relationships despite the global health crisis. However, it is important to note that the economy is expected to weaken in 2022, indicating that the pandemic's effects may have longer-term consequences.

The pandemic also impacted the country's relationship with international organisations and financial institutions. Belarus entered into negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $900 million loan to compensate for economic losses due to COVID-19. However, the IMF demanded the implementation of lockdown measures as a condition for the loan, which Minsk declined. As a result, Belarus was refused the loan due to significant disagreements over response strategies.

Additionally, the pandemic highlighted the importance of vaccination policies and their impact on public health and the economy. Lukashenko, despite being a COVID denier, had to support vaccination efforts. However, he insulted ministers who tried to impose protective measures and faced challenges in addressing the population's reluctance to get vaccinated. The government's communication strategies and mixed messages may have contributed to vaccine hesitancy among some citizens.

International relations

The COVID-19 pandemic has been viewed as a turning point in the international system, altering the habits of societies, disrupting markets, and revealing the efficiency of governments. The pandemic has also impacted international relations, with the influence of actors such as international organisations and states decreasing, and other actors taking their place.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 12, 2020. The pandemic required each state to solve the problem at the national level, with a lack of international organisation involvement. This emphasised the importance of a self-sufficient state, as in the Westphalian system. The fact that states acted on their own without being dependent on any higher institution is reminiscent of the zero-sum game, another assumption of realism.

The COVID-19 pandemic also brought about a "new threat" perception, with the content of concepts such as "threat" and "security" changing. For example, the phenomenon of "security" has become more about "health" rather than military and political content. The state-centred international relations system of COVID-19 and the post-COVID period revealed this shift in focus, with nation-states acting alone and international organisations staying in the background. This has caused the concepts of globalisation, the international system, and international cooperation to be questioned.

The United States has provided over $2 million in COVID-related assistance to Belarus since the pandemic began. The US supports a sovereign, independent Belarus that respects the rights and voices of the Belarusian people. However, the Belarusian authorities have been reluctant to undertake the systemic economic reforms necessary to create a market-based economy.

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