Coronavirus is a serious disease that affects the respiratory system. It is rapidly spreading around the world, so the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. To determine the disease in humans in the Republic of Belarus, special test systems are used.
Where do tests for coronavirus come from in Belarus?
Diagnosis of coronavirus in the Republic of Belarus is carried out using three test options. Some of them are produced on the territory of the state, the second ones were transferred by the Russian Federation, and the third ones - by WHO. Belarus expects 1008 panels from China to conduct express texts. Deputy Minister of Health E. Bogdan reports that the delivery is expected in the coming days.
WHO has transferred the structure of the virus to the Republic of Belarus and other countries, which allows the development of tests. Within a week, Belarusian specialists created systems at the School of Laboratory Diagnostics. The Republican Scientific and Practical Center launched the production of tests for diagnosing the disease.
The systems received from the Russian Federation are being developed by the Vector scientific center, which has the status of a state one. WHO donated 6,000 tests from a German manufacturer to Belarus.
Is Belarus provided with enough tests?
In accordance with the data provided, as of March 23, 2020, test systems have been available in the Republic of Belarus since January 23, 2020. The country ranks 9th in the world in terms of the number of tests conducted for COVID-19.
Minister of Health V.Karanik claims that the test systems in the country are available in the required quantity. With positive results, the diagnosis is carried out in three stages. For this, tests from various manufacturers are used, which makes it possible to obtain reliable results. To determine the features of the test system and the reliability of the results, some of the negative results are rechecked three times.
Where is the coronavirus test done in Belarus?
After the appearance of the disease in the Republic of Belarus, the diagnosis of the disease was carried out in the capital of the Republic. Biomaterials were brought from the territory of the whole country. Since March 25, testing for coronavirus in Belarus has been carried out by the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology, which is located in the city of Mogilev. Mogilev and Vitebsk regions can now bring materials for diagnostics to the authorities. The head of the Mogilev laboratory claims that her specialists are trained in the leading centers of the Ministry of Health, so they can diagnose a new coronavirus infection.
Material sampling is carried out at border crossing points from persons returning from states with an unfavorable epidemiological situation. Citizens who stay in Iran, China, South Korea, Italy, Spain must submit a biomaterial, as well as fill out an arrival questionnaire. Information about citizens is transferred to medical institutions at their place of residence.
In infectious diseases hospitals, special sampling points for biomaterial for testing for coronavirus, as well as rooms for examining patients, have been created. People who have been in close contact with a coronavirus patient should isolate themselves and undergo an examination at the place of isolation. If a person has little contact with the patient and has an extremely low probability of infection, then a laboratory examination is inappropriate. Such a person is under medical observation.
How to get tested for coronavirus in Belarus?
It is not possible to take a test for coronavirus in Belarus at will. Experts explain this by the fact that one day it can show a negative result, and a day later - a positive one. Therefore, a test for coronavirus in Belarus is assigned to those people who have returned from states with an unfavorable epidemiological situation. If people have been in close contact with a patient with coronavirus, then he is recommended to undergo a diagnosis. In the Republic of Belarus, it is indicated for patients with pneumonia.
The test for COVID-19 is done to people who have returned from epidemically disadvantaged states or have been in contact with patients and have symptoms of the disease. With an unproductive dry cough, fever, headache, chills, you need to call an ambulance. When such symptoms appear, the patient is hospitalized and diagnostics are carried out at the place of hospitalization.
The Republican Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of Public Health has opened a hotline. If you have any questions about the prevention and symptoms of the disease, it is recommended to call +375-156-85-65. The Minsk Infectious Diseases Hospital has also opened a hotline, which operates from 8:30 to 15:00. If you have questions, a person can call +375-334-34-68. Residents of the Vitebsk REGION can call 8 0212-67-36-44, in Novopolotsk - 8-0214-57-36-44, in Polotsk - 8-0214-74-39-44.
How long does a coronavirus test take?
After donating the biomaterial, a person receives the result within 4-24 hours. If at this time he was not informed of a positive result, then this means that there is no disease. The timing is explained by the fact that the biomaterial is studied using the polymerase chain reaction. This is the only diagnostic system that has been approved by the World Health Organization. The government claims that with an increase in the number of patients, the duration of the test can be 1-2 days.
How much does a coronavirus test cost in Belarus?
Tests for COVID-19 are done in government laboratories. Patients do not need to visit the laboratory to undergo the examination. The sampling of the material is carried out by a medical worker at the place of hospitalization. Tests for COVID-19 are free for all residents of the Republic of Belarus.
Not a single person can take paid tests in a private laboratory. In Russia, private laboratories Invitro announced that they would soon be testing for COVID-19 for everyone. To do this, the company needs to obtain appropriate permits from Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Health. Invitro in the Republic of Belarus does not provide such information.
Yu. Gulyaeva, Deputy Director of Synevo Laboratories, explains the reasons for the impossibility of testing in private laboratories. She says that the incidence rate and the number of infected people should be monitored by government agencies, which will provide an opportunity to control the situation. If, after passing the test in a private laboratory, a person has a positive result, then he can hide it from the state in order to avoid hospitalization. In private laboratories, they think over the moment of control of detailed situations.
For testing, reagents that are registered by the Center for Testing and Expertise must be used. But, taking into account force majeure tests, all tests used in state laboratories are not registered.
COVID-19 in the Republic of Belarus is strictly controlled by the authorities. Therefore, the definition of a disease in humans is available only to state laboratories.