Belarus has asked for European Commission help in the fight against coronavirus

The European Union will provide Belarus about €60 million in aid to fight the epidemic coronavirus infection. This was announced by the EU high representative for foreign Affairs and security policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, writes BelTA.

“The total amount of this support is not yet defined, but I can say in advance what it will be about €60 million Belarus requested assistance for the health care system, the decisions of macroeconomic and macrofinancial implications of this situation financial help. We study the question of how to respond to these requests, particularly in providing economic support to the health system and society,” he said.

In addition, said Borrell, the EU intends to allocate €30 million to support health systems and delivery of medical products to countries of “Eastern partnership” and another €10 million for vulnerable groups.

“We also provide about €300 million in loans and grants for small and medium enterprises in the countries of “Eastern partnership” to support, facilitate access to credit and stimulate business after the crisis”, – he added.

The Ministry of foreign Affairs of Belarus, the Agency statedthat the money received from the EU, will be used to Finance the most urgent procurement for medical institutions, as well as the minimization of projected adverse economic effects of the global crisis caused by the pandemic coronavirus.

Flash coronavirus infection COVID-19 began in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan. March 11, 2020, the who announced the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. According to data from the American Johns Hopkins University, the total number of infected people in the world exceeded 1.5 million, including more than 339 thousand were cured, 89 thousand died.

In Belarus, according to the University, infection contracted 1486 people, 16 died, 139 recovered.

The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the beginning of the epidemic, skepticism was expressed about the seriousness of the threat. In particular, he called the measures taken by foreign States to combat the coronavirus, “coronational”. Later he changed his opinion.