Denis Pushilin told about how the Republic fights the coronavirus epidemic

Only three cases of the coronavirus infection have been confirmed in the Donetsk People’s Republic so far. Donbass would not have been able even to track them if it were not for the test-system that Russia sent in time.

Many of the measures the Republic has taken to curb the epidemic are in line with the strategy that Moscow and the Russian federal authorities are forming: remote working and education have been prioritized, penalties for breaching the self-isolation regime have been introduced like in Russia, social distance is kept in public spaces. At the same time, the besieged Republic cannot afford to stop business entirely, so the authorities are imposing restrictions with extreme caution.

Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin told Parlamentskaya Gazeta about how the Republic fights the coronavirus.

— Mr. Pushilin, from where was the coronavirus imported into the DPR?

— As of April 3, we have had three confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The patients are a resident of the Republic and her child, who returned from Moscow. The third one is a pensioner, DPR resident, he went to Ukraine in March.

More than 11 thousand people are under observation now, the majority of them are self-isolating at home, those people who crossed the border between March 27 and April 2 (interview dated April 3 — Ed.).

Since March 21, we have completely closed the border with Ukraine. And all citizens entering from the Russian Federation and the Lugansk People’s Republic are obliged to undergo a self-isolation period for 14 days. Liability measures for breaching this rule have been introduced.

— How does the Donetsk People’s Republic contain the epidemic?

— Since April 2, we have enhanced the high readiness regime, self-isolation is mandatory for citizens aged 65 and older. At the same time, there is targeted assistance for elderly people so as not to leave them alone with their problems during this period. They can ask help by calling the hotline number of the Help Service established under the auspices of the Donetsk Republic Public Movement. This service works 24/7 in three shifts.

Residents of the Republic are obliged to keep a distance of at least one meter in public spaces. We have temporarily banned public events, it is also forbidden to go to cafes and restaurants after 18:00.

Our students and school pupils have transferred to distance learning. At the same time, state bodies, local administrations and enterprises have been recommended to transfer to telecommuting as many employees as possible. The latter measure was of a recommendatory nature, but even in this case we enjoyed the understanding of the heads of organizations and enterprises.

— Taking into account the number of confirmed cases, it is clear that you are proactive. Have you elaborated any scenarios in case there is an outbreak?

— The action plan to prevent the importation and spread of the new coronavirus infection in the DPR territory provides for four scenarios of the epidemic’s course. Accordingly, we have four options for introducing home isolation and restrictive measures. Until today, we have managed to prevent massive importation and spread of the coronavirus in the territory of the Republic. Let’s hope that the epidemiological situation caused by the pandemic will return to normal soon, but we are ready for any development of events.

— Does Russia provide any assistance to the Republic in combating the epidemic?

— The Russian Federation is providing us with tremendous assistance in the fight against the coronavirus infection. Above all, in so far as supplying COVID-19 test systems. If it were not for the assistance of the Russian Federation’s Rospotrebnadzor, which twice passed the tests to the Republic, we simply would have nothing to identify and confirm the diagnosis with.

In addition to that, Russia provides us with organizational, methodological and advisory support. Our medical personnel receive the latest information from their Russian counterparts, it includes the entire doctor’s operation procedure in the case if the coronavirus infection is detected. Russian colleagues consult our specialists by phone round the clock.

— Do you have enough masks, antiseptics, medications and, most importantly, doctors?

— Russia had come to our rescue in a critical situation, owing to which we have time, and now we are launching the production of medical supplies at our own facilities. In the DPR, several tens of thousands of medical masks are produced daily, and raw materials will be enough to manufacture more than a million masks. In the near future, we intend to address the shortage of protection means in the Republic’s pharmacies.

As for doctors… Unfortunately, low medical personnel staffing is a major challenge that cannot be solved within a few days. Until recently, the problem of health workers’ lack in the Republic was solved at the cost of their quality. I would like to emphasize that in our hospitals there work qualified specialists. They are able to diagnose infections with high-tech equipment and provide the necessary specialized medical care. These people did not leave the Republic when bloody hostilities were ongoing here, and now they are literally at the forefront of the war with the coronavirus. Each of them can be called a hero.

— What are the public sentiments like, is there any panic? How do people feel about isolation measures?

— No, there is no panic in the Republic. The situation as a whole can be called calm. Of course, the topic of the pandemic excites people, in fact, as in the whole world.

In stores and food markets there are enough goods, there wasn’t much excitement. There are no queues either. There was some increased demand for cereals, flour, that is, durable goods, but this reaction to the situation is quite logical and we could foresee it.

For no one be tempted to raise prices for the goods that are popular these days, the Ministry of Revenues and Taxes has launched a hotline that can be used to report facts of overpricing.

It is worth noting that our citizens demonstrate responsible attitude towards the recommendations of the DPR Health Ministry, which include wearing masks and compliance with hygiene rules and preventive measures. That is, everyone takes the situation adequately.

— Ukraine’s stepping up shelling has been reported recently. What do you associate this aggravation to? Could this be an attempt to prevent the DPR from fighting the epidemic?

— The armed formations of Ukraine continue to carry out shelling. According to the DPR Representative Office to the JCCC, 200 to 400 and even more pieces of ammunition are daily fired at the Republic by the AFU. Artillery, large-caliber small arms, tanks, mortars, anti-tank guided missiles are engaged at our territory… There are wounded and killed among civilians.

Yes, the shelling has been stepped up lately. And there is a clear tendency towards increasing. That is, even the common global misfortune in view of the coronavirus expansion not only failed to stop Ukraine, but also intensified their shelling our territory. Ukraine keeps showing its true brutal colours.