The schools are still open. Its Premier League soccer teams play on, the only Uefa member state to do so. And some residents even think coronavirus is just "a rumour."

Belarus has yet to implement any severe measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, although it has recorded 81 coronavirus cases. So parents are forced to protect their children themselves, some using masks. The lack of information and the government's position, in contrast to that of neighbouring counties, has divided Belarusian society into two camps: those who back the government's hands-off stance and those more skeptical, believing the true number of victims to be far higher.

Here, vox pops with locals in the capital Minsk suggest those in the former camp are in the majority.

Nikolay Borovik, a driver, says: "Coronavirus is not true! This rumor was created! There’s nothing to worry about." [05:41 - 06:12]

Pensioner Zoya Ivanovich says: "Although I am a senior citizen, I’m not afraid of coronavirus. I don’t stay at home. Are people in Belarus well informed about coronavirus? Very well informed! I think there's too much information on the internet. Everything is fine." [05:00 - 05:41]

To paraphrase the classic, we can say that in Belarus, the coronavirus lives not in medical records, but in the people's heads. Officially, the country has not been quarantined. First of all, we are concerned about schools operating in the same conditions. Parents are forced to protect their children themselves with masks and flu vaccines. The lack of information and the government's position, which has adopted a denial stage, has divided Belarusian society into two camps: some believe that the true effects of the virus in the state are hiding intentionally, others believe the official statistics, considering the pandemic to be the machinations of malicious people. World leaders say that Belarusian government ignores one of the main problems of the 21st century. Belarus is the only country where all sporting events are still held. And the number of infected is growing every day.
Our stringers decided to show how residents of the capital live today and what they think about closing borders, lack of medical tests, etc.

Translation of interviews

01:46 - 02:15

SVETLANA KOSOBUKA, ACCOUNTANT

-How do you feel about Belarusian schools that are not quarantined?
-It's hard to answer that question. Most parents go to work. If children stay at home in the quarantine, it’s Ok. But if children walk outside or in shopping malls, it’s not Ok.

-How do you feel about coronavirus? Are you calm or worried?
-I’m worried about my family, of course. But I don’t have a panic, anyway.


02:15 - 02:46

JULIA KUDRAVETS, HOUSEWIFE

-If only grandparents have an opportunity to look after children at home, it would be better for children to go to school. Older people are at risk, after all.

-Are you worried about the safety of your children at school?
-No, everything is good at school. Children are the easiest to tolerate this disease. Healthy children, at least. Plus my child has vaccinations. I hope so.


NADEZHDA SHELEPOVA, LIBRARIAN

04:09 - 05:00

-Do you believe official coronavirus situation reports?
-Do we have them? I haven’t heard anything. We still have football and hockey matches.
I wish Belarusians were more isolated from each other. We live in the society, as you understand. I wish we had more information and everyone could decide for himself whether to risk their health or not.

-Do you take any security measures yourself? Masks, for example?
-I think that only sick people need masks. Healthy people need fresh air. I wash my hands often. Most of the time I'm at home.

ZOYA IVANOVICH, PENSIONER

05:00 - 05:41

-There are no hand sanitizers in pharmacies. Don’t know why. I’ve been to 3 pharmacies already. We use it in stores. We also use wet wipes at home. Although I am a senior citizen, I’m not afraid of coronavirus. I don’t stay at home. I’m happy about the sun. You see, it’s my antiseptic.

-Do you think people in Belarus are well informed about coronavirus?
-Very well informed! I think it’s even too much information on the internet. Everything is fine.

-So, you don’t have panic, right?
-No. My son lives in Kaliningrad, Russia. They don’t have the same situation as in Belarus. I’m a bit worried about them more than myself.


NIKOLAY BOROVIK, DRIVER

05:41 - 06:12

-Coronavirus is not true! This rumor was created!
-Why?
-Someone needs it.
-So, you think that it’s better to get on with our lives now, right?
-Of course.
-And what about basic safety measures?
-Medicine knows what to do in such cases. There’s nothing to worry about. It’s important to follow the principles that our healthcare offers.