In September-October 2021, the situation with COVID-19 infections in Belarus sharply deteriorated. There was much discussion about the possibility of using a wider range of WHO-recommended vaccines for vaccinating Belarusian citizens, as well as the introduction of a mandatory mask regime and its controversial cancellation, COVID dissent, and misinformation.
The total number of mentions in online media and social media regarding the pandemic from January 1, 2021, to November 7, 2021, was obtained using the monitoring and analysis system SemanticForce:
To conduct an analysis of mentions regarding the topic of the coronavirus pandemic COVID-19, we will reduce the analytical window to two calendar months: September and October.
To conduct an analysis of mentions regarding the topic of the coronavirus pandemic COVID-19, we will reduce the analytical window to two calendar months: September and October.The peak values in this distribution are associated with the following news events:
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- September 27, 2021. First, medical Telegram channels and then online media began reporting on an unprecedented rise in illnesses (the fourth wave):“Deploying ambulances”: Doctors have begun to speak out en masse about the situation with coronavirus in Belarus.
- October 12, 2021.In the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health,coronavirusA total of 2,038 people were registered. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 561,753 people have been infected.
- October 19, 2021Lukashenko: “The provision of planned medical assistance should not be canceled!”
Minister of Health Dmitry Pinevich is attending a meeting with Alexander Lukashenko.It is worth noting that everyone present is without individual protective equipment (masks).
- October 22, 2021Why did Lukashenko’s statement about the impact of COVID on oncology cause such a stir? The President’s opinion.
An illustration of Belarusian news from October 22, 2021, in an anti-vaxxer (anti-vaccination) community on the Russian social network VK:The laws of natural human reproduction have been revealed.The development of the topic of mandatory mask-wearing in public places deserves a separate chart:
An illustration of Belarusian news from October 22, 2021, in an anti-vaxxer (anti-vaccination) community on the Russian social network VK:The laws of natural human reproduction have been revealed.The development of the topic of mandatory mask-wearing in public places deserves a separate chart:On October 8, 2021, it was announced that in the Republic of Belarus, starting from October 9, wearing masks and maintaining distance in public places will be mandatory for everyone. This regulation was introduced by specialists from the Ministry of Health into the sanitary norms and rules concerning the prevention of influenza and COVID-19.
Due to this video…“Why are you mocking people?” – Lukashenko’s reaction to vaccination and fines for not wearing masks.“posted on the YouTube channel of the First National Channel of Belarusian Radio on October 19, 2021, the channel managed to”The translation of “пробраться” is “to get through” or “to make one’s way.”Even among the thirty Belarusian YouTube channels that garnered the most views for videos posted in October 2021.
On October 22, 2021, the Ministry of Health of Belarus canceled point 41-1 of the Sanitary Norms and Rules for combating influenza and COVID-19, which mandated the wearing of masks in public places.
However, at the same time, a new regulation was introduced. Leaders of various organizations must ensure control so that employees are wearing masks on the premises. The same applies to visitors to these locations. This requirement only pertains to situations where it is impossible to maintain a distance of 1–1.5 meters.
Please make sure to wear masks (personal protective equipment) in all public places, including transportation, and maintain the recommended distance!
The main sources of information on the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination are:
It should be noted that Telegram has moved up to the second position in terms of mentions, surpassing YouTube. This is based on data from October 14, 2021.The translation of “результатов” to English is “results.”The research “Media Consumption and Media Literacy in Belarus in August 2021.”Instagram“they referred to it as a source of information”53%Respondents from the Belarusian internet audience ranked second only to VK, with 63%. The data shows that the topic of the pandemic was mentioned less frequently on Instagram compared to facebook.com and twitter.com. There is also a noticeable drastic reduction in Belarusian news websites due to the discriminatory measures imposed by the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus.
The absence of major media platforms with non-state ownership significantly reduces the opportunity to conduct a nationwide information campaign in support of vaccination and to publish a greater number of materials with reliable information about the pandemic.
Distribution of messages by categories:
Misinformation / Fake newsNow let’s examine the types of misinformation (fake news) about the pandemic that were spread during the studied months among the Belarusian internet audience.
Temporal distribution of misinformation:
Main fake narratives:
Main fake narratives:Two key pieces of misinformation were spread: about mandatory vaccination and the ineffectiveness of medical masks.
One of the striking examples of the misinformation regarding mandatory vaccination is this video:
The Belarusian approach to combating COVID-19 has already proven its effectiveness more than once. Platform. Panorama.Posted on October 13, 2021.
The inaccuracy regarding effectiveness stems from publicly available data on the number of fully vaccinated individuals in Belarus and neighboring countries as of November 6, 2021, a characteristic that clearly indicates the success or necessity for additional efforts in the country’s vaccination campaign:
The main sources of unreliable information are:
The main sources of unreliable information are:The topic of the coronavirus pandemic COVID-19 and vaccination remains one of the most pressing issues, as well as a component of the overall political and economic crisis in the Republic of Belarus. The pandemic is related to the health of all Belarusian citizens, regardless of their political views, and therefore requires reasonable, urgent protocols for addressing the problem. These solutions should be based on maximizing the use of all available opportunities for global international assistance, including the certification of WHO-recommended vaccines and their unrestricted access to Belarusian medical institutions. It is essential to attract financial resources from international aid to expand and update the medical infrastructure of the Republic of Belarus. A broad integrated communication campaign should be conducted for various target audiences, utilizing different media channels to emphasize the urgent need for the vaccination of Belarusian people and to provide assistance and rehabilitation for those who have already recovered from COVID-19.
Once again, a huge thank you to all medical workers who continue to save Belarusian citizens in extremely unfavorable conditions!The publication was prepared by the Baltic Internet Policy Initiative.
