Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus (2021)

Coronavirus. SARS-CoV-2

Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus (2021)

The COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus continued to evolve throughout 2021, with various developments in public health measures, vaccination efforts, and case numbers. This article provides a detailed timeline of the key events and responses in Belarus during the year 2021.

January 2021

• **January 1**: Belarus reported a total of 199,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
• **January 15**: The Ministry of Health announced the arrival of the first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia.
• **January 25**: Mass vaccination campaigns began, prioritizing healthcare workers and vulnerable populations.

February 2021

• **February 10**: Belarus received an additional shipment of the Sputnik V vaccine.
• **February 20**: The government reported a decline in daily new cases, attributing it to the ongoing vaccination efforts.

March 2021

• **March 5**: The Ministry of Health confirmed the presence of the Alpha variant of the virus in Belarus.
• **March 20**: A new wave of infections was reported, leading to increased hospitalizations.

April 2021

• **April 1**: Belarus began administering the Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine received from China.
• **April 15**: The government imposed stricter public health measures, including mandatory mask-wearing in public spaces.

May 2021

• **May 10**: The daily number of new cases started to decline again.
• **May 25**: The Ministry of Health announced that over 500,000 people had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

June 2021

• **June 1**: Belarus reported a total of 400,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
• **June 15**: The government lifted some restrictions as the vaccination campaign progressed.

July 2021

• **July 5**: The Delta variant was detected in Belarus, leading to concerns about a potential new wave of infections.
• **July 20**: The Ministry of Health urged the public to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.

August 2021

• **August 1**: Belarus received a new shipment of the Sputnik V vaccine.
• **August 15**: The government reported that 1 million people had been fully vaccinated.

September 2021

• **September 10**: Schools reopened with strict health protocols in place.
• **September 25**: The Ministry of Health announced booster shots for healthcare workers and the elderly.

October 2021

• **October 5**: Belarus experienced a surge in new cases, primarily due to the Delta variant.
• **October 20**: The government reintroduced some restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

November 2021

• **November 1**: Belarus reported a total of 600,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
• **November 15**: The Ministry of Health expanded the vaccination campaign to include children aged 12 and older.

December 2021

• **December 1**: The government announced that over 2 million people had been fully vaccinated.
• **December 20**: Belarus received its first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

See also

• COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus
• COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
• COVID-19 vaccination in Belarus
• Public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic