Lescakova: Gov't Will Adopt Measures to Protect Slovakia from Omicron

(RTVS, Sobotne dialogy, November 27) If the new Omicron coronavirus variant makes its way to Slovakia, it will spell a death knell for the Slovak health system, 'For the People' vice-chair and Culture Ministry state secretary Viera Lescakova declared on RTVS’ discussion programme ‘Saturday Dialogues’. "The situation is changing dramatically. The current measures are sufficient. However, they don't take into account the latest situation that is likely bound to change the stance of epidemiologists and infectologists," claimed Lescakova, noting that Slovakia is in a critical situation already without Omicron added to the mix. Lescakova believes that the health sector can collapse mostly due to low rate of vaccination against COVID-19. She conceded that the vaccinated can contract the virus as well, but pointed to statistics, according to which the bulk of the patients are unvaccinated. "That's why we're for every measure that will motivate the people to get vaccinated," Lescakova stated and criticised the opposition for disseminating lies about the vaccination. She called on politicians to stop being "heartless" and start convincing the people about the benefits of the vaccination. She also rejected the notion that the vaccination is only about profits for pharma business. "Let's not be ridiculous. The vaccine costs €20, the lung ventilation treatment for a single patient €20,000," she added. Smer-SD MP Jan Richter, also on the show, claimed that the opposition is not "heartless", but insisted that the vaccination must be on a voluntary basis. He averred that the opposition had offered a helping hand to the Government, but it was turned down. According to Richter, the Government has failed to convince the people about the need to observe measures because the Government's own members are violating them. In this context, Richter pointed out to ex-premier Igor Matovic (OLaNO), who had attended a wedding of the OLANO caucus chair during the second pandemic wave and the fact that the coalition had summoned also lawmakers who tested positive for COVID-19 to Parliament to approve the extension of the emergency state. mf