The Belarus soccer championship continues despite the threat in the country of coronavirus.
SHOWS: NEAR MINSK, BELARUS (MARCH 27, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.
VARIOUS OF MEDICAL WORKERS MEASURING BODY TEMPERATURE OF SOCCER FANS 2.
VARIOUS OF SOCCER FANS NEAR STADIUM BEFORE KICK OFF 3.
VARIOUS OF MEDICAL WORKERS MEASURING TEMPERATURE 4.
PEOPLE GATHERING IN FRONT OF STADIUM GATES 5.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BELARUS SOCCER FAN, MIKHAIL, SAYING: "The situation is that we don't have it (coronavirus) yet.
Or maybe we are not told.
We need to continue living, it's Friday, tomorrow is a day off.
I think we are going to win." 6.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SOCCER FAN, ALEXANDER, SAYING: "I am not afraid.
My favourite team, "Torpedo-BelAZ" plays and I will be with it forever, despite this coronavirus, I will always come to the stadium" 7.
VARIOUS OF SIGN IN FRONT OF STADIUM 8.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BELARUS SOCCER FAN, MIKHAIL, SAYING: "What is there to be afraid of?
Soccer is interesting, better than sitting at home.
We have a quiet town, no infection cases here so far.
All is good." 9.
"Torpedo-BelAZ" HEAD COACH, YURI PUNTUS, AT NEWS CONFERENCE 10.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) "Torpedo-BelAZ" HEAD COACH, YURI PUNTUS, SAYING: "Considering the situation in the world I am thankful to all the folks on the stands, the brave hearts.
Personally, I heard the support at the sideline." 11.
FANS IN FRONT OF STADIUM 12.
VARIOUS OF PLACARD ANNOUNCING SOCCER MATCH 13.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BELARUS SOCCER FEDERATION PRESS SECRETARY, ALEXANDER ALEINIK, SAYING: "The Belarus Soccer Federation decided to continue the Premier League.
We are keeping in touch with the Health and Sports ministries, constantly monitoring the situation." 14.
FANS IN LINE TO ENTER STADIUM 15.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BELARUS SOCCER FEDERATION PRESS SECRETARY, ALEXANDER ALEINIK, SAYING: "The fans that attend the games and cheer for their teams - they are what we have.
We need to work with them and make sure there are more of them." 16.
BUS WITH PLAYERS LEAVING STADIUM STORY: Belarus soccer championship is one of the few that decided not to stop despite the global coronavirus pandemic as FC Torpedo-BelAZ from Zhodino played FC Belshina from Bobruisk on Friday (March 27).
Local soccer fans told Reuters that supporting their favourite team is more important than exposing themselves to possible infection risks.
"I am not afraid.
My favourite team, "Torpedo-BelAZ" plays and I will be with it forever, despite this coronavirus, I will always come to the stadium," said soccer fan Alexander.
Belarus has 94 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The country's authorities reported about 24,000 tests had been conducted.
Torpedo-BelAZ managed to get a 1-0 victory, allowing them to top the league's table along with "Energetik-BGU".
(Production: Vladimir Kostin, Dmitry Turlyun)
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