Several dozen participants joined a rally in Kyiv on May 19 that demanded that the government reopened kindergartens. Kindergatrens remain shut in Ukraine since mid-March as part of the nationwide quarantine, introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The protesters were parents who say they can’t go to work and provide for their families because kindergartens remain closed.
As of now, the coronavirus-related quarantine in Ukraine is set to last until May 22, but the government said it will prolong the quarantine after that — albeit with some restrictions lifted. The parents who protested on May 19 demanded that the government included the kindergartens in the set of the restrictions that will be rolled back after May 22.
Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said on May 19 that kindergartens will likely open on May 22.
But it may not be true for all of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine would be switching to an “adaptive quarantine” option starting May 22. It foresees that restrictions will be lifted gradually and Ukraine’s regions and cities will roll back restrictions selectively, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases they have.
CORONAVIRUS IN UKRAINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- As of May 19: 548 people have died from the disease in Ukraine and 5,632 have recovered.
- 18,876 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of May 19. The first case was identified on March 3.
- Ukraine has extended the quarantine until May 22 but started easing restrictions gradually.
- Here’s what opened in Ukraine on May 12.
- How the Ukrainian government has been responding: TIMELINE
- Misinformation on coronavirus is viral in Ukraine.
- Where to buy masks.
- Why the Kyiv Post isn’t making its coverage free in the times of COVID-19.
- Coronavirus stops the Kyiv Post’s print edition for now.
Effects on the economy:
- COVID-19 is already inflicting harm on Ukraine’s economy.
- The former minister of economy says half a million Ukrainians may lose their jobs in the COVID-19 crisis.
