VIDEO
EXCLUSIVE
American Griffin Bouwens spent several years in Ukraine through the Peace Corps, working for a local NGO that helped to develop the community in Vasylkiv, a town of 37,600 people just 20 kilometers outside of Kyiv.
He came to love the small town and its people. Last week, the Peace Corps decided to evacuate its volunteers from around the world after Europe and the U.S. announced travel restrictions to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Griffin hopes to return to Ukraine as soon as possible.
Latest updates on coronavirus in Ukraine
- There have been 73 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine. The first case was identified on March 3.
- Three people have died from COVID-19 in Ukraine. One person recovered.
- Three Ukrainians died from COVID-19 in Italy.
- How the Ukrainian government has been responding: TIMELINE
- To fight the spread of the virus, Ukraine shut down public transportation, domestic travel, restaurants.
- Kyiv went into quarantine, shutting down everything by supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, gas stations.
- Ukrainian lawmaker tested positive for COVID-19.
- Misinformation on coronavirus is going viral in Ukraine.
- Why the Kyiv Post isn’t making its coverage free in the times of COVID-19.
- Doctor’s advice: How to stay safe.
- Foreign Ministry: What you need to know about traveling to and from Ukraine now
Effects on economy:
- Here’s what the virus is doing to Ukraine’s economy.
- Ukrainian businesses respond to the crisis.
- The virus disrupts the transport sector. Ukrainian airlines canceled some flights to 16 countries due to the novel coronavirus.
- The National Bank of Ukraine continued to cut the policy rate while trying to buffer the hryvnia from coronavirus panic.
- The former minister of economy says half a million Ukrainians may lose their jobs in the COVID-19 crisis.
