Ukraine will close all schools and ban mass events starting on March 12 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the government announced on March 11. There has been only one registered case of the infection in Ukraine.
COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has been detected in 119,000 people and killed 4,290 people worldwide.
Ukraine will close all educational institutions until April 3 – including nurseries, schools and universities — and ban mass gatherings of more than 200 people. Events of “state necessity” such as parliamentary meetings can proceed, as can sporting events without spectators.
The government will also allocate Hr 100 million ($4 million) to buy personal protective equipment from Ukrainian private companies – gloves, masks and protective suits – to supply doctors and other state employees. It will prohibit the export of such equipment until June 1.
Additionally, the government will purchase infrared screening equipment to measure the temperature of passengers at Boryspil International Airport.
Ukraine will limit flights to and from several countries and close 170 out of 219 border checkpoints, according to lawmaker Viktoria Siumar. The remaining 49 will have quarantine facilities, Siumar wrote on Facebook, citing Prime Minister Denys Shmygal.
Earlier in the day, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced similar measures in the capital in a video message published on his Facebook page. Beyond closing educational institutions and canceling mass gatherings, Klitschko said that movie theaters would cancel screenings, entertainment centers would close and there would be precautionary measures at shopping malls.
On March 11, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) announced that it would temporarily suspend or adjust many of its flights to Italy, Israel, the United Kingdom, Turkey and domestic destinations.
Previously, on Feb. 3, UIA banned flights to China.
The spread of COVID-19 has surged in Europe in recent days, especially in Italy, where it has been detected in 10,149 people and killed 631.
The only Ukrainian reported to have been infected with the novel coronavirus on March 3 had arrived in Ukraine from a vacation in Italy. He has been hospitalized since then in Chernivtsi Oblast, 500 kilometers west of Kyiv.
In total, Ukraine has tested 43 people for COVID-19: 1 test was positive, 41 were negative, and 1 more is still being examined.
Meanwhile, the epidemic has subsided in its country of origin, China. Since Jan. 20, the virus has infected nearly 81,000 and killed 3,162 people in China.
Coronavirus in Ukraine: What you need to know
- The first COVID-19 case was identified in Ukraine on March 3. It remains the only diagnosed case.
- Ukraine shut schools and canceled mass events starting March 12 to prevent the disease’s spread.
- Here’s how Kyiv is affected.
- Doctor’s advice: How to stay safe.
- Ukrainian airlines canceled some flights to 16 countries due to the novel coronavirus.
- Here’s what the virus is doing to Ukraine’s economy.
- 49 Ukrainians ended up in quarantine on a cruise ship near California. Previously, Ukrainians aboard the Diamond Princess ship refused to be evacuated.
- A Ukrainian lawmaker had to self-quarantine after meeting with a French counterpart who was later diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Ukrainians evacuated from the disease’s epicenter in Wuhan, China spent two weeks in quarantine in a sanatorium in Poltava Oblast and were released on March 5. Their arrival in Ukraine caused unrest.
