The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a new amendment requiring domestic travelers to have COVID-19 documentation when going to another region.
Beginning on Oct. 21, all passengers, drivers and crew traveling between regions with “yellow”, “orange” or “red” quarantine restrictions are required to show one of the following:
- A document confirming that the traveler received a single dose of vaccine, when traveling between two “yellow” regions
- A document confirming that the traveler received a full course of vaccination, when traveling to or from “orange” or “red” regions
- Proof of a negative PCR or rapid test for the SARS-COV-2 antigen, done up to 72 hours before the trip
International travelers must also do one of the following:
- Present an international, domestic or foreign certificate confirming a full course of vaccination by a WHO approved vaccine
- Show a negative PCR test
- Maintain self-quarantine tracked with the Diia mobile app
The rules cover all road shuttle, air and railway travel which crosses regional boundaries. Intracity and intraregional transportation is not affected by these changes.
“The provider of the transport services holds the responsibility of ensuring all drivers, passengers, and crew members have the appropriate COVID-19 documentation,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
On Oct. 12, Health Minister Viktor Lyashko released a statement to clarify that the new rules will not apply to minors, as they are not able to receive a COVID vaccine.
“Children under the age of 18 will be able to use public transport on trips between regions without presenting negative tests for COVID-19 and certificates or international vaccination certificates. For children over the age of 12, it remains a mandatory rule to use protective masks while in public places, including transport, ” said Lyashko.
As Ukraine’s daily COVID-19 infection rate continues to spike, all regions remain in the “yellow” or “orange” quarantine level. Over the past week, the average number of new daily cases climbed to 13,500, compared to an average of 3000 new daily cases between Sept. 4th and 11th.
Despite the government’s vaccination efforts, studies found that more than half of the population does not want to receive the vaccine due to public fear and distrust, fueled by misinformation spread on social media.
“The new rules for interregional travel are a necessary step to curb the spread of coronavirus disease to ensure the lives and safety of Ukrainian citizens. Therefore, requiring that drivers and passengers provide documentation confirming their COVID-safety, is a necessary condition for regular and irregular modes of transportation,” Lyashko explained.
Ukraine’s vaccination rate trails far behind other European nations. To date, 14 million doses have been administered, with only 15% of the population, or 6.5 million Ukrainians, receiving both doses.
