COVID-19 in Ukraine: 1,616 new infections, 27 dead, 43,395 active cases

Ukraine has reported 1,616 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours as of 9 a.m. on Aug. 18. There are currently 43,395 active cases across the country, according to Health Minister Maksym Stepanov.

In the past 24 hours, Ukraine has recorded 27 deaths from COVID-19, 270 patients have been hospitalized and 761 people have recovered.

The largest numbers of new cases were registered in Kharkiv Oblast (204), Lviv Oblast (181) and Chernivtsi Oblast (172).

The total number of infections identified in the country since the start of the pandemic stands at 94,436. A total of 48,925 people have recovered and 2,116 have died of the disease.

Ukraine’s daily COVID-19 cases, deaths and recoveries from July 1 to Aug. 16, 2020. All data were released by the Ministry of Health. (Bermet Talant)

During the past 24 hours, laboratories have administered 15,120 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests across the country, Stepanov said during a briefing on Aug. 18. Additionally, they also carried out 13,172 antibody tests (IFA).

Since Aug. 3, new rules for the COVID-19 quarantine have come into force in Ukraine: Communities, rather than entire regions, are now divided into green, yellow, orange, and red levels of severity of the spread of COVID-19. The authorities in districts, cities, and towns will have to tighten or relax quarantine restrictions in accordance with these categorizations. The levels are based on four indicators that are reviewed every five days.

Last week, health authorities moved Kyiv from the green zone to the yellow zone because 52.2% of hospital beds for treating COVID-19 patients were occupied in the capital, more than the allowable 50%.

Starting on Aug. 17, Kyiv residents will have to follow new yellow zone restrictions. They are not allowed to be outside without identification or in public transport without a mask. Public transport may only carry as many people as there are seats. Mass events are only allowed outside, with no more than one person per 5 square meters. Movie theaters and other cultural venues can only have 50% occupancy. Finally, people who are undergoing self-isolation or observation are not allowed to independently leave their isolation or observation location, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Aug. 14.

Ukraine’s daily new COVID-19 cases and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the most accurate way of diagnosing the novel coronavirus, between July 1 and Aug. 17, 2020.