Government extends quarantine until May 11, expects COVID-19 peak in 2 weeks

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Denys Shmygal announced on April 22 that it would extend quarantine measures until May 11. The measures will include a ban on public gatherings of over two people, restrictions on public transportation and a requirement to wear face masks in public at all times.

“According to the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, we are expecting a peak (of infections) between May 3 and May 8,” said Shmygal. No easing of restrictions is possible at this time, he added.

The initial quarantine measures were imposed on March 12 and closed schools, banned mass gatherings and restricted non-essential travel. Subways in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro were closed on March 17, while foreigners were banned from entering Ukraine a day prior.

On April 3, the government intensified restrictions by outlawing gatherings in groups of more than two people, closed all parks and forbid children under 14 from being in public places without an accompanying adult.

The government also required all people to wear face masks outdoor and carry identification documents at all times. All government institutions that provide social services and all palliative and social care units were closed to visitors.

As of April 22, 6,592 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ukraine and 174 have died. Globally, over 178,000 people have died due to the novel coronavirus.

“We’re expecting to end quarantine when, for at least 10 days, the number of newly diagnosed cases will be around 5% (of total cases)” Shmygal said. As of April 22, the number of newly diagnosed cases is 7% of the total.

According to Shmygal, to achieve these numbers, Ukraine must conduct more COVID-19 tests.

“We’re testing almost 5,000 people daily,” he said.

On April 21, Deputy Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said that the number of COVID-19 cases will spike in Ukraine by the end of April due to mass quarantine violations during the Easter holiday.

Almost 130,000 Ukrainians visited churches for Orthodox Easter on April 18-19, according to the National Police, even though the mass gatherings were banned by the government and President Volodymyr Zelensky asked church followers to remain home.