Ukraine can expect its domestic COVID-19 epidemic to peak between April 15 and 25, according to the Interior Ministry.
If this prediction is correct, the country will have to extend the nationwide quarantine until at least May 15, Deputy Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook on April 1.
Prior to Gerashchenko’s statement, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on March 30 that Ukraine should be quarantined for at least two months like other European states. He advised prolonging the lockdown, which is due to be lifted on April 24, until May 12–18.
Gerashchenko, in turn, compared the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine to Spain, where thousands of new coronavirus cases appeared in less than 20 days.
“On March 21, Ukraine had 47 people infected with COVID-19. Eleven days later we have 669 people infected,” he said.
As of April 1, COVID-19 has officially infected 669 and killed 17 people in Ukraine; 10 Ukrainians have recovered from the virus. Since March 30, 120 new cases of COVID-19 have been registered.
Gerashchenko believes there are more Ukrainians who have COVID-19, but some people don’t consult their doctors, mistaking coronavirus for the regular flu.
“But at the same time, such infected individuals can infect others,” Gerashchenko said. “And they could have infected others if public transport, shopping centers and cafes and movie theaters had still been working at full capacity.”
Ukraine imposed its quarantine on March 17 and, on March 25, extended it until April 24.
Testing for coronavirus and self-isolating, according to Gerashchenko, can stop the rapid spread of the disease.
Currently, all citizens arriving in the country on foot, by car or by emergency flight will be required to spend 14 days in quarantine.
“Fourteen days at home is not a high price for saving lives and the health of your fellow citizens,” Gerashchenko said.
Globally, as of April 1, COVID-19 has killed 43,459 people and infected 875,445; 178,538 patients have recovered from the disease.
CORONAVIRUS IN UKRAINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- As of April 1: 17 people have died from COVID-19 in Ukraine; 3 Ukrainians died in Italy. 10 people have recovered.
- 669 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of early on April 1. The first case was identified on March 3.
- Ukraine has extended its quarantine measures until April 24.
- Infographic of quarantine measures in place until April 24.
- The measures shuttered most everything but hospitals, supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, and other critical enterprises.
- How the Ukrainian government has been responding: TIMELINE
- Misinformation on coronavirus is going viral in Ukraine.
- Doctor’s advice: How to stay safe.
- Foreign Ministry: What you need to know about traveling to and from Ukraine now
- Why the Kyiv Post isn’t making its coverage free in the times of COVID-19.
- Coronavirus stops the Kyiv Post’s print edition for now.
- Where to buy masks.
Effects on the economy:
- COVID-19 is already inflicting harm on Ukraine’s economy.
- Invisible Threat Lurks Undetected: Top stories from March 27, 2020 PDF edition.
- The former minister of economy says half a million Ukrainians may lose their jobs in the COVID-19 crisis.
