Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has announced that he tested positive for coronavirus on Oct. 24, just a day before mayoral elections in Ukraine’s capital.
The former boxing heavyweight champion and current Kyiv mayor is expected to keep his seat in the upcoming vote.
“Friends! Coronavirus crept in at the most inconvenient moment,” Klitschko wrote on his Telegram messenger channel.
The Kyiv mayor has frequently inspected hospitals where COVID-19 patients receive treatment. As a result, he has regularly been tested for the coronavirus. “Today’s test, unfortunately, came back positive,” he said.m“I feel good, but I must self-isolate. I will be working from home.”
On Oct. 25, Ukrainians across the country will head to the polls to vote in local elections. Kyivans will have a chance to elect the next mayor of the city.
According to September polls by the Rating Group, 45.5% of voters support Klitschko. His closest rivals poll slightly above 10%.
If Klitschko can get more than 50% of the vote, he will claim victory. Otherwise, he and the runner-up will go into a runoff on Nov. 15.
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The winners of the 2020 local elections will enjoy greater powers than in the past due to Ukraine’s ongoing decentralization reform, which allows localities greater taxing and spending powers.
