On March 20, Kyiv enters a three-week lockdown.
The lockdown started at midnight and will run through the end of the day of Friday, April 9.
The city authorities announced the lockdown hastily on March 18, responding to the rising number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. Kyiv recorded 1,070 new infections on March 19.
It is the third time Kyiv is under a lockdown since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The first two were nationwide lockdowns: Two months in March-May 2020 and three weeks in January 2021.
This time, the restrictions will be slightly different. The subway won’t shut down, as it did during the first lockdown.
Kyiv Oblast is also in lockdown starting March 23. Several oblasts in western Ukraine, as well as the city of Lviv and Zhytomyr Oblast are in the “red” quarantine zone, which means lockdown.
Kyiv, for now, is under a self-imposed lockdown. On March 23 it will move to the “red zone,” and live by the restrictions imposed by the government. One major difference between them is public transport: While the Kyiv lockdown allows for it to operate at 50% capacity, the government’s lockdown stops it fully. However, the government said it will review this rule.
What is banned:
- Eating out: All cafes and restaurants are restricted to takeout and delivery only.
While there was no ruling on outdoor dining, it is assumed it is banned too. The weather in Kyiv still remains cold and outdoor terraces, for the most part, are not open. Cafes at gas stations will be closed, too. (Exception: Airport cafes continue to work)
- Shopping: All non-essential stores shut down.
Only grocery stores, pharmacies, and pet stores are open. Shopping malls shut down except for those stores. Any stores are allowed to do pick-up of pre-ordered goods.
- Events: Mass gatherings and events are banned. (Exception: Religious services can take place, with limitations)
- Entertainment and culture: Nightclubs, cinemas, theaters, museums, concert halls shut down.
What is limited:
- Public transport: It will be working at one half of its capacity.
Only half of the seats on buses and metro cars can be filled. The Kyiv subway intends to regulate the number of passengers by counting passengers entering the stations and closing entrances when there is an overflow.
It will be harder to regulate it in marshrutkas, a minibus service that remains one of the main ways of transportation in Kyiv. Drivers and passengers have been known to frequently ignore quarantine restrictions in the past, including the demand to wear a mask.
Important: This rule might change on March 23, when Kyiv switches to the government-imposed lockdown. Under it, the transport stops operating. The government is expected to review this rule soon and might allow the transport to operate after all.
- Beauty salons and barbershops.
They are open but require a prior appointment — as they usually do.
- Gyms.
Gyms require a prior booking to control the number of visitors. They also can’t do group classes.
- Religious services.
Religious services are only allowed in spaces with at least 10 square meters per person.
- Sports events.
Games and competitions can take place without an audience.
What remains open:
- Grocery stores and markets.
- Pharmacies.
- Pet stores.
- Home care and beauty care stores (chains like Eva and Watsons).
- Parks. (See our guide to best parks in Kyiv)
- Kindergartens.
- State post offices and Nova Poshta offices.
- Cafes at Kyiv airports — Zhulyany and Boryspil.
Remote work and learning during lockdown:
- Public offices and state-owned organizations are required to move to remote work.
- Private companies are recommended to switch to remote work as much as possible, although it isn’t mandatory for them.
- Schools return to remote learning. But first, they will have their scheduled spring break on March 22-28.
