The number of officially confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ukraine has reached 356 as of late March 28, according to the health ministry, with the number of deaths rising to 9 people.
The number of recovered patients stands at five people.
Only one oblast in Ukraine remains officially free of the novel coronavirus, Kirovohrad Oblast in central Ukraine. The country’s other 23 oblasts are hit by the virus.
Kyiv tops the list of the places with the fastest and the largest coronavirus spread in the country with 74 patients, among which a few members of parliament and officials. Another 41 cases were recorded in Kyiv Oblast.
The western part of the county is also experiencing an outbreak of the virus. Chernivtsi Oblast is struggling to combat coronavirus with 47 cases recorded and one death. Neighboring Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast has 28 cases recorded, three of them lethal.
Ternopil Oblast has 43 cases, which includes 21 medical professionals. All of the medics were infected in the same district of Ternopil Oblast. They include seven doctors, eight nurses, and six junior nurses.
On March 26, the Kyiv Post reported that four doctors got infected in the district due to the lack of safety equipment.
Younger people at risk
On March 27, Viktor Lyashko, Ukraine’s chief sanitary doctor, revealed information about the age breakdown of COVID-19 cases. This information is being made public for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak began in Ukraine in early March.
According to Lyashko, half of the people who were infected are between the ages of 18 and 49. Older people, 50-65 years old, make up 30% of COVID-19 patients in Ukraine. People older than 65 make up just 6%.
Lyashko said the statistics show that younger Ukrainians are not adhering to recommendations to isolate at home as well as older people.
The vital solution to overcome the virus is to stay home, he said.
“We must not allow the situation that happened in Italy, Spain, and France” to take place in Ukraine, Lyashko said during a briefing aired on the television.
The countries in question are struggling to suppress the virus. Italy is now second in the world in terms of coronavirus spread, with 86,498 cases. Spain goes the fourth with 65,719 cases as of March 28. France has the sixth-largest number of COVID-19 cases: 32,964 infections.
Mobile brigades
Lyashko also announced a new approach to testing for coronavirus that may help curb its spread.
New mobile brigades will be created and will visit the homes of people who have COVID-19 symptoms. The brigades will take a swab of an individual’s nose and throat and send it for laboratory analysis.
This will help to limit the movement of possibly infected people, who would otherwise have to travel to the hospital to be tested and could potentially transmit the virus to others along the way.
“These special mobile brigades are to be created at central district hospitals. The team will consist of a driver and medical staff,” Lyashko said.
If the mobile brigade’s test is positive, the patient will be hospitalized.
However, Lyashko said, the course of action for people remains the same.
“When symptoms appear, you should contact your family doctor or other health care provider. They will tell you what to do next,” Lyashko stressed.
Lung ventilators
Ukraine has around 350 lung ventilators. They are used in the infectious disease wards of Ukrainian hospitals.
However, the health ministry acknowledges that this is not enough. The authorities are currently negotiating with foreign companies that produce lung ventilators to procure this essential equipment for Ukraine, Lyashko said.
Lung ventilators are critical to care for patients with serious pneumonia, a common COVID-19 complication.
Lyashko also said that other, non-infectious disease wards in Ukrainian hospitals also have a certain amount of lung ventilators. He did not specify the exact number.
These wards have delayed planned operations and will give up the lung ventilators for treating COVID-19 patients.
“I call on everyone not to panic, but to unite and to support doctors,” Lyashko said.
CORONAVIRUS IN UKRAINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- As of March 28: 8 people have died from COVID-19 in Ukraine; 3 Ukrainians died in Italy. 5 people have recovered.
- 356 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of March 28. 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.
