The Cabinet of Ministers decided to extend Ukraine’s current adaptive quarantine until Oct. 1 because of the rising number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Aug. 11.
“While the current epidemiological situation is under control, experts are starting to record the first negative trends of hospitalization increases,” he explained.
Under the adaptive quarantine, each of Ukraine’s regions is color coded by the severity of the COVID-19 situation there. There are four statuses: green, yellow, orange and red. Quarantine measures stipulate that masks must be worn in indoor public spaces such as restaurants, nightclubs, cinemas and public transport. People must observe social distancing protocols and keep 1.5 meters away from one another.
While all oblasts are currently in the “green,” they may not stay that way in the fall. On July 26, World Health Organization Ukraine head Jarno Habicht said a rapid increase of coronavirus cases in Ukraine can be expected in late August or beginning of September. It may last until winter, depending on the government response.
If Habicht’s predictions come true, Ukraine will experience its fourth wave of coronavirus. Health Minister Victor Lyashko told public broadcaster Suspilne that another wave is possible but that Ukraine is capable of mitigating it.
Shmyhal said that the government is preparing hospitals and almost 100% of hospital beds are equipped with oxygen.
He added that the government bought 15,000 more oxygen concentrators, allowing outpatient treatment.
There have been 143 cases of the highly contagious Delta variant confirmed in Ukraine. In comparison to other COVID-19 strains, Delta is much more contagious and has a shorter incubation period.
The coronavirus vaccination program in Ukraine started on February 24.
According to the Ministry of Health, as of Aug. 10, 4,324,551 people have received their first dose and 2.5 million people are fully vaccinated.
