Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal has urged Ukrainians to refrain from traveling within the country amid quarantine measures to fight the novel coronavirus.
The World Health Organization has warned that Europe is now the epicenter of a global pandemic, but so far Ukraine has reported only three cases, one of which resulted in the patient’s death.
Nontheless, the country has closed all schools and banned mass events until April 3 at least, with officials saying the terms of quarantine may change depending on the epidemiological situation in Ukraine.
“Today, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine took a number of steps to implement decisions of the National Security and Defense Council,” Shmygal said in a video statement on his Facebook page on the evening of Saturday, March 14.
“They are aimed at countering and preventing the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine,” he said. “Ukraine remains a country where the situation with coronavirus develops by a moderate scenario,” he added.
“From Monday, March 16, we are closing checkpoints, and from midnight we are closing passenger connections between Ukraine and other countries… that’s why I’m urging citizens of Ukraine… to come home as soon as possible,” he said. “I also ask you, very insistently… to stop travelling between the cities of Ukraine.”
“Fortunately, there are no clusters and major outbreaks of the disease… We are doing everything so that they do not emerge,” said Shmyhal.
From Monday, March 16 Ukraine will close its borders to foreigners, although those with residency permits can still travel, ministers have said. Ukraine is due to close the border and halt commercial passenger air traffic.
The coronavirus pandemic has already claimed 6,455 lives globally, with nearly 167,543 confirmed cases, according to the latest official data, which also reports that 76,00 patients have recovered from the illness.
Read also: Zelensky says Ukraine is prepared for coronavirus
CORONAVIRUS IN UKRAINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
-
- There have been five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine. The first case was identified in Ukraine on March 3.
- One person died from the COVID-19 in Ukraine.
- Ukraine shut schools and canceled mass events starting March 12 to prevent the disease’s spread. Some schools resisted.
- Here’s how Kyiv is affected.
- Doctor’s advice: How to stay safe.
- Ukrainians evacuated from the disease’s epicenter in Wuhan, China spent two weeks in quarantine in a sanatorium in Poltava Oblast and were released on March 5. Their arrival in Ukraine caused unrest.
Effects on economy:
- Here’s what the virus is doing to Ukraine’s economy.
- Ukrainian businesses respond to the crisis.
- The virus disrupts the transport sector. Ukrainian airlines canceled some flights to 16 countries due to the novel coronavirus.
The National Bank of Ukraine continued to cut the policy rate while trying to buffer the hryvnia from coronavirus panic.
