Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmygal explained the government’s decision to close schools and ban mass events to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus and reassured that Ukraine’s economy is ready for a financial crisis caused in part by the virus epidemic on March 11.
“We don’t want to wait until it (the virus epidemic) grows parabolically here. We want to protect Ukrainians and Ukraine to the maximum, and pass this phase as easily as possible,” Shmygal said at a press briefing following the government’s meeting.
So far there has been only one registered case of COVID-19 infection in Ukraine. The disease, caused by the novel coronavirus, has been detected in 119,000 people and killed 4,290 people worldwide. It has surged in Europe in recent days, especially in Italy, where it has been detected in 10,149 people and killed 631.
Shmygal acknowledged that the economy will suffer losses from the imposed virus prevention measures, but said that the government will “count the losses” later. The key issue, he said, is saving the lives and the health of Ukrainians.
Shmygal also said that Ukraine is ready to enter the global financial crisis caused in part by the coronavirus epidemic. He said that the country’s economy is in a much stronger state than it was during the 2008 crisis.
“We have more liquidity in the banks than ever before, we have high gold and foreign currency reserves, we have reserves for the planned budget, we have a rather positive dialogue with the IMF (International Monetary Fund),” Shmygal said.
The prime minister also hinted that the country may even use the crisis to its advantage.
“Our exporters are positive about the opportunities that open for us,” Shmygal said. “On one hand there is a crisis, on the other, these can be opportunities for our domestic market, for our domestic producers – agricultural producers, machinery manufacturers – and exporters.”
Ukraine will close all educational institutions staring from March 12 until April 3 – including nurseries, schools, and universities — and ban mass gatherings of more than 200 people. Events of “state necessity” such as parliamentary meetings can proceed, as can sporting events without spectators.
The government will also allocate Hr 100 million ($4 million) to buy personal protective equipment from Ukrainian private companies – gloves, masks, and protective suits – to supply doctors and other state employees. It will prohibit the export of such equipment until June 1.
Additionally, the government will purchase infrared screening equipment to measure the temperature of passengers at Kyiv Boryspil International Airport.
Ukraine will impose limits on flights to and from Italy and close 170 out of 219 border checkpoints, including Russian-occupied parts of the eastern Donbas region that includes Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The remaining 49 checkpoints will have quarantine centers.
Earlier in the day, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced similar measures in the capital in a video message published on his Facebook page. Beyond closing educational institutions and cancelling mass gatherings, Klitschko said that movie theaters would cancel screenings, entertainment centers would close and there would be precautionary measures at shopping malls.
On March 11, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) announced that it would temporarily suspend or cancel some flights to Italy, Israel, the United Kingdom, Turkey and domestic destinations. Previously, on Feb. 3, UIA banned flights to China.
The only Ukrainian reported to have been infected with the novel coronavirus on March 3 had arrived in Ukraine from a vacation in Italy. He has been hospitalized since then in Chernivtsi Oblast, 500 kilometers west of Kyiv. In total, Ukraine has tested 43 people for COVID-19: 1 test was positive, 41 were negative, and 1 more is still being examined.
Meanwhile, the epidemic has subsided in its country of origin, China. Since Jan. 20, the virus has infected nearly 81,000 and killed 3,162 people in China.
Coronavirus in Ukraine: What you need to know
- The first COVID-19 case was identified in Ukraine on March 3. It remains the only diagnosed case.
- Ukraine shut schools and canceled mass events starting March 12 to prevent the disease’s spread.
- Here’s how Kyiv is affected.
- Doctor’s advice: How to stay safe.
- Ukrainian airlines canceled some flights to 16 countries due to the novel coronavirus.
- Here’s what the virus is doing to Ukraine’s economy.
- 49 Ukrainians ended up in quarantine on a cruise ship near California. Previously, Ukrainians aboard the Diamond Princess ship refused to be evacuated.
- A Ukrainian lawmaker had to self-quarantine after meeting with a French counterpart who was later diagnosed with COVID-19.
- 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.
