Ukraine has identified 15 new cases of COVID-19 on March 20, a record number that brings the total to 41.
According to the Center for Public Health, the 41 cases are spread across nine of the country’s 24 oblasts and the city of Kyiv.
The number of coronavirus cases in the country has grown rapidly over the last several days in a pattern previously seen in other countries suffering from the pandemic.
Globally, COVID-19 has been detected in over 271,000 people and killed over 11,000.
On March 20, 10 new cases were confirmed in Chernivtsi Oblast, where the first Ukrainian with the infection was detected on March 3. That first patient tested negative for the virus for a second time on March 20, officially becoming the first Ukrainian to recover from the infection, the health ministry reported.
Chernivtsi Oblast, located about 500 kilometers southwest from Kyiv, now has the largest number of coronavirus cases in the country: 25, including three children.
Other new cases were registered on March 20 in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Ternopil and Kyiv oblasts — one in each.
The testing results came from the laboratory of the Center for Public Health, as well as a number of regional laboratories.
According to the Center, Ukraine has tested 750 people so far, while 48 people are currently undergoing laboratory testing.
The country is testing both those who are suspected of being infected and those who came into contact with infected individuals.
As of March 20, three people have died of COVID-19 in Ukraine. Two more Ukrainians died from the infection in Italy.
CORONAVIRUS IN UKRAINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- There have been 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine. The first case was identified on March 3.
- Three people have died from COVID-19 in Ukraine. One person recovered.
- Two Ukrainians died from COVID-19 in Italy.
- How the Ukrainian government has been responding: TIMELINE
- To fight the spread of the virus, Ukraine shut down public transportation, domestic travel, restaurants.
- Kyiv went into quarantine, shutting down everything by supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, gas stations.
- Ukrainian lawmaker tested positive for COVID-19.
- Misinformation on coronavirus is going viral in Ukraine.
- Why the Kyiv Post isn’t making its coverage free in the times of COVID-19.
- Doctor’s advice: How to stay safe.
- Foreign Ministry: What you need to know about traveling to and from Ukraine now
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.
- The former minister of economy says half a million Ukrainians may lose their jobs in the COVID-19 crisis.
