- Latest: Zelensky declares war on COVID-19 pandemic
- Government implements tough measures to fight viral outbreak
- COVID-19 has reached the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the total number of cases in Ukraine now stands at seven.
The health ministry reported that one of the two new patients recently returned from France, which has 5,380 confirmed cases and 127 deaths from the virus. - Kyiv has intensified its quarantine measures, shutting down all cafes, bars, gyms, shopping malls and beauty salons. Pharmacies, grocery shops, banks and post offices will remain open. The cities of Odesa, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk took the same measures.
- Two new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus had earlier been confirmed in Ukraine, bringing the overall number to five, still one of the lowest numbers in Europe. The two new cases are in Chernivtsi, a western Ukrainian city located close to Romanian border
- President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the government would consider closing metro systems in large cities and halting public transportation between cities from noon on March 18. All medical facilities and government institutions, including parliament, will continue to operate as planned.
- “China’s experience shows that unpopular and harsh measures overcome the virus and save lives,” Zelensky said in an address published on March 16. “The experience of other countries shows that spinelessness and liberalism are allies of the coronavirus, so we will act harshly, urgently, perhaps unpopular, but for the sake of one thing, the life and health of Ukrainians.”
- Kyiv won’t be closed, said Mykola Povoroznyk, first deputy head of Kyiv’s city administration. The city will remain open for both entrance and exit. According to Povoroznyk, limiting transportation between Kyiv and other cities is advisory. It’s the government’s responsibility to close cities, he added.
- Ukraine will limit border crossing between its territory and areas occupied by Russian-led militants in the Donbas. Until April 3, only people with permanent residency in government-controlled areas will be permitted to enter government-controlled territory, while only people with permanent residency in occupied regions will be allowed to exit government-controlled territory.
- Ukrzaliznytsia has cancelled all passenger trains connecting Ukraine with Poland and Belarus. On March 13, Ukrzaliznytsia stopped its passenger routes to Slovakia, after the country closed its international borders. Ukrzaliznytsia issued an official statement saying it will refund all tickets in full.
- Parliament will hold an emergency session on March 17 to discuss criminalizing breaching the quarantine. The news comes amid protests against President Volodymyr Zelensky’s plan to hold direct talks with Russian-led militants in the Donbas.
- 730 Ukrainians have been quarantined for two weeks in Egypt after two tourists in their hotels tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus, Ukraine’s foreign ministry has said. The tourists have been placed under a 14-day quarantine in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh.
