Ukraine extends quarantine until May 22, but will ease restrictions

Ukraine’s government has extended the coronavirus quarantine until May 22, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal announced on May 4 during a Cabinet meeting.

Previously, the quarantine was scheduled to end on May 11.

Despite the extension, some restrictions will be eased in a concession to the business community. According to Shmygal, the following enterprises will be allowed to reopen on May 11:

• parks, recreation areas;
• beauty salons, hairdressers;
• museums, libraries;
• summer terraces and takeout service at cafes and restaurants;
• shopping malls, but not everything in them. Restrictions will be lifted for wholesale and retail sales of the non-food goods in  malls, but all entertainment facilities will remain closed;
• dentists;
• auditors, attorneys, notaries;
• service centers for household appliances.
• domestic services (dry cleaning, clothing and shoes repair shops, etc.).

The following enterprises will remain closed: most public transportation, intercity and foreign travel by train and air, indoor cafes and restaurants, schools and universities. Borders will remain closed, except for Ukrainians returning to the country.

During the Cabinet meeting, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov termed the loosening of quarantine measures “risky,” as the country has not yet observed a decrease in COVID-19 cases.  He also called for strict requirements for social distancing and personal protection measures in the businesses that will now be allowed to reopen.

Stepanov also said that if the number of COVID-19 cases in the country grows, restrictions can be reimposed.

Government plans

During the Cabinet’s meeting, Shmygal said that Ukraine “is following the optimistic COVID-19 scenario,” but the restrictions should be lifted gradually to avoid a new spike of COVID-19 cases.

Shmygal added that Ukraine is ready for an “adaptive regional quarantine” when the government can lift or impose restrictions in certain oblasts depending on the epidemiological situation there.

The daily number of new cases hasn’t yet flat-lined in Ukraine. As of May 4, Ukraine had 12,331 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus; 303 people have died from COVID-19 in Ukraine; 1,619 people have recovered. The number of active cases has been slowly going up.

Previously, the government outlined a plan to ease restrictions gradually. However, the changes announced on May 4 do not correspond with the earlier plan.

Public pressure

The government’s decision came amid pressure from small business and restaurant owners, who alleged that the authorities gave preferential treatment to large companies, while preventing small businesses from operating and making money.

On April 29, hundreds of small business owners gathered outside the Cabinet of Ministers building in violation of social distancing requirements to demand an easing of the quarantine lockdown, equal working conditions for all businesses and greater support for small business. On May 2, nearly 100 restaurant owners and other protesters gathered outside the presidential administration and set up chairs and tables, antiseptic, plastic cutlery and meals. They were demanding that the government allow them to open up outdoor terraces and provide dining service there.

The protests came after Ukrainian investigative journalists revealed on April 27 that lawmaker Mykola Tyshchenko’s high-end Velour restaurant had continued to serve elite customers — lawmakers, top officials and businessmen with connections to Ukrainian oligarchs. Tyshchenko said that the restaurant was only used for meetings, not for dining service.

During the May 4 Cabinet session, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov named several of the stores and restaurants that had violated the quarantine and had received administrative citations. They included Velour and various stories of the Epicenter chain of home improvement stores.

Besides home and garden goods, Epicenter also sells some food and hygiene products. The chain’s stores had reportedly cordoned off aisles that sold non-essential goods during the quarantine. However, there were many reports on social media that customers were still able to purchase non-essential goods.

Epicenter belongs to lawmaker Oleksandr Gerega and his wife Halyna.

This story is being updated.