Ukraine to intensify quarantine measures until April 24 (INFOGRAPHIC)

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has ordered that quarantine measures be strengthened in the country until April 24 to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19.

The new measures:

• Forbid being in public places without a face mask starting April 6.
• Ban gathering in groups of more than two people, unless accompanying children or carrying out activities required by one’s work, starting April 6.
• Close all parks, recreation areas, forests and coastal areas to visitors. Individual visitors will be allowed if they are walking a pet alone.
• Forbid children under 14 from being in public places without an accompanying adult.
• Require all people to carry identification documents when out in public places.
• Close all institutions that provide social services, palliative and social care units to visitors.

All restrictions come into force immediately, except for those explicitly applied starting on April 6.

Additionally, all people arriving in Ukraine from abroad will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a facility selected by the government. This rule will not apply to diplomats, members of international organizations, truck drivers and crew members of aircraft and ships if they have not come into contact with a person who has COVID-19. Leaving one’s place of quarantine prior to the end of the 14 days will be banned.

The document establishing the new rules was published on the Cabinet of Ministers’ official website on April 3. According to it, the police, military, National Guard and Ministry of Health officials will ensure that people adhere to the 14-day quarantine regime.

Earlier that day, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal posted a video on his channel on the Telegram messenger app  in which he asked all Ukrainians to obey the measures against COVID-19. 

“These measures may be inconvenient, but are necessary for your safety,” Shmygal said. 

As of the morning of April 3, the number of officially confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ukraine has reached 942. Twenty-three people have been killed by the disease, while 19 people have recovered.

In the video, Shmygal said that only 21 checkpoints on the state border of Ukraine will operate during quarantine. He also added that all industrial enterprises and critical infrastructure will continue to work. 

“We estimate that, in three weeks, those who are now sick with COVID-19 will recover,”  Shmygal said. “The imposed restrictions will prevent the further spread of the disease,” he added. 

According to Shmygal, should the number of COVID-19 cases in Ukraine decrease, the government can start to gradually loosen the quarantine measures at the end of April. This would be conducted in several stages, including restarting public transportation for the broader public. 

“It will allow us to initiate the relaunch of the economy in the beginning of May,” Shmygal said in the video. 

However, according to the prime minister, this will not mean decreasing other quarantine measures. The bans on mass gatherings and other restrictions will remain in effect. 

Shmygal also said that the quarantine will be prolonged for the elderly, students and schoolchildren.

On April 1, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine announced its plan to intensify the quarantine measures, but adopted its decision only on April 3 after making several corrections. 

In its initial plan, the Ukrainian government banned children under 16 from being in public places without adults. Now, however, the restriction applies to children under 14.

Some of the restrictions in the Cabinet’s document have already been imposed by local authorities in cities. The new measures add to the existing bans on public gatherings of over 10 people and visiting playgrounds and the shutdown of public transportation and non-essential stores.