Ukraine has now confirmed 549 cases of COVID-19 as of the morning of March 31, one more than the day before. Thirteen people have died from the disease and eight have recovered from the virus, including two children, Deputy Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said during his online morning briefing on March 31.
According to Lyashko, 240 Ukrainian hospitals are prepared to receive the first wave of patients. Special sanitary tents have been set up near hospitals to identify patients with severe and moderate symptoms. All others should be isolated at home and treated on an outpatient basis.
Lyashko said that these hospitals have 67,000 beds that can receive coronavirus patients, 11,000 of which are specifically designated for infectious disease patients. Apart from that, there are 4,188 isolation rooms and 1,716 intensive care beds.
According to Lyashko, there are currently 1,882 lung ventilators in Ukraine. Prior to that, on March 12, the health ministry reported that there were 605 lung ventilators.
Ukraine has 15 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines, a life support system that pumps and oxygenates blood outside the body and that is mainly used during heart surgeries, according to Lyashko. He also said Ukraine has “aviation” available and a specialized helicopter for transporting patients with coronavirus if necessary.
“We are ready to transport people who will need medical care,” Lyashko said.
Additionally, there are 3,700 infectious disease doctors, general practitioners and pediatricians, as well as 2,161 anesthesiologists ready to treat patients at hospitals.
Apart from that, the ministry has created a “temporary recommendations” project to be used in case of mass coronavirus infections: Additional hospital-beds can be set up in exhibition centers and sports stadiums.
On March 29, Ukraine received 33,000 protective suits and 254,000 protective respirator masks. The equipment will be distributed among the oblasts. The health ministry has also established 567 mobile brigades across every region of the country to collect lab samples from the local laboratories.
As of March 30, the largest numbers of new coronavirus cases in Ukraine were registered in Ternopil Oblast (18 new cases) and in Chernivtsi Oblast (15 new cases). According to Lyashko, nearly 60% of people sick with coronavirus in Ukraine range in age between 30 and 59 years.
During the briefing, Lyashko also said he had met with new Health Minister Maksym Stepanov, the former governor of Odesa Oblast who was appointed to head the ministry a day earlier. According to Lyashko, Stepanov said the fight against the novel coronavirus is the priority for him.
Globally, COVID-19 has already killed at least 37,837 people and infected 786,876 people as of March 31.
CORONAVIRUS IN UKRAINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- As of late March 30: 13 people have died from COVID-19 in Ukraine; 3 Ukrainians died in Italy. 8 people have recovered.
- 549 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of early on March 30. The first case was identified on March 3.
- Ukraine has extended its quarantine measures until April 24.
- Infographic of quarantine measures in place until April 24.
- The measures shuttered most everything but hospitals, supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, and other critical enterprises.
- How the Ukrainian government has been responding: TIMELINE
- Misinformation on coronavirus is going viral in Ukraine.
- Doctor’s advice: How to stay safe.
- Foreign Ministry: What you need to know about traveling to and from Ukraine now
- Why the Kyiv Post isn’t making its coverage free in the times of COVID-19.
- Coronavirus stops the Kyiv Post’s print edition for now.
- Where to buy masks.
Effects on the economy:
- COVID-19 is already inflicting harm on Ukraine’s economy.
- Invisible Threat Lurks Undetected: Top stories from March 27, 2020 PDF edition.
- The former minister of economy says half a million Ukrainians may lose their jobs in the COVID-19 crisis.
