President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a March 13 address to the nation, said that Ukraine is shutting down its borders from March 17, urging Ukrainians to return home.
Foreigners without temporary or permanent residency status will be banned from entering Ukraine a day prior. “Starting March 16, 00.00, foreigners won’t be able to enter by plane, nor by car, nor by train,” said Zelensky. “When it comes to health, it’s better to be too early, or on time, rather than too late.”
According to the president, those Ukrainians who won’t be able to return home prior to March 17, are urged to contact local Ukrainian embassies and consulates. The ban will be reassessed in two weeks.
“We’ll send a charter to return them home,” said Zelensky. “We successfully returned our citizens from China,” he added, referring to the Feb. 20 evacuation of 72 Ukrainians from Wuhan.
The address to the nation comes in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has infected over 140,000 people in 135 countries. More than 5,000 people have died. In Ukraine, 3 people were diagnosed with coronavirus, with one patient dying on March 13.
In his speech the president mentioned that foreign diplomats, members of international organizations and employees of freight companies will be permitted to enter Ukraine even after the shutdown. “Those who enter Ukraine will undergo screening” said Zelensky. So will Ukrainians returning home, he said.
“In the case of testing positive for COVID-19, they’ll be quarantined. “We have 12,000 beds for those who’ll need medical attention,” said the president. He said more will be prepared in the near future. Infectious diseases hospitals in every region will be supplied with rapid test kits, said the president.
Zelensky said that Ukraine has 2,000 infectious disease doctors and more than 5,000 nursing staff ready to treat infected patients.
Ukraine will initiate the production of 200,000 rapid coronavirus tests, 10 million masks have been transferred from the state reserve to healthcare institutions, and mobile laboratories will also be used for testing in the regions.
If necessary, Hr 500 million ($20 million) will be allocated for the purchase of intensive care medical equipment, said the president. He added that the government has already allocated Hr 100 million ($4 million) to supply hospitals with protective equipment.
According to the president, the government will also stimulate the production of masks and necessary medical products, while the export of those products will be banned until further notice.
Ukrainian companies most affected by the government’s measures to halt the spread of coronavirus will be financially supported by state loans.
Zelensky urged older Ukrainians to stay inside their places of residence, while companies to allow their employees to work from home.
CORONAVIRUS IN UKRAINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- There have been five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine. The first case was identified in Ukraine on March 3.
- One person died from the COVID-19 in Ukraine.
- Ukraine shut schools and canceled mass events starting March 12 to prevent the disease’s spread. Some schools resisted.
- Here’s how Kyiv is affected.
- Doctor’s advice: How to stay safe.
- Ukrainians evacuated from the disease’s epicenter in Wuhan, China spent two weeks in quarantine in a sanatorium in Poltava Oblast and were released on March 5. Their arrival in Ukraine caused unrest.
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.
