President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine will return to a strict lockdown should the daily number of new COVID-19 cases exceed 9,500, a decision that he says would “stop” the economy.
Zelensky’s announcement, made during a meeting with religious leaders on Oct. 19, came after new coronavirus cases had risen sharply for over a month. The country’s hospitals increasingly struggle to cope with the wave of patients.
“If we have more than 9,500 infections per day, we will be forced to impose a strict quarantine,” Zelensky told representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. “But then the economy of our country will stop and it will be very difficult for everyone.”
Zelensky noted that, in a number of regions, the occupancy rate for COVID-19 beds in hospitals currently exceeds 70%. In some locations, they are completely full.
The Ministry of Health plans to add 50,000 beds to treat COVID-19 patients and an additional 15,000 beds supplied with centralized oxygen.
But the government cannot continue to increase the number of available hospital beds for coronavirus patients every week, Zelensky said.
To this end, the authorities have also announced plans to launch temporary COVID-19 hospitals outside permanent medical facilities when the daily number of new cases increases to more than 11,000 or there is an unexpected outbreak in a specific region, the President’s Office announced in a statement on Oct. 19.
The temporary hospitals will be placed in exhibition centers, sports facilities, hotels and sanatoriums.
Due to the deteriorating epidemiological situation, Zelensky also asked religious leaders to help battle the pandemic.
The president asked them to minimize crowds and increase social distancing during religious events. He also suggested holding religious services online.
“We can reduce the number of people who become infected and die by reducing the amount of people, particularly the elderly, in crowded locations,” Zelensky said. “It’s not only about the church, but any premises and events.”
According to the President’s Office, the religious leaders at the meeting promised to adhere to the quarantine recommendations as much as possible.
