Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

The government should let the nation get back to normal lives by lifting the quarantine.

Panic subsides

As the Kyiv Post went to print on Nov. 19, health authorities announced that they would lift a national quarantine imposed three weeks ago to slow the spread of a flu epidemic. All of the nation’s schools, universities and kindergartens had been waiting for the government to approve the reopening of schools and the return of students. We agree that life should return to normal as soon as possible.

The swine flu and other seasonal ailments have taken more than 300 lives since Oct. 29 and likely will claim hundreds more. It’s also true that the epidemic is far from over in Ukraine. More than one million are sick and a second wave of the flu is expected as early as December.

But it also seems that the epidemic has slowed, with fatalities and infection rates on par with previous years. Furthermore, lab test results give reason for encouragement that a deadlier mutant strain of the swine flu virus is not present in Ukraine.

Life goes on and should go on more normally for a nation that has endured tragedy, fear and disruption since late October. Germs spread. Viruses are unavoidable. People should still take precautions, such as wearing masks in public to minimize exposure. People also should check with their doctors to see if vaccination is a good idea.

But, unless the epidemic takes a sudden turn for the worse, a return to the normal pace of life in Kyiv is welcome. We are sadder for the deaths, but also hopefully wiser about what needs to be done to prevent future ones.