COVID-19 in Ukraine: 209 dead, 8,617 cases, 492 new infections

The number of officially confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ukraine has reached 8,617 as of 9 a.m. on April 26, according to Ukraine’s health ministry. In total, 209 people have died from the disease in Ukraine and 840 have recovered.

In the past 24 hours, Ukraine has identified 492 new COVID-19 cases.

Out of all COVID-19 patients in Ukraine, 586 are children and 1,676 are medical workers; 107 patients currently connected to the lung ventilators in hospitals, including one child and 7 medical workers. In the past 24 hours, Ukraine’s health ministry has carried out 5,596 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the most accurate way of diagnosing COVID-19, for an overall total of 89,373 tests.

According to the available data as of April 26, the largest number of coronavirus cases in Ukraine has been registered in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast (1,730 cases), Chernivtsi Oblast (1,341 cases), Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (731 cases), Ternopil Oblast (607 cases) and Rivne Oblast (508 cases).

According to the Center for Public Health study, 93% of people with COVID-19 became infected inside the country. The other 7% were infected abroad; among those who have died, 86% were older than 50 years.

On April 24, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a decree on rules and conditions under which medical workers involved in the fight against COVID-19 will receive increased salaries, up to 300%.

During a briefing on the morning of April 26, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said that in the past 24 hours 123 people were hospitalised and 8 people have died.

Ukrainians abroad

As of late April 23, there are 161 Ukrainians receiving treatment for COVID-19 in 15 countries worldwide; 121 receiving treatment in Italy alone; while 56 patients have recovered; 7 people have died.

Massive COVID-19 antibody testing

Ukraine’s chief sanitary doctor, Deputy Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said on April 24 that Ukraine could become the fifth country with a mass COVID-19 antibody testing program. Such tests estimate whether a person has had the virus and developed immunity to it.

Quarantine extensions

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Denys Shmygal announced on April 22 that it would extend quarantine measures until May 11.

The measures will include a ban on public gatherings of over two people, restrictions on public transportation and a requirement to wear face masks in public at all times.

On April 24, Shmygal disclosed five stages of country’s quarantine exit plan after May 11. As a first stage of lifting quarantine restrictions, the government will allow people to visit parks and public gardens, as well as operating of wholesale and retail non-food stores.

COVID-19 cases are expected to grow

According to data from the National Academy of Sciences, Ukraine is expected to experience a peak of infections between May 3 and May 8, Shmygal said on April 22.

No easing of restrictions is possible at this time, he added.

According to Lyashko, Ukraine is currently following the “optimistic scenario” for its battle with the COVID-19 pandemic. That scenario foresees no more than 2% of the population becoming infected with the coronavirus during the outbreak.

Meanwhile, Kyiv Oleksandrivska Hospital — the main center for Covid-19 patients — is running out of places,  Ukraine’s chief doctor of the hospital Lyudmyla Antonenko reported on April 22. Antonenko noted that they are preparing extra reserve beds.

Global virus outbreak

Globally, COVID-19 has infected over 2.92 million people. In total, 203,253 people have died as the morning of April 26; 824,591 patients have recovered.

The largest numbers of COVID-19 cases have been identified in the U.S., Spain, Italy, and France as of April 26.