The number of officially confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ukraine has reached 9,866 as of 9:00 a.m. on April 29, according to Ukraine’s health ministry. In total, 250 people have died from the disease in Ukraine and 1,103 patients have recovered.
In the past 24 hours, Ukraine has identified 456 new COVID-19 cases.
Among the confirmed cases, there are 672 children and 1,976 medical workers. The majority of COVID-19 patients, 6,773 people, are receiving outpatient treatment and 3,093 are in hospitals. In total, 129 patients have been placed on lung ventilators, including one child and eight medical workers.
Currently, the death rate is higher among men. Of the 250 people who have died from COVID-19, 138 were men.
As of April 29, the largest number of coronavirus cases in Ukraine has been registered in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast (1,984 cases), Chernivtsi Oblast (1,489 cases), Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (821 cases), Ternopil Oblast (708 cases), Rivne Oblast (588 cases), and Vinnitsya Oblast (412 cases.)
In the past 24 hours, Ukrainian laboratories have administered 5,825 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. In total, 104,544 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in laboratories since the beginning of the outbreak. The actual number of people tested has not been disclosed.
Speaking during the morning online briefing on April 29, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said that the protocol for treating patients with COVID-19 was updated to include a new drug: heparin, a blood thinner.
Stepanov said that some COVID-19 patients have developed thromboembolism, or blood clots, that may damage the lungs and cause stroke, heart attack and other medical conditions.
Besides heparin, Ukraine’s protocol for treatment includes anti-Ebola drug remdesivir, HIV treatment lopinavir/ritonavir, tocilizumab used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, Japanese flu drug favipiravir, and hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug promoted by U.S. President Trump as the cure for COVID-19, despite a lack of clear scientific evidence.
Hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir and lopinavir/ritonavir are currently undergoing clinical trials conducted by the World Health Organization for their effectiveness against COVID-19.
CORONAVIRUS IN UKRAINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- As of April 29: 250 people have died from COVID-19 in Ukraine; 1,103 people have recovered.
- 9,866 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of April 29. The first case was identified on March 3.
- Ukraine has extended its quarantine measures until May 11. The government outlined a plan to ease restrictions gradually.
- 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.
- The former minister of economy says half a million Ukrainians may lose their jobs in the COVID-19 crisis.
