COVID-19 in Ukraine: 340 dead, 13,691 cases, 507 new infections

The number of officially confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ukraine has reached 13,691 as of 9 a.m. on May 7, according to Ukraine’s health ministry. In total, 340 people have died from the disease in Ukraine and 2,396 patients have recovered.

In the past 24 hours, Ukraine has identified 507 new COVID-19 cases.

Out of all COVID-19 patients in Ukraine, 933 are children and 2,660 are medical workers. In the past 24 hours, Ukraine’s health ministry has carried out 7,018 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the most accurate way of diagnosing COVID-19.

Ukraine’s daily COVID-19 cases, deaths and recoveries from April 7 to May 6, 2020. All data were released by the Ministry of Health. (Bermet Talant)

Ukraine’s daily new COVID-19 cases and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the most accurate way of diagnosing the novel coronavirus, between April 7 and May 6. All data was published by the Ministry of Health. (Bermet Talant)

As of May 7, the largest number of coronavirus cases in Ukraine has been registered in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast (2,591 cases), Chernivtsi Oblast (2,048 cases), Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (1,055 cases), Ternopil Oblast (951 cases), Rivne Oblast (817 cases), Zakarpattia Oblast (600 cases), and Lviv Oblast (595 cases).

As of May 6, there are 146 Ukrainians receiving treatment for COVID-19 abroad. Sixty-two patients have recovered; 8 people have died.

Quarantine extensions

Ukraine’s government has extended the coronavirus quarantine until May 22, but will ease restrictions starting on May 12, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal announced on May 4 during a Cabinet meeting.

According to Shmygal, the following enterprises will be allowed to reopen on May 12:

• parks, recreation areas;
• beauty salons, hairdressers;
• museums, libraries;
• summer terraces and takeout service at cafes and restaurants;
• shopping malls, but not everything in them. Restrictions will be lifted for wholesale and retail sales of non-food goods in  malls, but all entertainment facilities will remain closed;
• dentists;
• auditors, attorneys, notaries;
• service centers for household appliances;
• domestic services (dry cleaning, clothing and shoes repair shops, etc.).

The following enterprises will remain closed: most public transportation, intercity and foreign travel by train and air, indoor cafes and restaurants, schools and universities. Borders will remain closed, except for Ukrainians returning to the country.

Shmygal added that Ukraine is ready for an “adaptive regional quarantine,” when the government can lift or impose restrictions in certain oblasts depending on the epidemiological situation there.

On May 5, Shmygal said that the quarantine may be further extended for another two months until July, although restrictions could be gradually lifted during that period.

Global virus outbreak

Globally, COVID-19 has infected over 3.8 million people. In total, 265,094 people have died as of the morning of May 7; 1.3 million patients have recovered.