You're reading: COVID-19 in Ukraine: 658 dead, 21,905 cases, 321 new infections

The number of officially confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ukraine has reached 21,905 as of 9 a.m. on May 27, according to Ukraine’s health ministry. In total, 658 people have died from the disease in Ukraine and 7,995 patients have recovered.

In the past 24 hours, Ukraine has identified 321 new COVID-19 cases, 14 people have died and 420 have recovered.

This is the second day in a row when the number of those recovered exceeded the number of new cases.

Among all confirmed cases, 1,595 are children and 4,241 are medical workers, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said during his morning briefing on May 27.

According to Stepanov, in the past 24 hours, Ukraine has carried out 9,412 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the most accurate way of diagnosing COVID-19. In total, Ukraine has conducted 310,961 tests as of May 27.

Chernivtsi Oblast in western Ukraine remains the largest hotbed of the disease, with 3,144 confirmed cases. It is followed by the city of Kyiv with 2,739 cases, Kyiv Oblast with 1,474 cases and Rivne Oblast with 1,514 cases. These numbers indicate the total cases confirmed since the beginning of the pandemic, not just active ones.

On May 19, the government signed a decree to launch mass antibody testing for COVID-19. This testing will be free for people with COVID-19 symptoms, those who came into contact with infected patients and people who are in risk groups, such as medical workers and the police.

Ukraine started stage two of easing COVID-19 quarantine restrictions on May 22, under a new “adaptive quarantine” plan. The government plans to ease restrictions every 10 days for oblasts that meet certain criteria up until June 22, the new expiration date for the quarantine.

On May 25, the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro relaunched their metro systems.

The country is set to enter the third stage of lifting quarantine on June 1, according to Viktor Lyashko, deputy health minister and the country’s top sanitary doctor.

Ukrainian oblasts that meet requirements set by the Ministry of Health will be allowed to restore passenger railway and bus travel between oblasts, open gyms and swimming pools and relaunch certain educational classes — like driving lessons — in groups of no more than 10 people.

According to Lyashko, as of May 26, seven oblasts haven’t yet entered the second stage.

Ukraine’s daily COVID-19 cases, deaths and recoveries from April 7 to May 26, 2020. All data were released by the Ministry of Health.

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 26, 2020. All data was published by the Ministry of Health.

Stage two of easing restrictions

On May 22, the government allowed hotels to reopen, except for their indoor restaurants and swimming pools. It also allowed using playgrounds and sports grounds,  holding sporting events without spectators (with no more than 50 participants unless agreed upon with the health ministry) and holding religious services (with no more than 1 person per square meter in the building).

The government also restored public transport in cities and public transport connecting cities with suburban areas and different cities within one oblast. Passenger bus travel on international routes is also be allowed.

Kyiv relaunched ground public transport starting May 23. It also allowed stores under 1,000 square meters to reopen and allowed using playgrounds and sports grounds.

On May 25, the national government allowed subways and kindergartens to reopen, provided that the cities where they are located meet a set of epidemiological criteria according to Stepanov. The three Ukrainian cities with subways — Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv — all qualified to reopen them, according to the government. In Kyiv, kindergartens will not reopen until June 1.

Ukraine will also allow swimming as beach season is about to begin, according to Viktor Lyashko, Ukraine’s Deputy Health Minister and top sanitary doctor. According to experts, the combination of sun and saltwater destroys the coronavirus, and it is difficult to get infected in rivers with running water, he said.

The government will also reopen 66 border checkpoints with European Union countries and Moldova, while border checkpoints with Russia and Belarus will remain limited. The government approved the decision on May 20, and it will come into force once published in the coming days.

Adaptive quarantine

According to the government’s “adaptive quarantine” plan, not all Ukrainian oblasts will be able to lift restrictions. The oblasts that do not meet the requirements in three criteria will not be allowed to enter stage two of easing the restrictions. This also applies to the decision to allow the metro and kindergartens to reopen on May 25.

The three criteria are the number of new cases per 100,000 people, occupancy of beds in hospitals treating patients with COVID-19 and the number of tests conducted over the past seven days.

To enter the second stage, the oblast should over the past seven days have less than 12 new cases per 100,000 people, the occupancy of hospital beds should be less than 50%, and the number of tests should be more than 12 per 100,000 people, Stepanov said.

On May 23, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that only Chernivtsi, Rivne, Lviv, Zakarpattya, Volyn and Kyiv oblasts did not meet the three criteria to enter stage two.

After stage two, Ukraine should enter stage three in 10 days, on June 1. The next stages will also start every 10 days – on June 10 and June 22, according to Stepanov.

Starting June 1, the government will allow passenger bus travel between regions and passenger train travel between cities and their suburban areas and between regions. Starting June 15, the government will allow the arrival and departure of domestic and international passenger aircraft, according to Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii.

Ukraine started lifting some of the quarantine restrictions under stage one on May 11–12.

Restrictions eased under stage one

On May 4, the government announced the rollback of certain quarantine restrictions starting May 11-12. Businesses that were allowed to reopen in Kyiv include:

  • hairdressers and beauty salons;
  • all stores that are up to 300 square meters in area, but the number of customers inside simultaneously shouldn’t exceed one person per 10 square meters;
  • restaurants will be allowed to sell take-out (although many were already doing it) and seat customers on summer terraces (provided they follow safety restrictions);
  • manufacturing enterprises and businesses offering services (repairs, clothing ateliers, etc.); they will also need to ensure that no more than one person — either a client or an employee — per one square meter is inside the building at any time;
  • the offices of lawyers and notaries.

Other cities in Ukraine may see even more restrictions lifted. The Cabinet of Ministers’ list of businesses that can reopen also includes shopping malls, kiosks (including those selling food and beverages), museums, libraries and dental clinics.

At the same time, gyms, fitness centers, food courts in shopping malls, universities, schools, kindergartens, cinemas and drama theaters will still remain closed across Ukraine.

On May 13, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers increased the number of people that can walk in groups in public places and sit at the same table in outdoor restaurants, Stepanov announcedAccording to the new rules, groups of up to eight people are allowed together in public places, including in parks. Up to four people can sit together at restaurant tables. This decision should come into effect when the government publishes a decree in the coming days.

Special measures in Chernivtsi Oblast

In Chernivtsi Oblast, the region worst hit by COVID-19, local authorities decided on May 12 to extend the ban on opening non-essential stores, dental practices, children’s playgrounds and outdoor gyms. They also continue to require wearing masks in public places.

At the same time, the oblast has allowed cafes and restaurants to resume takeout and delivery service and museums, law and notary offices and psychology practices to reopen.

Global virus outbreak

Globally, COVID-19 has infected nearly 5.6 million people. In total, 352,273 people have died as of the morning of May 26; 2.4 million patients have recovered.

CORONAVIRUS IN UKRAINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

  • As of May 27: 644 people have died from the disease in Ukraine and 7,575 have recovered.
  • 21,584 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of May 27. The first case was identified on March 3.
  • Ukraine is set to enter the third stage of lifting quarantine on June 1.
  • The country has been in the second stage since May 22.
  • Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro subways reopened on May 25.
  • Here’s what opened in Ukraine on May 12.
  • How the Ukrainian government has been responding: TIMELINE
  • Misinformation on coronavirus is viral in Ukraine.
  • Where to buy masks.
  • 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.

Effects on the economy: