President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the Cabinet of Ministers to tighten measures to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
They may be approved at the government’s extraordinary meeting tonight.
The president has suggested the following measures:
1. As of 17 March, to close down cultural institutions, shopping centres, restaurants, cafes, fitness centres, etc. Restaurants and cafes will only be able to offer food delivery.
2. As of 12:00 on 18 March, to stop railway, aviation and bus intercity and interregional passenger services, as well as subway. City public transport may continue of minibuses carry fewer than 10 people, buses, trolleybuses and trams - fewer than 20 people.
3. To negotiate with the International Monetary Fund financial support to overcome the consequences of the coronavirus.
4. To offer loan holidays for small and medium-sized businesses.
5. To introduce a state of emergency in regions where cases of coronavirus disease have been confirmed (Chernivtsi and Zhytomyr regions) as of 17 March.
6. To defer planned operations in hospitals. Medical establishments must be reprofiled for the reception of patients with COVID-19 as much as possible.
7. To ban mass gatherings (more than 10 people), inclusive with church rites and ceremonies.
8. To restrict food exports.
9. To guarantee the uninterrupted operation of grocery and hardware stores, filling stations, pharmacies, banks, insurance companies; critical infrastructure enterprises, and freight transport.
On 16 March, five cases of COVID-19 were identified in Ukraine: four in Chernivtsi Region, one in Zhytomyr Region. One sick elderly woman in Radomyshl, Zhytomyr Region died.