President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a traditional conference call on the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, which was attended by representatives of the government and law enforcement agencies.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that the number of intensive care beds occupied by patients with COVID-19 has increased over the last week. Today, 1,072 ventilators are involved, which is the largest number since the beginning of the pandemic in Ukraine.
"This confirms the negative dynamics and the complex course of the disease. In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, the situation has stabilized after the introduction of the red level of epidemic danger, but so far the region remains among the leaders in the number of active patients - 17,994. Most of them are in Kyiv - 44,600. Vinnytsia (15,133) and Chernivtsi (14,220) regions are also among the leaders. In total, there are currently 213,000 active patients in Ukraine,” the Prime Minister said.
The Head of State reminded that it is necessary to constantly explain to people the issues related to vaccination.
"It should be explained to people that the first vaccination against COVID-19 reduces the likelihood of infection by 76%. So the chances of infection still remain. And only after the second dose full protection against this danger is created. That is why we must not forget about masks even now, when vaccination is already underway,” the President said.
He asked how people reacted to the vaccination. The Ministry of Health reported that side effects were detected in only 0.8% of cases, no severe cases were reported.
In addition, Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov stressed that the European Medicines Agency has already officially stated that the AstraZeneca vaccine does not increase the risk of blood clots.