The situation with the spread of COVID-19 in Ukraine, the course of vaccination, the provision of hospitals with oxygen and business support during the "red" level of epidemic danger were discussed at a conference call chaired by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the trend of increasing the number of patients with COVID-19 continues: last week at the peak of the incidence, 27.3 thousand new cases were detected per day, and the total number of new patients remains at the level of 152 thousand people for two weeks in a row. However, according to the head of government, we can talk about some stabilization in terms of hospitalizations: 34.5 thousand last week and 34.3 thousand - a week earlier.
Currently, 17 regions of Ukraine are in the "red" zone of epidemic danger. In the Kherson region, the dynamics is somewhat improving, which may allow the region to be one of the first to leave the "red" zone.
At the same time, it was stated that the number of patients with coronavirus in Kyiv is growing. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov emphasized the need to ensure a stable supply of oxygen to the capital's hospitals.
Denys Shmyhal also reminded that government decree № 1096 came into force today, according to which representatives of certain professions, including teachers and civil servants, should be suspended from work unless they are vaccinated. Schools now employ, in particular offline, only vaccinated teachers.
Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko reported to the President on the course of vaccination of the population. According to him, a total of 11.5 million people in Ukraine have already been vaccinated, including 8 million people who received two doses. However, this weekend a decrease in the number of vaccinations was recorded in a number of regions, including Zhytomyr and Odesa. An investigation is currently underway to determine why individual vaccination points did not operate in these regions.
Viktor Lyashko said that on Sunday Ukraine received another 3 million doses of Moderna vaccine within the COVAX initiative.
The Minister of Health reiterated the importance of vaccination, as more than 95% of those hospitalized with COVID-19 were not vaccinated. Such citizens have a more severe course of the disease and, unfortunately, a higher percentage of deaths is recorded among them due to complications. Therefore, the issue of vaccination is still relevant, said Viktor Lyashko. He added that Ukraine is currently experiencing the peak of the pandemic, which many countries have already passed, and this causes high mortality rates among patients with coronavirus.
The Minister also assured that there is no oxygen deficiency in medical institutions treating patients with COVID-19. Despite the high level of consumption, oxygen is steadily supplied to all hospitals.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the need to support businesses operating in the "red" zones. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine is preparing a relevant bill, and it will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada in the near future.
Law enforcement bodies continue to combat the falsification of PCR tests and vaccination certificates. Currently, there are 1,400 mobile teams of the National Police of Ukraine, which check the availability of these documents in institutions visited en masse by citizens: shopping and entertainment centers, cafes, restaurants and public transport. All facts of violations are recorded and have appropriate legal consequences.