During the traditional conference call, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ruslan Khomchak on the recovery from COVID-19.
Ruslan Khomchak noted that the situation with coronavirus in the area of the Joint Forces Operation is under stable control. At the same time, he reported statistics that 11 people from the JFO - active patients with COVID-19 - are being treated at home, and 43 people are in self-isolation, including representatives of the Armed Forces, the National Guard and the Border Guard.
"I congratulate you on overcoming this disease. I wish you good health and immunity," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President inquired about the impact of the start of the education process on the spread of coronavirus infection, as two weeks have passed today during which the government had to monitor the situation.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that 501 classes are in self-isolation, and 37 secondary schools are in remote learning. Over the past 24 hours, 40 pupils and 32 teachers have fallen ill, and since the beginning of the new school year, 273 cases of coronavirus have been laboratory confirmed among pupils and 296 among teachers.
"We have already talked with you about the lack of masks in some schools. You said that there is money in the regions, but for their use the Cabinet of Ministers must propose legislative changes. I know that there are more than three billion hryvnias that can be spent. Have you done everything necessary to provide our schools with personal protective equipment? This is extremely important today," the Head of State told the Prime Minister.
In response, the Prime Minister reported that the government had already proposed to parliament to adopt bill № 3991, which amends the budget and, among other things, allows the use of local budget funds for the purchase of personal protective equipment.
Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov said that last week the number of tests was increased by 7.5 thousand. Thus, the number of tests reached 154 thousand. However, the number of hospitalized people increased insignificantly - only by 100 people. He also said that a group of scientists traveled to the regions and conducted an analysis of compliance with algorithms for detecting coronavirus infection. This data will be used for the flexibility of quarantine measures.
Chief of the National Police Ihor Klymenko said that 1436 protocols had been drawn up over the past week for violating quarantine measures. To do this, 200 raid groups operate in Ukraine.
The law enforcement officials informed the President that tens of thousands of people without personal protective equipment and compliance with quarantine norms had gathered in Odesa and Dnipro to celebrate the City Day. In this regard, criminal proceedings have been initiated in the Odesa region and the investigation is underway. The law enforcers also said that the organizers of the festivities must pay administrative penalties in the amount of UAH 170 thousand, and if the epidemiological investigation establishes a causal link between these celebrations and an increase in the number of patients with coronavirus infection or mortality from this disease, criminal proceedings will be opened.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also asked Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Ihor Petrashko about help to farmers and agrarians affected by this year's severe drought.
The official said that farmers and agrarians had applied for loans totaling UAH 360 million. 80% of these applications were approved. At the same time, next year's budget plans to allocate funding for the introduction of an insurance system and the expansion of irrigation programs in the south of Ukraine. He also reminded that the draft law on portfolio guarantees № 3659-d had been adopted. It provides for the introduction of a mechanism of portfolio state guarantees in the maximum amount of up to UAH 5 billion next year.
The President stressed that he expects the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture to make proposals to help farmers and agrarians affected by a drought now, not only in the future.