The weekend quarantine reduced movement and contacts between Ukrainians. In particular, the activity of citizens in large cities with a population of over 100 thousand on Saturday decreased by 18.5%, and on Sunday - by 27%. This data was announced by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov at the traditional conference call on the prevention of the spread of coronavirus disease, which took place under the chairmanship of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Minister of the Interior Arsen Avakov noted that over the weekend, virtually all major shopping malls, non-grocery stores and entertainment venues were closed, and police worked to prevent possible crowds. Difficult situations have arisen with food markets in some regions.
"I think Ukraine has taken the right step. The World Health Organization reports that the highest number of new infections is recorded on weekends. Reducing people-to-people contacts saves lives. At the same time, it is necessary to renew and improve all programs of economic assistance to entrepreneurs, workers who have lost their jobs, single people," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
Denys Shmyhal said that the government is already implementing and has prepared additional measures to support businesses and people who have lost part of their income due to the weekend quarantine.
"In particular, we resume support for owners of small businesses with children, a partial unemployment program when part of the worker's salary is compensated. There will also be "payment holidays" for businesses under the 5-7-9 program, recognition of the weekend quarantine as force majeure, which will help businesses in renting and fulfilling other obligations," the Prime Minister said.
He also said that a number of meetings have already been held with businesses that were restricted in their work due to the weekend quarantine. In the next few days, such work will be intensified, meetings will be held with representatives of each industry.
The government is also actively working to improve health workers’ insurance programs. In particular, Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Chernyshov reminded that a medical worker who fights COVID-19 is equated to a serviceman, and now, in addition to payments in case of incapacity for work or death, sickness assistance programs are being developed in different regions.
Deputy Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Tymoshenko added that after the President's order to carefully study this issue, the development of insurance programs has intensified, and some regions have already insured 60-70% of doctors, in particular the Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Chernivtsi and Volyn regions.