In Ukraine, more than 1,600 new patients with COVID-19 have been registered over the past 24 hours, so the Cabinet of Ministers proposes to extend the quarantine until November 1. This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a traditional conference call chaired by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The total number of people infected with coronavirus infection in Ukraine since the beginning of the pandemic has exceeded 108 thousand. The most affected regions today are Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv and Ternopil.
Given the negative dynamics of the incidence, Volodymyr Zelenskyy supported the need to take preventive measures. In particular, the introduction of a ban on nightclubs, concerts.
"But quarantine must remain adaptive and unburdensome for entrepreneurs. Small and medium-sized businesses should be able to properly organize their work in the new conditions," the President stressed.
The parties noted that the world is also experiencing an increase in the incidence of COVID-19, so the Ukrainian government is developing regulations banning the entry of foreign nationals from countries in the "red zone" of the epidemic for 30 days. This ban will not apply to transit drivers and representatives of humanitarian missions.
At the request of the Prime Minister of Israel, a decision was made to significantly restrict the Hasidic pilgrimage to Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.
At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that easier conditions of entry into Ukraine should be provided for the citizens of neighboring Belarus.
"How can we ban Belarusians from entering, especially given the extremely tense domestic political situation there? I think that it is necessary to reasonably envisage easier conditions for Belarusians to enter Ukraine. This is a very delicate topic - everything must be taken into account," the President of Ukraine said.
Minister of Health of Ukraine Maksym Stepanov reported to the Head of State that due to the approaching season of respiratory viral infections the Ministry of Health is preparing to purchase influenza vaccines for risk groups: doctors, police, border guards, education workers - 1.5 million persons in total.
The President added that on the eve of the new epidemic season, it is also necessary to increase the number of hospital beds and launch a mass flu vaccination program.
The parties also considered the issue of preparation and holding of local elections in Ukraine on October 25. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov noted that at least 500,000 employees of election commissions of various levels will be involved in the election process across the country, and they should be provided with protective masks and other personal protective equipment.