President of Ukraine

All border checkpoints should be provided with express tests for coronavirus in a week - Secretary of the NSDC

13 March 2020 - 18:07

All border checkpoints should be provided with express tests for coronavirus in a week - Secretary of the NSDC

All Ukrainian citizens abroad will be able to return to Ukraine. Ukrainians arriving from the countries where the coronavirus is raging will undergo a two-week observation, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said.

“All checkpoints must be provided with express tests within a week and everyone will be able to take the test. This will apply to all checkpoints. All medical institutions will be obliged to have these tests,” Oleksiy Danilov said during a briefing at the President's Office following the NSDC meeting.

The NSDC Secretary addressed the citizens with a request to limit their movement both within the country and abroad to protect themselves from infection.

He noted that the situation with coronavirus in Ukraine is calm. Three cases of the disease were recorded.

"The rest of the coronavirus tests we did turned out negative," Oleksiy Danilov stressed.

According to him, Ukraine adheres to all the recommendations made by a representative of the World Health Organization.

As for the area of the Joint Forces Operation, according to Oleksiy Danilov, there are registered cases of coronavirus in the occupied part of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions already. This is a woman who visited China and returned to the uncontrolled territory from Moscow.

The decision on allowing the citizens of Ukraine to pass the checkpoints on the delimitation line with the uncontrolled territories of Donbas can be made by the JFO Head.

Oleksiy Danilov said that the country of risk for Ukraine is Italy, as there are a lot of our citizens. In addition, Poland could become such a country.

Deputy Minister of Health, Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko emphasizes that elderly people are at risk.

“Today, we ask you all to talk to your parents, grandparents. To prohibit them from traveling abroad and to limit their movement within the territory of Ukraine. Self-isolation or staying at home is the best prevention tool for elderly people today. Especially for those having chronic diseases,” he said.

In addition, Viktor Lyashko informed that pursuant to the instructions of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, it is necessary to check that pharmacies do not drive up the prices of the means and goods used against coronavirus infection.

Oleksiy Danilov also noted that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is to make a decision today to allocate additional funds for the purchase of medical supplies.

The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council urged the media representatives not to spread unverified information.