In recent weeks, the number of patients with COVID-19 has been decreasing in Ukraine and the number of those recovered has been increasing. This was announced to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a traditional conference call held under his chairmanship.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that as of today 22,802 people are hospitalized, and five weeks ago there was an average of 28-29 thousand.
Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov noted that there is also a decrease in the incidence of pneumonia in the country. Last week, 19.5 thousand cases were recorded, while, for example, from November 9 to 15 – there were almost 39 thousand. At the same time, the Minister of Health believes that there is a possibility of an increase in the number of coronavirus patients after the New Year holidays. In addition, an increase in seasonal incidence of influenza is expected.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed to comprehensively analyze the dynamics of the incidence of COVID-19 after the New Year holidays.
The officials reported that there are currently 50,409 beds with oxygen in hospitals in Ukraine. Currently, almost 35,000 beds with oxygen are available. In total, there are almost 66,000 beds for patients with coronavirus in the country today.
Denys Shmyhal also reported on the course of payments of UAH 8,000 to businesses and employees due to the tightening of quarantine restrictions.
"As of December 31, 480,000 applications were submitted for assistance in the amount of 8,000 hryvnias. And I can say that almost all payments have already been made. Funds in the amount of 3.64 billion hryvnias were transferred for 456 thousand applications. At present, funds are not transferred mainly to those recipients who applied for assistance in the last days of 2020. I can assure that these citizens will receive due assistance in the first half of January," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said that a number of companies are wary of tax audits after receiving financial assistance.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested using this situation to improve the relationship between the state and business.
"I suggest the leadership of the Ministry of Finance and the State Tax Service to think about how to make the approach to companies that have registered for assistance as public and loyal as possible. They should know that the state supports transparent business," he said.
In November-December, a total of UAH 443,864,000 was paid to 90,475 families of individual entrepreneurs with children under the age of 10.
In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was informed that in the near future the Cabinet of Ministers will adopt a resolution that will speed up payments to the families of health workers who died during the fight against COVID-19.
The Head of State also set a task to speed up the creation of a register of vaccinated persons.
The state continues negotiations on the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine with several foreign companies.
Chief of the National Police Ihor Klymenko informed that law enforcement officers have drawn up 6,500 reports for violating the mask regime during the New Year celebrations.