I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
Our fight against the spread of coronavirus infection in Ukraine continues everyday.
Another cargo from China arrived in Kyiv, delivering tens of thousands of respirators, as many protection suits, 300 thousand express tests, and 40 thousand pairs of safety glasses. I would like to emphasize that these glasses must be distributed among health workers, not among relatives or friends.
100 thousand PCR tests have been separately delivered to Ukraine.
A humanitarian cargo from the International Committee of the Red Cross was also delivered from Geneva. We thank them for that.
I emphasize that this and all previous shipments are evenly distributed and sent to each region of Ukraine. I emphasize that upon their arrival, both mayors and RSA heads are responsible for the fate of the cargo. You are obliged to fully and continuously transfer everything that you have received in the region to local hospitals and pharmacies.
Today, more than 20,000 police officers and National Guard personnel are involved in counteraction to coronavirus. Among other things, they are fighting false information about the virus, online fraud and the spread of medical products of questionable origin. During that time, more than 100 misinformers have been detected, a number of cyberlinks used for criminal purposes and bank accounts of online fraudsters have been blocked. On these facts, 30 criminal proceedings were initiated. I urge all citizens to be vigilant, to use only official sources of information, not to believe panic posts and announcements about obscure medicines that will save you from all diseases.
We are working to provide space for the mandatory observation of Ukrainian citizens returning from abroad. It would not be possible to return home without it. And to the citizens who break the doors of the airport I can only say one thing: the state will not allow you to be selfish.
If somebody does not understand that he poses a potential risk to the others, if somebody does not care, it is the state itself that will protect the health of millions of other citizens. Not by begging and recommendations, but by tough actions.
The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine also monitors the prices of essential products and goods on a daily basis. As stated earlier, we will not allow anyone to make money on Ukrainians in difficult times.
In addition, joint preparation for the operational deployment of mobile hospitals in certain regions of Ukraine continues in case of need.
I want to say the following separately. Every day, most news is about coronavirus and numbers of sick people. But we must not forget that in addition to fighting the invisible enemy, we have a war in eastern Ukraine.
Last week, unfortunately, two of our fighters were killed in the area of the Joint Forces Operation and eight were wounded. My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes of the soonest recovery to the wounded. Thank you, Ukrainian soldiers, for your service!
I also want to thank our Ukrainian doctors again. I know how hard it is for you right now. I know there are some issues with the provision of the supplies.
We are trying to resolve all these issues 24/7. Now I want to tell you not only as President, but also as a person: "Thank you". For what you do. For holding on.
A government meeting was also held today, with several important decisions taken. Thank you for supporting the initiative of a monthly additional payment of UAH 500 to the people over the age of 80. We understand that this is not ideal, but this will make it a little easier for people.
I would also like to point out the decision to pay one thousand hryvnias this month to citizens who have a pension of less than five thousand hryvnias, as well as to certain vulnerable categories of the population. The indexation of pensions scheduled for May 1, 2020 is also important.
All these initiatives require approval of amendments to the State Budget of Ukraine.
I am sure that the people’s deputies will vote for these changes in the coming days and will not take away such important support from the people.
I would like to draw the Government's attention separately to the following. Too many citizens have returned to Ukraine from abroad. This is good news, though the circumstances of such a return are not the most pleasant ones. But sooner or later coronavirus will pass and the quarantine will end. I believe that we must do everything to keep these people in Ukraine. We really need your knowledge and skills.
Therefore, I propose that the Government develop a separate mechanism creating additional millions of jobs in Ukraine. In this context, the continuation of the Great Construction program is significant. Thousands of kilometers of new roads and infrastructure objects will give the necessary impetus for economic development and create new jobs.
We very much want all of us, both those who worked here and those who returned from abroad, to build Ukraine together after quarantine.
Dear citizens! Let us continue to keep calm.
Let us continue to stay home! Once again I ask you to grow up!
You know, there is a known fact that after the Chernobyl accident, the authorities gathered people for a May Day demonstration. No one was afraid at the time, because "radiation is invisible". Coronavirus is also invisible. Moreover, we do not gather anyone, on the contrary, we ask you to stay home. No one will steal the beaches and no one will take out the sand. The parks will not disappear anywhere. Strolls can wait.
And barbecues can cause trouble. Understand it all!
We are Ukrainians. We will withstand. And we will celebrate our mutual victory on the squares, in the parks and at the beaches. But we have to wait for this victory. In the meantime, let us stay home.
Keep well, fellow Ukrainians!
I wish you 36.6! Take care of ourselves! Save Ukraine!