Kyiv Mayor’s Coronavirus Update – March 19, 2021
19.03.2021
The mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko held a briefing providing an update on the coronavirus situation in Ukraine’s capital and the measures the city is taking to respond.
Klitschko: The coronavirus situation is very difficult in Kyiv.
With 1,210 new virus transmissions over the past 24 hours, positive coronavirus cases surged to 151,133. There are 24 more fatalities that bring the death toll to 3,015 and 258 recoveries that raise their total number to 100,804.
New cases are 691 women (aged 18-93), and 462 men (18-93 years old) and 57 children. Also, among the infected are 28 medical professionals.
129 patients were hospitalized with the confirmed diagnosis and 424 with suspected illness.
Darnytsky city district has the highest infection rate, with 302 new cases overnight.
We see a sharp increase in daily hospitalisations. This is the highest number of COVID-19 in-patients since the beginning of the outbreak, and also a record number of those who are in serious medical condition and require supplemental oxygen.
Currently, there are 3,453 patients are staying in hospitals (32 children included). 2,433 of them are seriously ill. 53 in-patients are on invasive ventilators and 2,852 are receiving oxygen therapy.
Until now older patients have accounted for a majority of hospitalisations, but today more and more people aged 30-40 years are admitted to hospitals.
Since this January new COVID-19 cases including severe ones have risen twice as much and continue to grow. The mortality increased 1.5 times. The daily number of deaths increased to 24-30. Hospitals admit twice as many patients and 90 per cent of them require supplemental oxygen. At least 50 in-patients are put on ventilator daily. The bed occupancy rate exceeds 74 per cent compared to 30 per cent in January.
There are lives and health of Kyivans behind the statistics. So, to stop the fast virus spread and avoid the collapse of the public healthcare system we have imposed severe restrictions. Otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous!
I know only too well how many people are unhappy with this decision and how many have a hard time. But we have to overcome this threat. Personally, I am also fed up with the lockdown. But being a politician is also about a skill to take responsibility despite one’s popularity ratings. Let us be aware that the lives of people are in the balance now.
I have also had the coronavirus as well as many of my friends, colleagues and acquaintances. And some of them have caught the infection a second time. The virus is still here but more aggressive and lethal. Please, pay closer attention to your health and at first sight of symptoms call your doctor.
The municipality has further increased the amount of testing for COVID-19. The testing capacity is the highest in Ukraine and stands at 490 tests performed per 100,000 population. We are doing everything possible to make the testing more available.
Tests are now available at 71 sample collection centres located in municipal-run health facilities. Those sites conduct tests at no out-of-pocket cost to those who have a doctor’s referral.
Also, the disabled people and the elderly population, having a physician’s referral are eligible for free testing at home by the mobile response brigades. 3,500 Kyivans tested for the infection at home over the last week.
This spring break for school students began two days earlier than planned and after their vacation children of middle and high school will be back to remote learning until April 9. The vacation for elementary school students starts tomorrow and after the break they will return to their classrooms. The municipal Education Department has already created an online curriculum and the public TV channel will resume broadcasting lectures.
The kindergartens that have already enhanced the disinfection and stepped up the safety measures will continue to operate as normal. The attendance rate is over 50 per cent.
College and university dormitories have to bооst the sanitation measures and intensify the hygiene control.
You may know that starting March 20 at midnight Kyiv institutes strict mandatory restrictions which will remain in place until April 9 inclusive. We cannot afford to be careless. So please, act responsibly and follow the public health recommendations. Please, remember to wear your mask, use sanitisers and keep a distance.