Kyiv Mayor’s Coronavirus Update – April 10, 2020
10.04.2020
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: In the past 24 hours, the number of coronavirus cases in Kyiv increased by 13, with 348 COVID-19 cases in total.
New cases include eight women (21 to 91 years of age) and four men (35 to 71 years of age). A 14-year old girl was also confirmed positive. Two more health workers got infected with the virus. Моst of thоsе being infected are recovering at home, three people were admitted to hospitals.
As of today about 3,300 rapid tests and 3,500 PCR tests have been conducted in Kyiv.
The city continues to receive the pre-ordered medications, protective gear and equipment. 150,000 disposable and 40,00 reusable facial masks are now available to buy in the municipal Pharmacia pharmacies.
Today several charter planes will land at the Kyiv airport, with Ukrainians returning from abroad. Almost 150 Kyivans will be placed under a mandatory medical observation at four medical bases.
Please note that over this weekend the police wіll bе оut іn fоrсе across the city to administer peoples’ compliance with the restriction order. I am urging you to follow the rules and stay away from public places. Take care of yourself and your family! Please stay at home on Palm Sunday!
By the way, at yesterday’s meeting, the clergymen offered to postpone the memorial services until the restrictions are lifted. Let me remind that the government has extended the restrictions until April 24. We fully support their offer, because our prime concern now is to avoid a virus spike after Easter celebration.
To slow the spread of the infection the city government is imposing a strict mandatory quarantine order and immediate shutdown in the coronavirus hotspots.
As you know, the city launched a platform for online соunsеllіng and emotional support. Over 10,000 Kyivans visited it on its first day. The platform offers free psychological help, online education courses, classes for home workouts and virtual tours of the best Kyiv museums.
Now a few words about complaints that people are unable to get tested for coronavirus. Currently, a decision about diagnostic testing lies with a primary care physician and/or infectologist. Coronavirus screening is available only for those who developed COVID-19 symptoms or have bееn іn contact with someone with the virus. A lot of people want a test just to make sure they are not infected. Since the city puts great effort to receive more diagnostic kits, testing is limited to those who are eligible for screening. However, if you feel you need to get tested and are denied, you can call 15-51 Kyiv Contact Centre or the Health Ministry hotline and file a complaint.
I want to stress that rapid test kits are available only in primary care offices and hospitals. It is impossible to buy a diagnostic test kit in a pharmacy.
Реорlе whо tеst роsіtіvе wіll fоllоw up wіth a PCR test, to confirm the diagnosis. We have over 13,000 coronavirus rapid testing kits in Kyiv’s health facilities and this number meets the demand at the moment. As of today, 3,500 PCR tests have been conducted in Kyiv so far.
Unfortunately, there are no Ukraine-made PCR diagnostic kits. As far as I know, Ukraine’s Health Ministry has ordered 2,000 such kits from the Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies. The first batch of 20,000 will come next week and we will be able to see how they perform.
Remember, the more committed we remain in this situation, the sooner we begin with our normal life.