Kyiv Mayor’s Coronavirus Update – April 23
23.04.2021
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 becomes more stable in Kyiv. New cases are not surging these days, but deaths remain high.
Over the past 24 hours the number of infections rose by 1,269. In total there are 190,138 laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases in Kyiv. The latest cases are 700 women (18-90 years old), 512 men (aged 18-95) and 57 children. 21 medical workers were also proved positive. 82 patients were admitted to hospitals.
1,298 Kyivans recovered in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries up to 119,101. 45 more deaths bring the death toll to 4,386.
The majority of new coronavirus cases, 225 came from Darnytsa.
We see a slight decrease in the number of coronavirus hospitalisations.
396 patients were admitted to hospitals overnight, including 270 with suspected diagnosis and pneumonia. And as of today, there are 3,453 COVID-19 in-patients. 2,482 of them are very sick. 2,957 patients need supplemental oxygen and 63 are put on a ventilator. Hospital beds are about 58 per cent full. The oxygen-supported bed occupancy rate is more than 65 per cent.
127 women and 138 men have died of Covid-19 in Kyiv over this week. Mostly, they are over the age of 65. But recent fatalities also involve people between the ages of 50 and 64. There are 46 such deaths. Unfortunately, the fatality rate among people from these age group is trending upwards. The majority of deaths attributed to Covid-19 in Kyiv are people with pre-existing health problems: diabetes, heart disease or obesity.
Please, pay attention to your health and seek medical care if you have symptoms. Ignored symptoms and waiting until it is already too late are key reasons for the complicated disease course and high death toll.
Now a few words about the upcoming Easter and long holidays, with special church services, large gatherings and other traditional activities. Our own responsible attitude is crucial to preventing the possible huge spike of new coronavirus cases in mid-May. Because I am seriously concerned about a dramatic spike of new cases around Easter.
Today the Kyiv Emergency Task Force has issued the guidelines for Holy Week and Easter. The city authority recommends moving church services and ceremonies online. Also, there are strict rules for those attending churches. In particular, the churches should disinfect and air their premises, conduct temperature screening of people taking part in services and ensure they all are wearing masks. The attendance limitation is one person per ten square metres.
The city government has met with religious leaders and urged them to comply with the restrictions and recognize their responsibility to keep their congregants safe and healthy.
Today the Ukrainian Council of Churches must decide on or against the offline Easter celebrations.
Please, remember that the coronavirus situation in Kyiv is still far from optimistic. This is why I want to appeal to all Kyivans to avoid going to church or holding large gatherings and celebrate Easter at home, with their immediate family.