Kyiv Mayor’s Coronavirus Update – March 23, 2020
23.03.2020
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: I would like to update you on coronavirus situation and the city government’s response to it.
Unfortunately, the number of confirmed cases in Kyiv and across Ukraine is growing…
Overall the city has 28 coronavirus patients. In the past 24 hours 18 new coronavirus cases have been laboratory confirmed in Kyiv. 11 patients are women aged 17-53 and seven are men, 21-56 years of age. 24 of them were infected abroad having returned mainly from France, Germany and Spain. Four cases were transmitted locally.
15 patients were admitted to the city’s hospitals and 13 persons are self-isolating, under medical care.
Let me stress that all information about the confirmed cases comes from Kyiv State Reference Laboratory of Ukraine’s Health Ministry which provides confirmatory testing for COVID-19.
Overall 594 Kyivans have been tested for соrоnаvіrus sо fаr.
The city government has launched a task force to work closely with the World Health Organization and 24/7 respond to all latest developments. A team of physicians, infectious disease specialists and law enforcement officers work to examine people with confirmed coronavirus diagnosis and identify their close contacts.
Now an update on testing and protective masks. Kyiv has received 70,000 pre-ordered facial masks and has ordered more 100,000 of them which will be available in a few days. A batch of 100,00 protective masks has been donated to the city by businesses. And we will appreciate any other help in this context.
In the first place, the masks and testing systems will be distributed to the city’s hospitals and primary care physicians who will be able to come to patients and perform rapid tests.
Please note that playgrounds, libraries and other public places are closed down! Administrative fines will be imposed on people who breach the restrictions.
Іn resроnsе to the pandemic, as of today the public transport in Kyiv is also partially suspended. Only healthcare and emergency care staff, law enforcement and city’s public works and utility personnel as well as grосеries and phаrmасies еmрlоуееs, will use public buses, trams and trolleybuses. All other people with urgent matters or who still need to come to work can use private cars, taxis or free transport their companies provide for the employees. Restrictions will not affect such kinds of rides.
We have also initiated a zero VAT rate for housing and utility bills to make them payable for Ukraine’s citizens during this crisis.
Dear fellow Kyivans, we have to consolidate all our efforts to get this through. Everyone must respond – those who stay at home and those who play a critical role in the funсtіоnіng of our city.
The municipal companies are disinfecting public transportation vehicles, roads and bridges across the whole city. Now 98 special trucks spray disinfectant on the streets, public transport stops and pedestrian crossovers. If needed, we will increase the number of cleaning vehicles.
Groceries and pharmacies have already strictly limited the number of customers. The current limit is 1 shopper per 10 square meters. Retailers must follow pandemic guidance and should ensure that their customers practice social distancing.
Delivery companies will continue to operate and deliver groceries, medicines and all necessary items to shops, pharmacies and hospitals.
Social workers will continue to reach out to seniors living alone and patients under palliative care in any their needs, including food and medication delivery.
Let me emphasize: we do everything we can to stop the spread of coronavirus and protect the health and life of Kyivans.
Please, be helpful and follow recommendations and restrictions, help the elderly who live nearby, support each other and stay united and careful. Despair and lack of hope will not get us through! Together we will stand! Take care!