Kyiv Mayor’s Coronavirus Update – March 25, 2020
25.03.2020
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: In the past 24 hours the number of infections rose to 34 in Kyiv. Six more persons all of whom are men were proved positive. Those four with respiratory symptoms who have recently returned from abroad were hospitalized on March 21 and the other two are staying home.
A total of 1,358 Kyivans have been tested so far.
Among all virus patients, 23 are treated in Oleksandrivska hospital and one – in the city’s clinical hospital No. 1. Ten people who have been proved positive are treated at home.
By the way, often I run across some smartass comments that Oleksandrivska hospital is a new Feofania clinic, a VIP hospital for state officials. What a lie! Oleksandrivska hospital in Kyiv faced the first coronavirus infected patients like a kind of flagship clinic. It admits patients of any social status. For instance, a student who has been infected domestically is being treated there.
The virus is rapidly spreading and the only way to stop it is massive strict isolation and following coronavirus protection advice!
I appeal to the police and other regulators to identify the lockdown violators and let them face charges. If someone is refusing to cooperate, let him face a fine to better understand the danger of such behaviour.
I have also formally asked the Government to set a price control over medications, protective gear and some other essentials. According to the Parliament’s bill, the Cabinet of Ministers is fully empowered to do this. We must take every step to avoid the price hikes over some food items like sugar, salt, flour, tea, oil and butter, rice, pasta and buckwheat, drinking water and canned food, and some other commodities.
Since schools are suspended, the city government has decided to stop heating school and kindergarten buildings and inject money into the coronavirus fight.
By the Government’s order Metro both in Kyiv and Dnipro will stay closed until April 3. If the disease progresses, the metro will remain locked down. Like it or not, this is a necessary step to prevent the virus spread.
Together with the Association of Ukrainian Cities we have introduced a platform to network, and share the best practices and policies implemented to stop the pandemic. The biggest burden of response to coronavirus outbreak lies today on Ukraine’s small communities. The Association will provide a Plan for my peers on how to respond to outbreaks in their communities. Also, the Association is currently preparing advisory recommendations to the national government on draft laws and bills that are subject to the approval.
I cannot thank enough to the socially responsible business that donates to charities in this situation. And my particular thank goes to the hoteliers for providing accommodation and a hot meal for medical staff on the front line for whom the risk of becoming infected and spreading the virus is the highest.
Now I want to make a special request to some Kyivans and journalists. Stop harassing medics! Stop breaking into hospitals for the sake of videos and Facebook likes! Don’t you see the amorality of your behaviour? Please let the doctors do their job because who will save us all otherwise?
Today we are reading plenty of fake news and false content on the pandemic outbreak. Some false information definitely causes panic, rumours and unrest. Some people who create or share such misleading information do it seeking dubious political advantages. Since the curfew in Ukraine has been announced, cybercrime police have spotted about 170 cases of fake news and traced down 24 originators who faced a penalty.
Every day I urge people to always use the official information released by the state institutions on their official websites or social media pages. Please, don’t be fooled by Internet miraculous medical treatments!
Yesterday a video conference was held between the local physicians and medical experts and doctors of Wuhan and Hubei province hospitals – the epicentre of the pandemic.
The Chinese physicians shared their expertise and practices that helped them contain the spread of the virus. According to them, complete lockdown and strict stay-home order were the best strategies.
They also told about the treatment protocols. It took about 20 days on average to recover from the virus. Ignored symptoms and waiting until it has already been too late to see a doctor are key reasons for the high death toll there, according to Hubei medical staff. Also, they provided guidance how doctors and nurses who are at a high risk to get infected can stay protected and safe. The Hubei and Wuhan physicians are ready to further share their expertise.
At first sight of symptoms stay home and call your family doctor.