Kyiv Mayor’s Coronavirus Update – March 26, 2020
26.03.2020
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: At the moment the total number of confirmed cases in Kyiv rose to 40. Today six more persons hаvе bееn tеstеd pоsіtіvе for the coronavirus. Among patients are a 35-years old woman and five men, aged 28-70 years. Four patients were admitted to Oleksandrivska hospital, a 70-years old retired military officer – to the Military Hospital and one man with mild symptoms is staying home.
1437 Kyivans have been tested for coronavirus so far. And at the moment the Health Ministry’s central reference laboratory verifies 30 more suspected samples.
I would like to ask the law enforcement bodies to increase administrative control over private hospitals and laboratories with coronavirus testing capacities. Unfortunately, some of them underreport new positive cases, leaving Ukraine’s healthcare authorities unaware of them. Instead, our health agencies are being notified by foreign institutions, if ever. Such attitude hides a true picture and downplays a dynamic of the virus spread. I think this is unacceptable!
Today the Kyiv City Council is holding a special session to amend a budget to respond to coronavirus, approving more funding for the public healthcare. The city council has already dedicated ₴260 million from reserves to buy supplies related to the pandemic.
The budget dаmаgе from the vіrus is estimated at ₴1 billion already and we anticipate a bigger revenue loss if the situation worsens.
As the chairman of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, I am seeking the national government to let the communities keep the local excise tax revenue as well as additional subventions that amount ₴13 billion which will pay for the virus prevention measures. The national government has to support the local communities rather than beggar them during the crisis!
One more topic that caused a public outcry is an ordinance to prepare ‘special’ hospital rooms for high state officials, should they get infected. Indeed, the ordinance has been issued in accordance with ‘for internal use’ decrees of Ukraine’s Health Ministry, the State Guard Department and President’s Management of Affairs Office. These state agencies tasked the city government to prepare hospital rooms whеrе mеdісаl саrе wіll bе prоvіdеd to any state officials, entitled to services of state guards. Actually, this is a common practice, quite widely spread.
However, yesterday I talked to President Zelenskiy and he promised to withdraw the mentioned orders with which the city has to comply. We will appreciate and hopefully, it will be done today.
Let me stress again. Oleksandrivska hospital is not a clinic for VIP patients, it is set as one of the dedicated coronavirus hospitals, so any patients – suspicious of or infected with the virus are admitted here. Seven such hospitals in Kyiv are fully equipped to deal with coronavirus cases, including 93 ventilators and other lifesaving machines. Currently, overall there are 380 ventilators in 78 intensive care units across the city. More 7,000 critical care beds are ready to be deployed if needed.
Now a few words about coronavirus diagnostic test kits. Rapid test kits are available in primary care offices and all hospitals.
Besides, emergency medical care physicians can test sick persons at home if they have all symptoms and are eligible for testing. At the moment the city has received 9,000 pre-ordered test kits and we are continuing to buy more of them.
I want to underline that the city budget covers all expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic, including purchase of protective gear, testing kits, medications and equipment. By the way, recently the city has acquired 39 brand-new EMS vehicles, which come with the latest advanced life support equipment, including much needed now ventilators.
According to recommendation of Chinese physicians, the municipal services started to disinfect public areas in residential buildings – entrance halls, staircases, elevators, highly touched surfaces, etc. There are 11,500 such buildings in Kyiv and 8,500 of them are municipally owned. The city council has earmarked ₴23 million to buy disinfectants and protective items. Cleaners also disinfect playgrounds and sports grounds, though they stay closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
If residents have complaints about the disinfection, they can call the Housing Department at 15-57 or their residential management company.
Please, take care of your health and keep yourself and your family safe!