Ukraine announces new measures over coronavirus

MOSCOW

The Ukrainian government announced on Wednesday additional measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in the country.

The government said on its website that a decision was made in a meeting in Kiev to close educational institutions for three weeks, ban gatherings of over 200 people and cancel flights to a number of countries without specifying them.

In addition, the government allocated 100 million Ukrainian hryvnia ($3.89 million) for purchasing required protective gear and special equipment for Boryspil International Airport, while the export of goods needed to fight spread of coronavirus and treatment of the infected will be prohibited till June 1.

Sports events can be held with the permission of international organizations, without spectators, the decree said.

On March 3, Ukraine reported its first case of coronavirus, saying a Ukrainian, returned from Italy, was found to be infected.

On March 6, a 16-day quarantine was announced in the western Chernivtsi region, suggesting prohibition of mass events, concerts, conferences, sporting events, and suspension of education.

The novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China, last December and has now spread to more than 100 countries.

The global death toll is now almost 4,300, with around 118,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

On Monday, the head of the WHO said with the number of countries affected by the virus, the “threat of a pandemic has become very real.”