Ukraine Introduces New Plan to Ward Off Coronavirus

The new Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has given his seal of approval to a new plan regarding the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The plan was approved after a meeting between the members of the anti-crisis center for prevention of the spread of the coronavirus in Ukraine, reads a government website.

The plan requires the heads of relevant institutions to check and make sure that their reserves of protective equipment for the population can last for a period of three months. By March 11, the leadership needs to establish the costs required to replenish these reserves if they don't meet the requirements.

The ministry of healthcare, which is now headed by Illya Yemets, has been tasked with developing a communication plan to establish the action algorithm in case of new coronavirus cases being established (currently, there is only one registered case in the country). The health ministry also needs to address the issue of  the creation of a network of centers for controlling and preventing the coronavirus disease.

READ MORE: Ukraine Reports First Coronavirus Case

By March 11, the ministry – jointly with the finance ministry – needs to suggest a way to increase the funding for coronavirus tests, as well as protection and diagnosing materials.

Ukrainian companies will be checked for their capability of providing protection equipment for the demand of the population.

The health checks at the border agencies, as well as the checkpoints at the demarcation line in the Donbas and the administrative border between Crimea and mainland Ukraine, will continue, too.

READ MORE: Coronavirus in Chernivtsi: What We Know, How to Protect Yourself, And Is Ukraine Prepared