Ukraine's Health Ministry Reports 2 New Covid-19 Cases

16 March 2020 12:29

Ukraine’s total count of coronavirus cases reaches 5 after the Center for Public Health reports two additional cases in the country.

Ukraine’s total count of coronavirus cases reaches 5 after the Center for Public Health reports two additional cases in the country. The two new cases are both in Ukraine’s western region of Chernivtsi. According to a post on the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page, the new patients are two women. They have both been isolated and are stable, and the Ministry is following up with people that the two had been in contact with.

The Ministry of Health also says that it has checked 94 suspected coronavirus cases so far in the country – 80 of them have been clear, while another 9 are still testing.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Ukraine has closed schools, universities, and public events. It has also banned mass gatherings of over 200 people, and has closed the border for foreign citizens for two weeks starting on March 16. Closing borders will coincide with a complete ban on civilian air travel starting March 17.

Ukraine has already turned away 50 foreign citizens in accordance with the new directive, according to the State Border Agency. The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced that they have temporarily ceased visa functions in all embassies.

“In connection with the announcement of quarantine in Ukraine, the goal of which is to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, foreign consulates, consulate offices at international border checkpoints, and the Department of Consulate Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will temporarily suspend citizen consultation and visa applications from March 14,” reads a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Any questions about this new policy can be addressed to [email protected].