Ukraine reduces vehicular border crossings to 18 checkpoints

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decided on Apr. 15
to close an additional 10 automobile crossings at border checkpoints, reducing
the total number to 18, the pravda.com.ua news site said. This expands the
measures the cabinet imposed on Apr. 7 that closed nine pedestrian border
crossings, reducing the number of those active to 19. The latest vehicular
closures are on the border with Moldova, Poland and Romania, Internal Affairs
Minister Arsen Avakov said at the weekly cabinet meeting. A total of 9,100
people crossed the border on Apr. 13, the lowest in Ukrainian history,
according to the State Border Service. A total of 105 border crossings remain
functioning, involving various forms of transportation.

The city of Kyiv has lost more than UAH 1 bln as a
result of the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Vitali Klitschko told an online press
conference on Apr. 15. Expenditures fell by UAH 4.1 bln, though the costs for
infrastructure projects remain, he said. They include work on ñity bridges,
overpasses and the construction of two new metro stations.

As of noon, Apr. 16, the number of coronavirus-related
deaths rose by eight cases from the prior day to 116 total cases, according to
the Center for Public Health of the Health Ministry. The number of infections
rose by 397 cases, or 10.5%, from the prior day to 4,161 total cases. Among
those infected on Apr. 15 were 14 medical workers at the Ivano-Frankivsk
maternity hospital. The total number of infected medical workers is 788, with
the most cases, 126, occurring in the Chernivtsi region. The number of those
confirmed as recovered rose by 43 patients from the prior day to a total of
186.

Zenon Zawada: The coronavirus infection rate in Ukraine is continuing to stabilize.
As for Kyiv Mayor Klitschko, his decision to continue infrastructure projects
not only creates a handful of jobs, but also is preparation for the local
elections scheduled for October. He gained his popularity owing to these road improvement projects, and keeping them going will
secure his sizable electorate and ensure re-election.