Cabinet reopens nonfood markets as medic infection rate remains high

Ukraine’s cabinet decided at its May 14 special
session to allow nonfood markets to reopen in line with sanitary and
epidemiological safety rules. “These changes allow for the full economic
servicing of the population, particularly through the work of nonfood markets,”
said health minister Maksym Stepanov, as reported by the pravda.com.ua news
site. The same day, the Odesa City Zoo announced it will reopen the next day.

Coronavirus infections rose by 483 cases, or 2.9%,
from the prior day to a total of 17,330 as of noon, May 14, according to the
Center for Public Health of the Health Ministry of Ukraine. An estimated 142, or
more than a quarter of those infected, were medical workers. An estimated 476
people have died from the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus, an
increase of 20 cases from the prior day. Recovered patients rose 330 to a total
of 4,473 cases.

About 100 medical workers in Lviv, Ukraine’s
seventh-largest city, are currently infected with the COVID-19 disease caused
by the coronavirus, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi tweeted on May 14. An estimated 56 are
first-response workers. All infected medical workers will receive UAH 20,000
(USD 750) bonuses from the city budget, he said.

Zenon Zawada: The
coronavirus situation remains stable in Ukraine, with the exception of high
infection rates among medical workers. At this pace, much public transport will
be renewed this month (with the exception of metro rail), and international
travel will start to be renewed by June.