Quarantine will be extended until May 11, Shmyhal confirms

Ukraine’s cabinet will extend its quarantine until May
11, with certain restrictions remaining place beyond that for possibly two
years, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed in an interview with the rbc.ua
news agency published on Apr. 21. Starting May 12, certain relaxations will be
considered for economic development and finding “a balance between a strict
quarantine and the work of economic sectors,” he said. The first peak of
infections will be reached at the end of April, and the next peak between May 3
and 8, according to the National Academy of Sciences. “The health care system
is currently loaded by less than 10% with those sick with the coronavirus,”
Shmyhal said. He added that the conditions for fighting the coronavirus will
remain in place for the next two years and the public must adopt to the new
conditions.

Public transit in Ukraine won’t be renewed earlier
than June, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy said in an interview with
the 24 Kanal television channel. “In May, we will also see peaks in infections.
So we should get through this period. And when the wave begins to decline, then
public transit can be renewed so that it operates with stability. But certain
restrictions will remain nonetheless.” As for air travel, Krykliy said he
doesn’t expect Europe will open its air space until the end of summer. Regular
flights are “entire possible” in September, he said. As for summer vacations,
Krykliy told BBC News that they could be possible in the late summer, and
domestic flights could be renewed ahead of international flights.

Coronavirus infections rose by 467 cases, or 7.6%,
from the prior day to a total of 6,592 cases, according to the Center for
Public Health of the Health Ministry. An estimated 174 people have died in
Ukraine, an increase of 13 cases, from the COVID-19 disease. The number of
recoveries rose by 57 patients to 424 in total.

Zenon Zawada: Shmyhal’s
comments so far indicate it’s not worth expecting any notable economic recovery
in May. Not only will many economic sectors remain closed, but many Ukrainians
won’t be able to work without public transit functioning. The situation with
the border in May is especially critical, and so far it’s unclear if it will be
opened for train and bus transit. Meanwhile, the Apr. 21 infection growth rate
of 7.6% is impressive, offering more evidence that the first peak has certainly
passed.