Ukraine imposes severe weekend lockdown, daily quarantine

Ukraine’s cabinet unanimously voted at its weekly
meeting on Nov. 11 to cancel its adaptive quarantine and replace it with a
severe nationwide weekend lockdown regime until at least Nov. 30, but possibly
the end of the year. These measures prohibit virtually all social and
commercial activity on weekends, except for the functioning of food stores,
gasoline stations, auto repair shops, pharmacies and veterinary supplies, and
eateries involved in carryout or deliveries. These measures are being
considered until the end of December, but possibly even after the New Year, the
pravda.com.ua news site reported, citing anonymous source in the health
ministry.

The cabinet also decided to impose a general national
quarantine under orange zone conditions. These prohibit any gatherings of at
least 20 people, organized gatherings in eateries, entertainment and social
venues, eateries operating between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., lodging venues
except for hotels and health resorts, educational gatherings of more than 20
people or where more than 50% of students are in self-isolation, movie theatres
and theatres seating more than 50% capacity, and planned hospitalizations other
than those urgent for life. The number of public transport passengers shouldn’t
exceed the number of seats. Social distancing and mask-wearing requirements
will remain in place.

To help affected businesses, the cabinet will renew
and expand its programs that offer compensations for lost wages, subsidies to
help avoid dismissals, and subsidies to support children of entrepreneurs,
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on his Facebook page. Nonetheless, various
protests were held in anticipation of the lockdown, including more than 500
restaurateurs and employees gathered at the Cabinet building voicing their opposition.
Similar protests were held in 22 cities throughout Ukraine, the Ukrinform news
agency reported. Among their complaints, the restaurateurs said they never
received compensation after the spring national lockdown.

The European Business Association said the severe
weekend lockdown will bring more harm than good in a Nov. 11 statement. “What’s
necessary are clear and understood adaptive steps of cooperation with business,
not severe total restrictions, in order to support the country’s economic health
as well,” the statement said. It added, “The government should be more
proactive, as with the issue of combatting the virus’ spread, as well as issues
of supporting the public and business. At the moment, unfortunately, this is
not apparent.” The association called for long-term strategic planning and
adaptivity as the government’s approach. Meanwhile, Epicenter – Ukraine’s
largest national retail chain – declared a 72-hour Friday as its way of
avoiding the weekend lockdown on its Facebook page, which drew a harsh rebuke
from the health minister.

Government officials also joined the rebellion, led by
Lviv Mayor Andry Sadovyi. “The weekend lockdown is stupidity, in my opinion. We
were, are and will be together with you. The city won’t make any unwise decisions.
We should uphold all commitments: no banquets, anniversaries or marriages. But
a full lockdown can’t be discussed. If the government wants to impose some
restrictions, let them first pay money to people. Compensation, as is being
done by the Germans, French and other nations. But to ruin people, take from
them their last means of thriving? And who will feed their families afterwards?
That’s why we are for the people. Common sense is needed.”

New infections of the COVID-19 disease caused by the
coronavirus reached the latest daily record of 11,057 on Nov. 11, as reported
by the Health Ministry this morning. That’s compared to 10,611 on Nov. 10 and
10,179 on Nov. 9. An estimated 198 people died on Nov. 11, compared to 191 on
Nov. 10 and 191 on Nov. 9. The latest high-ranking officials to become infected
with COVID-19 were Parliamentary Speaker Dmytro Razumkov and Oleksiy Reznikov,
the deputy head of the Ukraine delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group. Also
infected is Anatoliy Bondarenko, the mayor of Cherkasy who was among the most
vocal critics of lockdown measures in the spring.

Zenon Zawada: This is a troubling economic situation, but the threat of
overburdening the health care system calls for dramatic action. Lockdowns
become necessary when the public doesn’t uphold preventative measures in their
individual lives, which could have avoided this situation. It’s not clear
whether the public will uphold the daily quarantine and weekend lockdown. But
it’s not optimistic when numerous prominent officials have already voiced their
opposition. Much will depend on the intensity of law enforcement.