Kyiv goes to Red pandemic level on November 1

The city of Kyiv is being placed on the Red epidemic
level effective Nov. 1, following a request from mayor Vitaliy Klitschko. Cases
of COVID have been rising, but most alarmingly, 66% of the hospital beds with
oxygen for COVID patients in Kyiv had been filled for the last three days,
Klitschko noted in a briefing.

Public access to shops, restaurants, gyms, and other
establishments will be restricted to those with proof of a negative PCR test
result or a COVID vaccination certificate. Roving inspectors in public
transport will have the right to stop passengers and demand to see a test
result or certificate as well.

Primary and secondary schools are switching to
distance learning from the end of their autumn break (also Nov. 1) and will
work in this mode until further notice. Kindergartens will continue to operate,
but only if 100% of staff has been vaccinated.

James Hydzik: There had
been calls for Kyiv to move to the Red for days as the situation deteriorated,
so the move comes as no surprise. Across the country, the pandemic levels are
rising and the number of COVID cases registered hit new highs for two days in a
row, while the death toll has stayed over 600 persons daily.

How well roving groups of inspectors in mass
transit within the city will work at curbing unvaccinated travel is an open
question. Riding the metro becomes a game of chance for those who don’t buy
fake certificates.