Peak of coronavirus infections to be reached on Apr. 17-19, Liashko says

The peak of the coronavirus pandemic in Ukraine is
expected to be reached on Apr. 17-19, Chief Medical Office of Ukraine Viktor Liashko
told the life.pravda.com.ua news site in an interview published on Apr. 14. He
encouraged the public to uphold the strict quarantine restrictions until Apr.
24. Ukraine’s medical system won’t be able to withstand more than 3,500
COVID-19 patients in intensive care at a single time, Liashko told a television
talk show on Apr. 13. That will enable requiring treatment and resuscitation
from the disease, as well as heart attacks, strokes and other urgent
conditions, he said. Liashko also said he is canceling a previous resolution
renewing the work of food markets during quarantine, which takes effect today.
He cited violations of protective requirements.

Ukraine’s parliament approved a bill on Apr. 14 that
allows restricting access to cities and towns with military-controlled border
checkpoints during the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation also allowed for
the processing of personal data without an individual’s permission. It
establishes legal definitions for the terms self-isolation and observation. The
legislation will be active during the quarantine period and for 30 days after
its cancelation. Among the budget amendments approved on Apr. 13 were cuts to
the salaries of all state officials, including board members at state
companies, during the period of the coronavirus pandemic.

As of noon, Apr. 14, 98 people have died in Ukraine,
five in the last day, from the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus
infection, according to the Center for Public Health of the Health Ministry. An
estimated 3,372 patients have been infected, an increase of 8.7%, or 270 cases,
from the prior day. A total of 119 patients have recovered, including 22 from
the prior day.

Zenon Zawada: The latest
data confirm the Health Ministry’s expectation that coronavirus infections are
currently peaking as the daily increase in cases has slowed significantly. It’s
telling that no mention has been made yet of extending the severe quarantine
into May, as France had done. Liashko indicated that Apr. 24 should be the
start of a gradual loosening of quarantine restrictions in stages if the
current dynamics are maintained.