Ukraine nationwide lockdown set at Jan. 8 to 25

Ukraine’s cabinet decided at its weekly meeting on
Dec. 9 to impose a nationwide lockdown between Jan. 8 and 25, and extend general
quarantine conditions until Feb. 28. The measures were imposed to reduce the
spread of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. The severe lockdown prohibits the
functioning of public and private cultural events, entertainment venues,
schools and universities (to be on distance learning), sports venues and
fitness clubs, nonfood stores and markets, dining establishments (for takeout
and delivery only), hair salons (by appointment only) and government and
municipal bodies (distance functioning).

New infections of the COVID-19 disease caused by the
coronavirus reached 13,371 on Dec. 9, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov reported
on his Facebook page this morning. That’s compared to 12,585 on Dec. 8 and
10,811 on Dec. 7. Hospitalizations set a new daily record of 2,993, compared to
1,281 on Dec. 8 and 1,319 on Dec. 7. An estimated 266 people died of COVID-19
on Dec. 9, compared to the prior day’s record of 277 deaths. In Kyiv, a daily
record of 1,899 new infections was set on Dec. 9, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported
on his Telegram channel. The same day, 138 were hospitalized and 27 died.

Zenon Zawada: In light of
the public’s support for harsher measures (according to a poll) the
government’s lockdown should bring positive results for February. Naturally,
this means that economic activity will be sharply reduced in January. As for
the general quarantine, we can expect it to extend beyond February.

Meanwhile, the daily statistics confirm the general trend
of new infections spiking towards the end of the week, before falling during
and after the weekends. So far, Ukraine’s COVID situation remains more-or-less
under control. Daily infections haven’t spun out of control, as had been
expected by some observers.