Ukraine sets latest COVID-19 infection daily record, just after Kyiv sets record

The latest daily record was set in Ukraine on June 24
of 994 cases of the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus, as reported by
Health Minister Maksym Stepanov at his daily press briefing this morning. An
estimated 16 patients died, while 349 recovered. The most cases, or 204, were
reported in the Lviv region on the Polish border. In the capital of Kyiv, 85
new infections were reported on June 24 (12 of which were hospitalized),
raising the number of infected to about 3,039, according to the National Security
and Defense Council. COVID-19 sets a daily record of 99 in the city on June 23,
of which 14 were hospitalized.

Despite the record number of cases in Kyiv on June 23,
the Health Ministry said the same day that the city of 10 regions could relax
quarantine/lockdown measures. Subsequently, the Kyiv city government allowed
for the reopening the next day of indoor restaurants and cafes, pools, as well
as cultural events and theatres with restricted numbers of participants, Mayor
Vitali Klitschko confirmed in an online press conference.

Then in another turn of events, the Health Ministry
said on June 24 the city of Kyiv no longer has the necessary infection dynamics
to meet the next stage of relaxation requirements (though most restrictions
have already been lifted in Kyiv). On June 24, the infection rate grew at
11.55% from the prior day, exceeding the acceptable 10% growth rate threshold,
the Health Ministry said.

Zenon Zawada: This is the
latest example of the government sending conflicting messages to the public,
with infection cases reaching a new record in Kyiv on the same day that the
latest quarantine/lockdown restrictions were lifted. Meanwhile, top officials –
including the president, PM and health minister – have been unusually quiet
despite the record-setting infection rates. Much attention has been shifted to
the floods in western Ukraine, but we also believe that they simply don’t know
how to respond to growing infection rates. And Zelensky has shown he doesn’t like
making unpopular decisions.