Govt proposes extending coronavirus lockdown in Ukraine until Nov 1

The Cabinet of Ministers has offered to extend the coronavirus quarantine in Ukraine until November 1 due to the worsening of the COVID-19 epidemic situation.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this at a regular conference call chaired by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, August 25, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the head of state.

"Over the past day, Ukraine recorded more than 1,600 new COVID-19 cases. The Cabinet of Ministers suggests extending the quarantine in the country until November 1," the PM said.

Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv and Ternopil regions are suffering from the pandemic most of all.

At the same time, Shmyhal said that the total number of people infected with coronavirus in Ukraine since the beginning of the pandemic has exceeded 108,000.

Considering the negative dynamics of the incidence rate, the President supported the need to take preventive measures, in particular, the introduction of a ban on the work of night clubs and concerts.

"However, the quarantine should remain adaptive and not burdensome for entrepreneurs. Small- and medium-sized businesses should be able to properly organize their work in the new conditions," Zelensky said.

As of August 25, Ukraine reported 108,415 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,658 new cases recorded over the past 24 hours.

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