PM Shmyhal: Quarantine to be extended until May 22

"For us, easing quarantine does not mean a complete removal. The quarantine will be extended now until May 22, and we will continue observing how the pandemic evolves in the world and how the incidence curve fluctuates in Ukraine," Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said at a special Cabinet’s meeting on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Ukraine should properly complete the process of quarantine abolition, he noted, because if Ukraine exits quarantine completely now, it would mean that we have been keeping quarantine measures for two months for nothing and just lost time.

However, the Cabinet of Ministers endorsed easing the quarantine measures and allowed to open parks, public gardens, recreation areas, establishments of beauty industry, wholesale, and retail trade located in separate premises (except those located in shopping malls) after May 11.

On March 12, the Government introduced the quarantine in Ukraine to counteract the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus infection. In particular, trading establishments were closed except grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and banks. The operation of subway in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, municipal, intercity, and interregional road, rail, and air transport services were suspended.

To date, the quarantine in Ukraine is extended until May 11.

On April 24, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced a 5-stage plan to exit coronavirus quarantine. According to him, the implementation of this plan can start from May 11, the favorable epidemic situation permitting.

As of May 4, Ukraine confirmed 12,331 COVID-19cases, including 303 deaths and 1,619 recoveries.

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