Shmyhal says Ukraine might extend coronavirus lockdown after May 22
He said this live on Ukrainian Radio on Tuesday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
"The World Health Organization has extended the pandemic and worldwide lockdown regime for two months. The Cabinet of Ministers has so far extended the lockdown until May 22 at the first stage, but based on WHO data, the lockdown will most likely be extended in the future with subsequent stages of relaxation if the situation with morbidity allows to do so," he said.
Shmyhal said that Ukraine's health care system had managed to prepare for the epidemic. According to him, currently, there are more than 2,100 ventilators in Ukraine, with 138 of them used, as well as 33,000 beds in hospitals for coronavirus patients, with less than 2,000 of them used.
He said that the medical system meets relevant parameters, which makes it possible to ease some measures.
Shmyhal also thanked Ukrainians for observing a two-month lockdown in a very disciplined and responsible manner.
On March 12, the Cabinet of Ministers introduced the lockdown in Ukraine to combat the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown in Ukraine was subsequently extended until May 22, 2020, and it will be gradually relaxed from May 11.
According to the Public Health Center, 12,697 COVID-19 cases, including 316 deaths and 1,875 recoveries, were laboratory confirmed in Ukraine as of May 5. Some 366 new cases have been recorded in Ukraine in the past 24 hours.
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