No plans to put Ukraine on lockdown - PM Shmyhal

That’s according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal who spoke at a briefing during a working trip to Donetsk region, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We don’t plan to introduce lockdown, or let’s put it another way, we don’t want to introduce lockdown because our economy is gaining momentum and lockdown would have a negative impact on economic development," said Shmyhal.

The head of government added he expects GDP growth of at least 3.5% in 2021, although he would like to see GDP rise by 4% but the energy crisis and the fourth wave of the pandemic are affecting the economy.

Denys Shmyhal has also called on Ukrainians to get their jabs against COVID-19.

According to the health ministry, 291,293 people were vaccinated for COVID-19 across country on October 26, of whom 212,013 received their first dose and 79,280 were fully vaccinated.

A total of 16,501,573 doses have been administered in Ukraine since the government launched the inoculation campaign, with 9,363,491 people having received their first jab and 7,138,082 fully vaccinated.

Some 94% of those hospitalized with COVID-19 last week were not vaccinated, the report said.

In the past day, Ukraine recorded 22,574 new COVID-19 cases, marking a further rise in the daily incidence.

According to the report, 692 coronavirus-related deaths, 5,925 hospital admissions, and 11,593 recoveries were registered in the country on Tuesday.

Some 94% of those hospitalized with COVID-19 last week were not vaccinated, health officials stress.

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