Prices for live pigs in Ukraine since the start of the year have grown by 25% on average, to UAH 50 per kilogram, KSG Agro agricultural holding has said in a press release. According to him, in January, the cost of live pigs was UAH 40-42 per kg, in March – UAH 50-52.
The rise in price of live pigs at the first stage, according to KSG Agro Board Chairman Serhiy Kasianov, was associated with a seasonal increase in demand for pork.
“In the spring, the demand for pork meat traditionally increases in our country. Firstly, during this period a number of holidays are celebrated starting from March 8, and secondly, spring consumption growth is associated with improved weather: Ukrainians cook more meat in the fresh air,” he said.
Subsequently, prices were influenced by quarantine measures related to the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 in Ukraine.
“Quarantine and sanitary restrictions have led to difficulties in delivering goods and, in particular, pork to different parts of the country. Add to this the rush demand for meat during the quarantine period. In conditions of self-isolation, our compatriots are actively forming food supplies by purchasing products for future consumption,” Kasianov said.
However, according to him, in the near future – before the beginning of summer – one should not expect a significant increase in prices for live pigs, since the further rise in price of pork is limited by the purchasing power of the population.
Synevo, part of Sweden’s Medicover holding, has handed over the COVID-19 diagnostic equipment using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests – the most reliable method for diagnosing this coronavirus disease, to the Public Health Center, Synevo Development Director Mykola Butenko said at a video press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.
The equipment made by Swiss Roche will allow increasing the speed and the number of COVID-19 tests and will significantly increase the accuracy of test results, removing human element from the process.
The analyzer’s capacities are 96 tests per hour. Different types of biomaterial (blood, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid and others) can be tested.
The equipment has already been delivered by Synevo to the virology reference laboratory of the Public Health Center in Kyiv, which will perform COVID-19 testing.
“In Ukraine, because of the high cost of equipment, this initial stage is usually tested manually by laboratory staff. This limits the speed and number of tests performed. Using the new analyzer will minimize the human factor. As a result, we will significantly increase the number of tests performed and eliminate the risk of human error,” Butenko said.
The use of new equipment will increase the safety of the laboratory staff, since the apparatus performs the process of RNA extraction from the biomaterial automatically, therefore, the laboratory staff will no longer have to contact samples of potentially infected biomaterial.
To launch the analyzer, representatives of Roche Diagnostics in Ukraine will be involved in the startup of the equipment, as well as in special training for employees of the Public Health Center’s laboratory how to use the equipment.
The PCR method directly detects DNA or virus RNA in the biomaterial, therefore this method is the most reliable in the world for the diagnosis of COVID-19.
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of March 24
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has stated that the stabilization fund of the state will be about UAH 200 billion.
“We are creating the state stabilization fund, its size will be about UAH 200 billion. This will be absolutely enough to provide pensioners, those who today will need help due to job loss,” Shmyhal said in the Svoboda Slova (Freedom of Speech) program on ICTV Channel.
The prime minister emphasized that the state has resources for such expenses.
Among other things, Shmyhal noted that in the near future an expert strategic council will be created to make solutions that will allow going through the crisis most mildly and begin developing after its completion.
The premier noted that at the moment Ukraine is more prepared for a possible crisis than in 2008.
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 24/03/20
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and other financial organizations were ready to help Ukraine amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Yesterday I had a conversation with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Our international financial partners, including the IMF, the World Bank, the EBRD assured us of their readiness to support and help Ukraine,” he said in an appeal to Ukrainians on Monday, March 23.
