The toughening of quarantine rules will affect primarily unvaccinated citizens, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko has said.“The government is forced to place the unvaccinated people under quarantine as the coronavirus is not retreating. Europe is setting a new continental record for the incidence of COVID-19, and we must take action to save the lives of citizens who have not yet been vaccinated,” he said at a briefing on Tuesday.“The largest number of changes in the quarantine rules concerns the regime in the zones of the yellow level of epidemic danger, in particular, the work of the business. If earlier it could choose the models of activity in the ‘yellow’ zone – not to check documents on vaccination or negative test, but to work in accordance with certain restrictions in the region or to check documents and work without restrictions of this level – now the business is losing such an option,” the minister said.Liashko clarified that people who have not received at least one vaccine against COVID-19 or who do not have a negative test or a certificate of recovery will not be able to take part in all public events, including cultural ones, sports, entertainment, social, religious, etc. at the “yellow” level of epidemic danger. These people will also not be able to visit cinemas and other cultural institutions, gyms, fitness centers, swimming pools, will not be able to use the services of catering establishments, “bars, restaurants, cafes and other establishments will be closed for them.”At the same time, Liashko noted that the work of banks, gas stations, veterinary stores, pharmacies and all food stores in the “yellow” and “red” zones is not limited for the unvaccinated, “however, it is mandatory to comply with anti-epidemic rules – wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance of 1.5 meters.”
Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko believes that with 70% of the population vaccinated, Ukraine will be able to cancel quarantine restrictions following the example of Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries.
“At least 70% of vaccinated adults will allow us to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease and reduce the number of hospitalizations … If we vaccinate more than 70% of the population with a full course of vaccinations today, we can go the way of the UK, as well as the Scandinavian countries, which are lifting quarantine restrictions now,” Liashko told reporters on the sidelines of the Verkhovna Rada on Friday.
He admitted that the next peak of the disease is possible at the beginning of next year.
“But we cannot wait for it … come to the vaccination center, get vaccinated and reduce the number of hospitalizations,” the minister stressed.
The introduction of strict quarantine in Ukraine will depend on the rate and coverage of vaccinations, said Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin.
“Now we use adaptive quarantine, which works according to fixed indicators. We have a general condition: if in two or more regions for a certain time, two or more indicators are exceeded, then Ukraine will move to the next epidemic level – that is, ‘yellow,’ ‘orange’ or even ‘red.’ Therefore, it all depends on how quickly the vaccination of risk groups and the bulk of the population will be completed, and how many cases will be registered,” he said in an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda ezine.
Kuzin added that so far there are no signs of an outbreak in Ukraine, and most regions are at the plateau level. However, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions show a threatening trend, where it is necessary to strengthen the system for identifying and isolating contact persons.
At the same time, Kuzin stressed that after the completion of testing of internal COVID-certificates, the Ministry of Health will work on the introduction of certain “privileges” for vaccinated people.
“The main idea that was used in other states, and which Ukraine is most likely to use, is the maximum use of the internal digital certificates. It should become a conditional pass. Now internal certificates are only being tested, while there is no information on how it will work at one or another level of epidemic danger. We will be thinking it over after testing is complete. It will be a QR code that will show that a person is vaccinated or ill, has a negative PCR or antigen test,” the deputy minister said.
Kuzin added that with the introduction of such certificates, it is necessary to “maintain a balance between human rights”, because a certain part of Ukrainians cannot receive a vaccine due to medical contraindications.
The deputy minister stressed that the mask regime in Ukraine would not be canceled yet. This issue will only be considered when the majority of the population is vaccinated and there is no risk of transmitting the infection.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine extended quarantine in Ukraine until August 31, 2021 and established new quarantine restrictions at the Wednesday meeting, the Health Ministry’s press service has said.
According to the statement, a “green” level of epidemic danger is established throughout the country, at which the mask regime is maintained in public transport during mass events.
The work of catering, entertainment venues (nightclubs), cinemas and halls of other culture sectors, as well as other public events are allowed, provided that the mask regime is observed.
As of June 9, all Ukrainian regions entered ‘green’ quarantine zone.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Health, the weakest quarantine restrictions are in effect in the “green” zone, including this level allows revising the approaches to anti-epidemic restrictions in terms of easing.
The “green” level is set simultaneously throughout Ukraine, if, in particular, the detection rate of cases of COVID-19 infection by PCR and by determination of the SARS-CoV-2 antigen is less than 5%.
In addition, the “green” level in the country is established if the incidence in at least 13 regions of Ukraine is less than 50% of the epidemiological threshold.
The Ministry of Health of Ukraine will propose to the Cabinet of Ministers to extend the quarantine for the summer period while maintaining the main quarantine restrictions, said Health Minister Viktor Liashko during a government meeting on Wednesday.
“We will invite the government to consider extending the quarantine restrictions for the summer period. We must leave the main restrictions, in particular, the mandatory wearing of masks in public places, transport, as well as keeping a distance. If the situation worsens, we will promptly respond and introduce ‘yellow,’ ‘orange’ or ‘red’ epidemiological level,” he said.
Liashko added that the Ministry of Health had already developed proposals for a model of stay and activity in a “green” level of epidemic danger, which will provide more opportunities for recreation in the summer, business and travel.
“In particular, we plan to abolish the requirements for the occupancy of the halls, allow the full functioning of gyms and simplify the process of passing the borders for returning from vacations,” the minister said.
