The Ukrainian capital kyiv on Monday (October 3) recommended the return to wearing a mask in public places in the face of a new wave of Covid-19, while the health system is under pressure due to the Russian invasion.
“
City authorities are calling on Kyiv residents to wear masks again
” due to the surge in coronavirus cases, the town hall said on Telegram messaging.
Over the past week, 2,515 cases, 242 hospitalizations and 22 deaths have been recorded in the Ukrainian capital, according to an official tally.
Municipal authorities recommend wearing a mask "
in public transport, places welcoming customers and in places of education
", according to the press release.
Between September 19 and September 25, 44,137 new cases of coronavirus were registered in Ukraine and 161 people died, according to the Ministry of Health.
Last week, Deputy Health Minister Igor Kuzin expressed concern about the rise in Covid cases to German media Deutsche Welle, further noting that the health system was “
registering losses every day
” due to the war.
Managing the virus in times of war
Since the start of the invasion in February, "
18 establishments receiving Covid patients have been destroyed, 15 others partially destroyed and more than 100 are under occupation
", he added.
Igor Kuzin had also called on Ukrainians to be vaccinated, while considering that the restrictions to slow the progression of Covid would be difficult to implement, the population being "
focused on another enemy
".
Anti-Covid restrictions were suspended in Ukraine when martial law was introduced in Ukraine on February 24, the day Russia invaded the country.
The peak of new cases is expected between late September and early October, according to Igor Kuzin.
The World Health Organization noted in August that with the approach of winter, the Ukrainian health system will face unprecedented challenges.