KYIV -- Kyiv authorities say they will close schools and kindergartens and restrict public transport from April 5, as the Ukrainian capital faces a dramatic rise in coronavirus infections and related deaths.
"We have no other option. Otherwise, there will be hundreds of deaths every day," Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on March 31.
Starting next week, all schools and kindergartens will remain closed while Kyiv public transport will operate on special passenger passes for those working for critical infrastructure enterprises.
The Ukrainian capital has the highest infection rate in the country of 41 million people.
According to Klitschko, Kyiv COVID-19-dedicated hospitals were 80 percent full.
Earlier on March 31, the authorities reported a record daily high of 407 coronavirus-related deaths over the previous 24 hours.
A total of 11,226 new infections were recorded, raising the total to more than 1,674,000 since the pandemic began more than a year ago. Nearly 33,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Ukraine.
A total of 231,564 people had received the first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine by March 31, according to the Health Ministry.
Ukraine last month received 500,000 doses of CoviShield, the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 215,000 doses of China's Sinovac jab.
Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said the country would receive 4.9 million more doses over the next two months.
Kyiv To Close Schools, Kindergartens, Restrict Transport Amid Sharp Rise In Infections, Deaths
Related
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Putin Sends Signals To The West On Ukraine Ahead Of Trump's New Term
2Kyiv Says It Broke Up Russian Spy Network Targeting F-16 Fighter Data
3Ukraine Hits Kazan Buildings In Latest Display Of Drone Power
4Russia Moving Military Assets To Africa After Syria Setback
5What Would The Russian Capture Of Pokrovsk Mean For The Ukraine War?
6The Moment A Russian General Was Killed By A Scooter Bomb In Moscow
7'They Look Tense': Photographer Describes Scenes At Russian Base In Syria
8U.S., U.K. Say Medvedev's Comment Calling NATO Officials 'Legitimate Targets' Irresponsible
9Russian Uranium Stake In Kazakhstan Sold To China Amid Western Sanctions Risk
10Bolstered By North Korean Troops, Russia Presses Attacks in Kursk Region
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
