COVID-19 in Ukraine: Record number of new infections

The number of officially confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ukraine has reached 29,070 as of 9 a.m. on June 11, according to the Ministry of Health and the National Security and Defense Council.

In total, 854 people have died from the disease in Ukraine and 13,141 patients have recovered.

In the past 24 hours, Ukraine has identified 689 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number since the start of the pandemic. Twenty-one people have died and 372 have recovered. 

Among all COVID-19 patients, 2,092 are children and 5,249 are medical workers.

In the past seven days, Ukraine has experienced growth in the number of new COVID-19 cases diagnosed compared to previous weeks. According to Health Minister Maksym Stepanov, this is the result of the general population’s “frivolous attitude” toward quarantine recommendations, including social distancing.

Stepanov said the Health Ministry will be “offering to introduce certain measures” to curb the rise of infections.

“I’m not denying that I’m also responsible, but you should all accept responsibility for your health and the health of your close ones,” Stepanov said, addressing Ukrainians at a daily briefing on June 11.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 8 that the government was alarmed by the rising number of COVID-19 cases and violations of the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the disease. Many of the initial quarantine restrictions were lifted throughout late May and early June, but a number of them remain in force.

Zelensky also revealed he wanted to contract the coronavirus on purpose “to curb panic” but his advisors talked him out of it.

In the past 24 hours, a total of 18,692 COVID-19 tests have been conducted, including 10,569 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and 8,123 antibody tests (IFA).

On May 19, the government signed a decree to launch mass antibody testing for COVID-19, which is free for people with COVID-19 symptoms, those who came into contact with infected patients and people who are in risk groups, such as medical workers and the police. Unlike the diagnostic PCR test, the antibody test shows whether a person had the coronavirus in the past and developed some immunity against it.

Chernivtsi Oblast in western Ukraine remains the region worst hit by COVID-19 in Ukraine, with 3,793 confirmed cases, including 36 new infections over the past 24 hours.

It is followed by the city of Kyiv, with a total of 3,671  cases and 91 new infections, and Lviv Oblast, with 2,414 cases and  125 new infections.

The highest number of new cases was detected in Lviv Oblast.

The total number of COVID-19 cases per region indicates all infections confirmed since the beginning of the pandemic, not just active ones.

On June 1, Ukraine entered the third stage of easing COVID-19 restrictions under the “adaptive quarantine” plan. According to this plan, the government will ease restrictions every 10 days for oblasts that meet certain criteria up until June 22, the current expiration date for the quarantine. Those criteria include the steady decline in new confirmed coronavirus cases, a growing number of recovered patients and bed occupancy rates in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.

As of June 8, eight regions did not meet the criteria to further ease restrictions. 

On June 15, the country plans to restart international air transportation.