Latest on coronavirus in Ukraine: March 16 (LIVE UPDATES)

Editor’s Note: This story has the latest developments related to COVID-19 in Ukraine.

Kyiv gets its first cases of COVID-19

10:03 p.m. – The Ministry of Health has officially reported the first two cases of COVID-19 in Kyiv. One of the two patients recently returned from France, the ministry stated on its coronavirus-focused channel on the Telegram messenger app. The channel reports that both patients are quarantined and are currently undergoing treatment.

A total of 7 people have tested positive for COVID-19. A woman from Radomyshl, a town 100 kilometers west of Kyiv, died from the disease on March 13.

Read more: COVID-19 reaches Kyiv, total number of cases in Ukraine now stands at 7

Zelensky asks oligarchs for help

9:00 p.m. – President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Ukrainian oligarchs and businessmen to discuss how they can help the country overcome the coronavirus crisis. The president’s press service reported that the businessmen were asked to chip in to supply medical masks, medical equipment, and disinfection solutions. Fifteen people were present at the meeting, yet the press service didn’t name them. Among those who could be recognized from a photograph published by the president’s office, were Ukraine’s richest people, including Rinat Akhmetov, Ihor Kolomoisky, Serhiy Tigipko, Oleksandr Yaroslavskiy, Yuriy Kosyuk.

President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with businessmen and oligarchs at the Presidential Office on March 16, 2020. Zelensky’s press service reported that the president asked his visitors to contribute financially to the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The president’s press service reported that the meeting took place after Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published photos of oligarchs’ cars coming to the presidential office.

PrivatBank donates respirators

6:50 p.m. – State-owned PrivatBank, Ukraine’s largest and most profitable bank, has said that it is ready to support its own customers and the country. On Facebook, the bank said it was donating respirator machines to hospitals in Kyiv, Odesa and Lysychanska. Its executives said the bank was ready to do more.

“The role of the banks in this crisis is most important,” said Artem Shevalev, deputy chairman of the supervisory board. “PrivatBank will be prepared to do its part, within usual sound banking principles, implementing a wide range of crisis mitigation measures for the Ukrainian economy in these challenging times.”

Zelensky calls for emergency loans, debt repayment holidays, tax breaks and higher pensions

6 p.m. – During his video address on March 16, President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that he expects parliament to approve an emergency package of measures to protect the Ukrainian economy and the country’s most vulnerable people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said he expects the National Bank of Ukraine, the Ministry of Finance and Ukraine’s state-owned banks to act in the national interest. Some businesses and citizens should have access to a program of emergency loans, debt repayment holidays and tax breaks, he said. Pensioners with pensions below Hr 5,000 ($200) should be paid an extra Hr 1,000 ($40).

Zelensky also instructed officials to begin talks with the International Monetary Fund and other international partners on possible financial aid to Ukraine amid the coronavirus crisis. The president also proposed that the government consider a ban on food exports, except on some food products determined by his cabinet.

Metros likely to close, public transportation halted between cities

5:35 p.m. –  In a video address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the government would hold a meeting at 8 p.m on March 16 on closing the metro system in large cities and halting public transportation between cities from noon on March 18.

All medical facilities and government institutions, including parliament, will continue to operate as planned.

“City transportation can be carried out with up to 10 people in marshrutkas” — a type of small private-owned buses common in post-Soviet countries — “and taxis. And up to 20 people in trolleybuses, buses and trams,” Zelensky said.

Hryvnia continues slide against dollar 

5:03 p.m. – The National Bank sold $130 million on March 16, in an attempt to stabilize the national currency. Since March 10, the National Bank sold over $1 billion of state reserves to stabilize the hryvnia. The panic disposal of the national currency is happening amid news of a looming economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hryvnia drooped over 5% in a week – from Hr 24.7 for $1 on March 9, to Hr 26.3 for $1 on March 16.

Smuggling of masks on rise

4:20 p.m. – Maksym Nefyodov, head of Ukraine’s customs, says smuggling of masks is now more popular than smuggling cigarettes, Ukraine’s number one contraband product.

“(Masks) are now transported in hidden places, under clothes, called differently,” says Nefyodov. “Cars are simply stuffed with them,” he adds. According to Nefyodov, over the weekend over 130,000 masks were confiscated by border guards.

Ukraine International Airlines faces big losses

3:50 p.m. – According to Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), the company’s estimate losses will equate to 35% from its expected first-quarter revenues this year. UIA attracted criticism over the weekend for hiking prices on some of its tickets as many Ukrainians rushed to get home.

Tax breaks proposed for low-income people

3:47 p.m. – Here’s what Halyna Tretiakova, head of the parliamentary committee on social policy, had to say, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine: “In the group, which worked on Saturday and Sunday, we submitted a proposal to exempt from taxation the income of the population of small and micro-businesses… Both Europe and other countries of the world protect the population that spends money on the purchase of medicines and food.”

“We propose… the exemption of personal income tax for two or three months for the first Hr 4,000 ($150) of income, which may concern 10.5 million hired employees,” Tretiakova added. The head of the parliamentary committee on finance, tax and customs policy Danylo Hetmantsev also said his committee has developed several bills to protect domestic businesses. All the bills are ready and can be submitted in the morning on March 17 for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada.

More tax breaks discussed

3:45 p.m. – Lawmakers are moving to protect Ukrainian businesses and workers. They want to exempt self-employed people in Ukraine from some taxes and other state contributions. Small businesses will also get some extra protection, officials said. Entrepreneurs will be exempt from paying social security contributions and exempt from personal income tax on the first Hr 4,000 ($150) of their income. Most businesses will not be inspected by tax authorities until July and will be exempt from tax penalties, a draft law proposes. Lawmakers have proposed multiple bills that include a number of measures that mitigate against a possible economic downturn in Ukraine and protect businesses being hit by quarantine measures relating to coronavirus COVID-19.

2 Ukrainians in Poland diagnosed with COVID-19

3:35 p.m. – Two Ukrainians were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Poland, the country’s health ministry reported on March 16. Two Ukrainians were diagnosed in Poland’s Silesian Voivodeship, near the border with Czech Republic. According to local authorities, one of the two people infected traveled to Poland from Germany, while the other arrived from Ukraine.

Kyiv will remain open, deputy head says

3:25 p.m. – Kyiv won’t be closed, says Mykola Povoroznyk, first deputy head of Kyiv’s city administration. The city will remain open for both entrance and exit.

According to Povoroznyk, limiting transportation between Kyiv and other cities is advisory. It’s the government’s responsibility to close cities, he added.

Ukraine slaps on travel restrictions to Russian-occupied Donbas

2:35 p.m. – Ukraine will limit border crossing between its territory and areas occupied by Russian-led militants in the Donbas. Until April 3, only people with permanent residency in government-controlled areas will be permitted to enter government-controlled territory, while only people with permanent residency in occupied regions will be allowed to exit government-controlled territory.

Ukrzaliznytsia cancels passenger trains to and from abroad

2:15 p.m. – Ukrzaliznytsia cancels all passenger trains connecting Ukraine with Poland and Belarus. On March 13, Ukrzaliznytsia stopped its passenger routes to Slovakia, after the country closed its international borders.

Ukrzaliznytsia issued an official statement saying it will refund all tickets in full.

Freight trains running normally

1:57 p.m. – Ukraine’s state railway, Ukrzaliznytsia, said that its international and domestic freight trains were running normally and in line with their schedule. “As of March 16, international and domestic freight transportation is according to schedule. There are no changes in the routing of international and domestic freight trains,” the company’s press service said, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.

Criminal sanctions for violating quarantine?

1:50 p.m. – Parliament will hold an emergency session on March 17 and will discuss criminalizing breaching quarantine. The news comes amid protests against President Volodymyr Zelensky’s plan to hold direct talks with Russian-led militants in the Donbas. 

Read more: In controversial change, Ukraine to enter direct negotiations with Russian-led militants

Belarus vows to keep borders open

1:30 p.m. – Belarus will not close its borders over coronavirus, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said. He sees no need to close the country’s external borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We don’t need to close [the borders] either to the Poles, Russians or Ukrainians. But if they want to close [the borders], it is their right. We don’t need to do this because this is useless. In any case, we can’t shut them [completely]. This is impossible,” the Belarusian state news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenko as saying.

Coronavirus strikes Egypt’s resorts

1:27 p.m. – On the hotel quarantine in Egypt: “According to the information of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Arab Republic of Egypt, on March 15, the Reech Oasis Beach Hotel (Sharm el-Sheikh) was quarantined due to the detection of two tourists infected with COVID-19 coronavirus in this hotel. According to the hotel’s management, all tourists, including 730 Ukrainian citizens, have been quarantined for 14 days,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry told Interfax-Ukraine. 

730 Ukrainians quarantined in Egypt

1:25 p.m – 730 Ukrainians have been quarantined for two weeks in Egypt after two tourists in their hotels tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus, Ukraine’s foreign ministry has said. The tourists have been placed under a 14-day quarantine in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh

Lviv goes rent-free for businesses during quarantine

1:20 p.m. – Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi says the city won’t collect rent from businesses during the quarantine.

First COVID-19 patient in Ukraine tests negative

1 p.m. – Natalya Husak, deputy head of the Chernivtsi Oblast administration, says the first Ukrainian patient diagnosed with COVID-19 has tested negative.

“After two days, this patient will once again be tested (for COVID-19), and if it is once again negative, we can say he recovered, and he’ll be discharged (from the hospital),” said Husak.

The first person with COVID-19 in Ukraine was diagnosed on March 3 in Chernivtsi, a city 500 kilometers west of Kyiv. He had returned from Italy.

Shutdown excludes pharmacies, groceries, banks and post offices

12:40 p.m. – Kyiv has intensified its quarantine measures, shutting down all cafes, bars, gyms, shopping malls, and beauty salons starting March 17. Pharmacies, grocery shops, banks and post offices will remain open. Odesa, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk took the same measures.

Read more: Kyiv intensifies quarantine, shuts all but supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, gas stations

COVID-19 cases rise to 5

12 p.m. – Two new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been confirmed in Ukraine, bringing the overall number to five, still one of the lowest numbers in Europe. The two new cases are in Chernivtsi, a western Ukrainian city located close to Romanian border. The new patients were put in isolation. Out of five cases in Ukraine, four are in Chernivtsi. One woman in the central Zhytomyr Oblast was found to have COVID-19 and died from the disease on March 13.

So far, Ukraine has tested only 500 people for coronavirus.

Additionally, several Ukrainians were diagnosed with COVID-19 abroad and are receiving treatment outside the country.