Covid-19: Ukraine Now Among Worst-Impacted Countries in all of Europe
Not unlike in many other countries, Ukrainians are said to be tiring of lockdowns and Covid-19 related restrictions
With a huge rise in Covid-19 cases, Ukraine now ranks in the Top 25 countries with the most cases (24th spot with almost 156,000) - according to John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. That places it just ahead Israel and Canada and just behind Italy, Germany, the Philippines and Indonesia. Many of the cases are in the capital, Kyiv, and in western Ukraine.
The daily caseload has been trending up steadily since March. Today, Ukraine clocked its highest number of daily cases at 3,148.
In the past 14 days, Ukraine has had more cases (34,881) than any country in Europe (except France and Spain). According to the New York Times, it’s cases per capita is 1 in 282 people, one of the highest in Europe
Deaths are increasing too. On September 12 it was reported that 72 people have died from complications of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours - the largest number since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. According to JHU, 3,206 people have died in Ukraine due to the coronavirus.
The country lifted most confinement measures in June and has had no less than three ministers of health since Volodymyr Zelensky was elected as president more than a year ago.
Health Minister Maksym Stepanov says most of the population is not following the recommendations of doctors, did not wear masks or maintain distance.
“The coming weeks represent a particularly dangerous period, with huge potential for the further spread of the virus as the Ukrainian public rushes to move beyond the past few months of lockdown isolation and get back to business as usual”
Back in mid-June, journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk wrote the following for the Atlantic Council’s Ukraine Alert blog: “Looking ahead, it is vital to appreciate that the recent relaxation of quarantine measures does not mean the end of the coronavirus crisis in Ukraine. On the contrary, three and a half months since the first recorded infection in the country, we are now witnessing a spike in cases. The coming weeks represent a particularly dangerous period, with huge potential for the further spread of the virus as the Ukrainian public rushes to move beyond the past few months of lockdown isolation and get back to business as usual.”
People enjoy the beach in the Black Sea in Odesa, Ukraine, Saturday, July 4, 2020
As summer drew to a close, videos emerged on social media of young people partying in clubs and beach sites in Odesa with very little physical distancing and no masks (however the same can be said for France, especially Cannes, where case numbers are spiking).
Clearly, it is time for the Zelensky administration to adopt a firm stance and take harsh measures before it’s too late.
In many parts of the world it is assumed that the delivery of a long-awaited Covid-19 vaccine will bring the pandemic to an end. However, Ukraine has an abysmal track record when it comes to take up of vaccines for preventable diseases. This has accounted for outbreaks of measles and even polio in recent years. Studies have shown that low trust in governmental institutions has contributed to the low take up.
Hence, the importance of savvy and effective public messaging cannot be overestimated.
To read how Canada managed to crush the Covid-19 curve compared to the United States, read my CNN Opinion OpEd here
A woman pictured wearing a protective face mask and gloves in downtown Kyiv. June 3, 2020.