The Ukrainian government will close schools and cancel mass events around the country starting on March 12 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to a lawmaker. There has been only one registered case of the infection in Ukraine.

“Quarantine was introduced. For three weeks starting tomorrow. Until April 3,” lawmaker Viktoria Siumar wrote on Facebook on March 11.

COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has been detected in 119,000 people and killed 4,290 people worldwide.

Ukraine will close all its educational institutions – including nurseries, schools and universities – and ban mass gatherings of more than 200 people, according to Siumar.

The country will also limit flights to and from several countries and close 170 out of 219 border checkpoint, she added. The remaining 49 will have quarantine facilities, Siumar wrote, citing Prime Minister Denys Shmygal.

The government has already allocated Hr 100 million ($4 million) to buy personal protective equipment – gloves, masks, protective suits – from Ukrainian private companies, Siumar wrote.

Earlier in the day, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced similar measures in the capital in a video message published on his Facebook page. Beyond closing educational institutions and cancelling mass gatherings, Klitschko said that movie theaters would cancel screenings, entertainment centers would close and there would be precautionary measures at shopping malls.

© 2020 Kyiv Post

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