Ukraine has recorded a new record of 1,967 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours as of 9 a.m. on Aug. 19. There are currently 44,522 active cases across the country, according to Health Minister Maksym Stepanov.

In the past 24 hours, Ukraine has recorded 28 deaths from COVID-19, a record 463 patients have been hospitalized and 812 people have recovered.

The largest numbers of new cases were registered in Kharkiv Oblast (247), in the city of Kyiv (215) and Lviv Oblast (188).

During his morning briefing on Aug. 19, Stepanov stressed that the number of new cases and hospitalizations is a dangerous new record for Ukraine.

The total number of infections identified in the country since the start of the pandemic stands at 96,403. A total of 49,737 people have recovered and 2,144 have died of the disease.

During the past 24 hours, laboratories have administered 19,591 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests across the country, Stepanov said. They also carried out 18,180 antibody tests (IFA).

Since Aug. 3, new rules for the COVID-19 quarantine have come into force in Ukraine: Communities, rather than entire regions, are now divided into green, yellow, orange, and red levels of severity of the spread of COVID-19. The authorities in districts, cities, and towns will have to tighten or relax quarantine restrictions in accordance with these categorizations. The levels are based on four indicators that are reviewed every five days.

Last week, health authorities moved Kyiv from the green zone to the yellow zone because more than 50% of hospital beds for treating COVID-19 patients were occupied in the capital.

Starting on Aug. 17, Kyiv residents are required to follow new yellow zone restrictions. They are not allowed to be outside without identification or in public transport without a mask. Public transport may only carry as many people as there are seats. Mass events are only allowed outside, with no more than one person per 5 square meters. Movie theaters and other cultural venues can only have 50% occupancy. Finally, people who are undergoing self-isolation or observation are not allowed to independently leave their isolation or observation location, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Aug. 14.

(c) KyivPost