The mandatory special regime will be introduced during the May holidays in Kyiv

21/ 04/ 2021

This was announced by Hanna Starostenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Kyiv City State Administration, during the EBA General Meeting on April 20. However, the final decision on this issue will be made at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergencies. Business representatives will be informed in advance about the details of the introduction of a special regime for the coming holidays. Thus, Ms. Hanna Starostenko expressed restrained optimism about the development of the COVID-19 situation in Kyiv. It is known that since March 23, 2021, Kyiv has been categorized as the red zone of epidemic danger of coronavirus spread. This is the second time that Kyiv appears in the red zone, but compared to the situation in autumn 2020, the level of hospitalization is now three times higher. At the beginning of Kyivs transition to the red zone of restrictions, the bed occupancy rate in the capitals health care facilities exceeded 100%. Currently, the occupancy rate is 65% for all beds and 80% for oxygen beds - so there is a tendency towards reduced burden on the medical system. At the same time, the number of hospitalized is still high, and the situation is further complicated by new strains of coronavirus. However, the Kyiv City State Administration considers it possible to ease some restrictive measures after April 30. We are talking about the opening of kindergartens and schools, as well as cafes and restaurants with restrictions for the orange zone. In addition, it is planned to resume the operation of public transport in the usual mode. Meanwhile, the problem of obtaining special passes for the use of public transport in Kyiv stays relevant for companies until the end of the current quarantine. Ms. Hanna Starostenko stressed that she is informed about the difficulties in obtaining permits and assured the business that the issue would be passed to her colleagues from the Department of Transport Infrastructure of the Kyiv City State Administration. In total, 500,000 special permits were issued during the current quarantine period. If the restrictions on the use of public transport are reintroduced in Kyiv due to the deteriorating epidemiological situation, the Kyiv City State Administration will consider the possibility of digitalizing the issuance and the use of passes. In that case, the special passes, that have been issued this time, will be also valid. Regarding other lockdown mitigations, the European Business Association has also stressed that shopping centers should be allowed to operate for a period of strict quarantine. After all, modern centers are equipped with all the necessary conditions to meet the requirements of quarantine restrictions. They are organized systematically, so it is much easier to monitor the compliance of businesses and the public with sanitary and anti-epidemic rules. Despite the fact that Kyiv is the leader in the number of vaccinated populations - more than 44,000 people have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the capital, the pace of the national vaccination campaign is still insufficient. Therefore, the Kyiv authorities intend to purchase vaccines for the citys residents at the expense of the local budget. According to Ms. Starostenko, negotiations with manufacturers still continue, and when the agreement is confirmed - the public will be informed about the manufacturer, the name of the vaccine, and their ordered quantity. Vaccination of Kyivites will be carried out in accordance with the Vaccination Roadmap of the Ministry of Health. For reference, Volodymyr Kostikov, Director of the Department of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, and Valentyna Shcherbakova, Deputy Head of the Main Department of the State Food and Consumer Service in Kyiv, also joined the discussion with the business community. The European Business Association thanks the participants for their openness to dialogue! The community hopes that the joint efforts of business and government will be able to find a balance in solving the problems of organizing work in times of quarantine. Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel – EBAUkraine.

This was announced by Hanna Starostenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Kyiv City State Administration, during the EBA General Meeting on April 20. However, the final decision on this issue will be made at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergencies. Business representatives will be informed in advance about the details of the introduction of a special regime for the coming holidays.

Thus, Ms. Hanna Starostenko expressed restrained optimism about the development of the COVID-19 situation in Kyiv. It is known that since March 23, 2021, Kyiv has been categorized as the red zone of epidemic danger of coronavirus spread. This is the second time that Kyiv appears in the red zone, but compared to the situation in autumn 2020, the level of hospitalization is now three times higher. At the beginning of Kyiv’s transition to the red zone of restrictions, the bed occupancy rate in the capital’s health care facilities exceeded 100%. Currently, the occupancy rate is 65% for all beds and 80% for oxygen beds – so there is a tendency towards reduced burden on the medical system. At the same time, the number of hospitalized is still high, and the situation is further complicated by new strains of coronavirus.

However, the Kyiv City State Administration considers it possible to ease some restrictive measures after April 30. We are talking about the opening of kindergartens and schools, as well as cafes and restaurants with restrictions for the orange zone. In addition, it is planned to resume the operation of public transport in the usual mode.

Meanwhile, the problem of obtaining special passes for the use of public transport in Kyiv stays relevant for companies until the end of the current quarantine. Ms. Hanna Starostenko stressed that she is informed about the difficulties in obtaining permits and assured the business that the issue would be passed to her colleagues from the Department of Transport Infrastructure of the Kyiv City State Administration. In total, 500,000 special permits were issued during the current quarantine period. If the restrictions on the use of public transport are reintroduced in Kyiv due to the deteriorating epidemiological situation, the Kyiv City State Administration will consider the possibility of digitalizing the issuance and the use of passes. In that case, the special passes, that have been issued this time, will be also valid.

Regarding other lockdown mitigations, the European Business Association has also stressed that shopping centers should be allowed to operate for a period of strict quarantine. After all, modern centers are equipped with all the necessary conditions to meet the requirements of quarantine restrictions. They are organized systematically, so it is much easier to monitor the compliance of businesses and the public with sanitary and anti-epidemic rules.

Despite the fact that Kyiv is the leader in the number of vaccinated populations – more than 44,000 people have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the capital, the pace of the national vaccination campaign is still insufficient. Therefore, the Kyiv authorities intend to purchase vaccines for the city’s residents at the expense of the local budget. According to Ms. Starostenko, negotiations with manufacturers still continue, and when the agreement is confirmed – the public will be informed about the manufacturer, the name of the vaccine, and their ordered quantity. Vaccination of Kyivites will be carried out in accordance with the Vaccination Roadmap of the Ministry of Health.

For reference, Volodymyr Kostikov, Director of the Department of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, and Valentyna Shcherbakova, Deputy Head of the Main Department of the State Food and Consumer Service in Kyiv, also joined the discussion with the business community.

The European Business Association thanks the participants for their openness to dialogue! The community hopes that the joint efforts of business and government will be able to find a balance in solving the problems of organizing work in times of quarantine.

Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel – EBAUkraine.