Ukraine’s PM says over 40 percent adult Ukrainians vaccinated, vows ‘no more lockdowns’
Ukraine’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign is on track, with over 40 percent of the adult population having been vaccinated, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at the Gala Event: Ukraine and World Ahead-2022, hosted by NV in Kyiv on Dec.16.
No more lockdowns are envisaged, the prime minister said.
“Over the last seven weeks we have been vaccinating a million people per week,” Smmyhal said. “Almost half of Ukraine’s adults have had at least one jab. This makes it possible for us to promise Ukrainian businesses that there will be no further lockdowns. If you run a customer-facing business and you vaccinate all of your employees, then there are no COVID restrictions for you.”
At the same time, Shmyhal added that the use of face masks would remain mandatory for a long time.
“I said last year that face masks would be mandatory for at least another two years. There are restrictions linked to COVID mutations, and the vaccine does not provide 100 percent protection,” prime minister said.
Shmyhal said vaccination works, and Ukraine can expect further economic growth.
Almost 15 million Ukrainians have received their first dose of vaccine, and nearly 13 million have been double jabbed since the start of the vaccination campaign, Ukraine’s Health Ministry reported on Dec. 16
Over the last few weeks the number of new COVID-19 cases has dropped. Ukraine is no longer among the top 10 European countries with the highest number of cases. Only 35 percent of hospital beds equipped with oxygen supplies are occupied at the moment, in comparison with the earlier 70 percent.
However, the Health Ministry says it is expecting a further surge in COVID-19 cases in February 2022.
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