The Government continues to make important decisions to support people, business and the economy in the face of the difficult economic situation caused by the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal emphasized at the opening of a regular sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday, April 8.

“To ensure a comprehensive implementation of our plans we must approve changes to the State Budget. We, together with MPs, are now finalizing the process of updating the Budget to the challenges currently facing the country. First and foremost, those are an increase in wages for our physicians who are at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. This includes support for retirees. It implies also assistance to Ukrainians who have found themselves unemployed as a result of the crisis entailed by coronavirus,” the Head of Government stressed.

Moreover, Denys Schmyhal stressed that the ease of quarantine measures can happen only when the dynamics of fatality reduction is demonstrated, but this definitely won’t be done from April 14.

"During April, we will not relax the quarantine regime, which was introduced until April 24 and may continue until early May," the Prime Minister accentuated.

The PM noted that in the near future an appropriate plan for the gradual loosening of the quarantine measures would be developed.

"In case of positive dynamics, we will kick start the economy of Ukraine according to a settled plan, which will be presented by the Government, communicated in detail," the Head of Government stressed, noting that the WHO has recently addressed the leadership of those countries where the quarantine measures have been effective with a call not to weaken, but to extend. Ukraine is among these countries.

In addition, the Prime Minister stressed that in early April, the Government had launched the second stage of the medical reform and noted: “It is critical for us to ensure that the changes that are envisaged are carried out with the utmost care for people and doctors. That is why we continue to fund a number of hospitals in the regions so that Ukrainians across the country have access to high-quality healthcare services.”