Incidence rates stabilize in the regions that first entered the "red" zone - the results of the conference call

The issues of fighting the spread of COVID-19 and compliance with quarantine measures were discussed during a conference call chaired by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on November 1.

According to the Ministry of Health, 1,740,000 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 last week.

"The Government did not introduce the lockdown as it was amid previous outbreaks. Instead of closing malls or restaurants, people are allowed to work without additional restrictions under condition of full vaccination. This is the optimal balance in order to slow down the spread of the disease and not to stop economic activity in the country. The state has provided everyone with the opportunity to be vaccinated free of charge with an effective, proven vaccine, " Denys Shmyhal stressed.

According to the Ministry of Health, 152,000 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded last week. 93.5% of them are unvaccinated. At the same time, the dynamics of the growth of new cases and the number of hospitalizations stabilized. So, last week 34,000 people were hospitalized, of which 93.2% - unvaccinated.

"Stabilization of indicators was recorded in those regions which were the first ones to enter the" red "zone. In particular, these are Kherson, Zaporizhia and Donetsk regions, "said Minister of Health Viktor Liashko.

As the Minister of Health emphasized, last week two oxygen plants, which carried out scheduled work, resumed operations. Due to this, an additional 140 tons of liquid oxygen are included in the oxygen supply system. The Ministry of Health stressed that oxygen consumption has increased significantly recently, so the Ministry is working to attract other plants that are ready to supply it.

According to the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, a work of the working group was resumed last week to review the implementation by the regions of the Government's decision to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Also, representatives of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection paid trips to the regions for appropriate inspections.

The National Police said that 20 searches were conducted last week to detect forgery of COVID documents, including 3 in medical facilities and 1 in a travel agency. During the week, 3 doctors' illegal activities were documented, 170 international vaccination certificates were confiscated and 2 Telegram channels were blocked. The monitoring also revealed the illegal activities of more than 60 intermediaries and 20 medical workers representing 13 medical institutions, as well as 40 web resources.

According to the National Police, more than 90 criminal proceedings were instituted last week for forging COVID documents, and 55 proceedings were initiated on the basis of the State Border Guard Service. A total of 1,065 criminal proceedings have been instituted, of which 80 against employees of medical institutions and 35 against employees of travel agencies.

Following the meeting, the line ministries were instructed to coordinate the purchase of oxygen stations. The Government has allocated an additional UAH 400 million for these needs.

The Ministry of Economy, State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection and the National Police were also commissioned to intensify control over compliance with the verification of COVID certificates in shopping malls and catering venues in the regions located in the "red" zones of epidemiological danger.