Kyiv mayor says when strict quarantine will be introduced in capital

The mayor of Kyiv Vitalii Klitschko has said that today the capital’s authorities are trying with all their might to keep the situation with the incidence of coronavirus in order not to impose strict quarantine, the Kyiv City State Administration reports.

“The situation is really difficult. You can see how many patients are sick every day, and more and more people need hospitalization. And this is the situation today in many European countries. The so-called lockdown has already been introduced by Poland, France and Germany. In Spain, in a number of regions, there is also strict quarantine. The United Kingdom is also preparing for lockdown. Kyiv today is trying with all its might to keep the situation in order so as not to resort to strict quarantine,” the capital’s mayor stressed.

To Klitschko, based on how the situation will develop, the city government will be forced to comply with the government’s decision if it decides on drastic measures.

“I would like to emphasize: the introduction of quarantine in the capital will already be an extreme measure! This is the principled position of the city authorities. On the one hand, we are doing everything to protect the health and life of people, and on the other, we understand that people must work, business must develop, children must go to school and kindergartens. We must keep the city’s economy, which has already suffered from the crisis,” the mayor emphasized, adding that the introduction of restrictions reduced revenues to the city’s budget.

According to the economists of the Kyiv City State Administration, the budget of the capital by the end of 2020 will receive less than UAH 5 billion, of which UAH 3 billion is personal income tax.

“And I would also like to appeal to the heads of institutions and enterprises: employees who can work remotely, give ‘em this opportunity! Address to the people of Kyiv: use public transport only when it’s absolutely necessary – when you are going to work, study or on business. Don’t go to crowded places. Maintain social distance and wear masks. Only together and through conscious action can we overcome this challenge. Otherwise, there won’t be enough beds if the virus spreads at such a rate. Don’t want to quarantine? Then you have to be careful!” Klitschko said.