The Minister of Health of Ukraine Maksym Stepanov said that the number of active patients in Ukraine is 57 per 100,000, which significantly exceeds the permissible rate for entry into EU countries without restrictions, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
“According to the indicators set for entry into the EU – the number of active patients should not exceed 16 per 100,000. The countries with such an indicator or better are considered as “green zone”, and their citizens can safely travel to EU countries. Ukraine has 57 cases per 100,000 of the population, thus, there will be restrictions on travel of Ukrainians to the EU. They will not concern certain categories of the population: diplomats, seasonal workers, citizens who leave for study, as well as citizens seeking asylum in the EU countries,” the minister said.
At the same time, according to Olha Stefanyshyn, Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Ukraine’s current coronavirus incidence rate does not allow to actively engage in dialogue on opening borders.
“We understand that no miracle will happen from July 1, and borders will not be opened. This is not due to Ukraine, but to the fact that there is a very different dynamic for the disease in Europe. Ukraine has very different dynamics too. This is absolutely not a political process. You know that the methodology the European Commission uses to grant access to the Schengen area is purely technical and is based on the number of patients per 100,000 people,” Olha Stefanyshyn said.
The Vice Prime Minister also clarified that at the moment there is a certain level of confidence in the Ukrainian statistics on coronavirus incidence rate, and Ukraine is constantly in contact and exchanges operational information with the EU.
Read also: Health Ministry deploys second-line hospitals for COVID-19 patients.
Подписывайтесь на telegram-канал journalist.today
