Lockdown in Kyiv may last a month, results of first police raids on public transport and entry to Verkhovna Rada with COVID documents

The number of vaccine opponents has also decreased.

The lockdown in Kyiv, introduced on November 1, may last a month, the capital's mayor Vitaly Klitschko said, while police began raids in public transport and establishments to check for COVID documents.

At the same time, amid a nationwide tightening of quarantine restrictions, the number of vaccine opponents has decreased, and members of parliament supported a resolution allowing entry to Verkhovna Rada buildings only with COVID documents.

Lockdown in Kyiv

The lockdown in Kyiv may last at least a month, forecasts City Mayor Vitaly Klitschko.

According to the mayor, the duration of the lockdown depends on the number of COVID-19 cases and the occupancy of hospital beds.

Vitaly Klitschko
Mayor of Kyiv

Preliminarily, specialists say that this (the lockdown — ed.) may continue for a month. But if within two to three weeks we see a decline in dynamics, if we approach the criteria for the orange zone, the emergency commission will make a decision (on easing the quarantine — ed.). Today, unfortunately, there is no such trend yet.

The capital's mayor also warned that Kyiv has not yet reached the peak of COVID-19 incidence, but intensive care units are already almost 100% full.

From November 1, the rules of the “red” zone and additional restrictions have come into force in Kyiv. On the metro and ground public transport, passengers must have a COVID certificate or a negative test for coronavirus.

On the first day of the strict restrictions in Kyiv, police checked 482 public transport vehicles and identified 20 cases of missing COVID documents required for travel.

In total, on November 1, law enforcement officers carried out 726 checks: 482 on public transport and 244 at business facilities.

Due to the lack of documents, 20 protocols were drawn up on transport, and 18 in public establishments.

For failing to comply with mask requirements in public places, law enforcement officers issued 121 orders, and 113 orders on transport.

If citizens do not have the necessary documents, law enforcement officers draw up administrative protocols for violating quarantine rules, which are then sent to court for a decision. The fine provided for by the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses is UAH 17,000 to 34,000, as decided by the court.

Vaccination sociology

36% of Ukrainians surveyed have already received a coronavirus vaccine, another 18% of respondents said they are ready to get vaccinated, while 43% of those surveyed are not ready to get vaccinated, reports the sociological group “Rating”.

Sociologists clarified that the survey was conducted only among the adult population of Ukraine, while official statistics on the number of vaccinated people cover the entire population.

Compared with July of this year, loyalty to vaccination has increased. Relatively more of those who do not want to get vaccinated are among young respondents.

37% of those surveyed hold the Minister of Health responsible for vaccinating the population. 18% say the president should bear responsibility for this initiative, 13% the chief sanitary doctor, 10% the Verkhovna Rada, 3% the prime minister. 

Also, compared with spring surveys, the number of supporters of a “hard lockdown” has decreased somewhat. Thus, 54% support introducing a lockdown (in April — 65%), while 44% do not support it. The latter are relatively more numerous among residents of eastern Ukraine, middle-aged people, and those who are not afraid of getting sick. 

Entry to the Rada with COVID documents

Members of parliament supported draft resolution No. 6154, which provides that from November 15, entry to the buildings of the Verkhovna Rada will be possible only with COVID documents, even for members of parliament.

The draft resolution was supported by 279 members of parliament — all factions and groups of parliament except the Opposition Bloc.

Access to the premises of the administrative buildings of the Verkhovna Rada, in particular for all members of parliament and media workers, is permitted upon presentation of a vaccination certificate against COVID-19, a PCR test, or a document confirming recovery from coronavirus.