Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said the authorities do not rule out the closure of schools, kindergartens and public transport amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the capital.
"We cannot guarantee there will be no patients with the coronavirus in Kyiv. We see there is not a single country in Europe where there are no cases of the coronavirus. And Italy has even imposed quarantine and closed airports," Klitschko told the BBC's Ukrainian service in an interview.
The mayor emphasized the authorities are ready for any events: rapid tests have been purchased, explanatory work is being carried out in schools and kindergartens, and children are being measured temperature.
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"We also carry out explanatory work with Kyiv residents, tell how primitively people can protect themselves. We see how this disease spreads in European countries, and we do everything possible to be prepared," Klitschko said, adding that seven hospitals have already been prepared in Kyiv where patients will be accepted.
"We're getting ready, hoping for the best," he said.
When asked about the possibility of closing schools and kindergartens, the mayor answered in the affirmative: "If there is an outbreak, we are ready for such a development of the situation when all activities where there are crowds are prohibited, and we will close schools and kindergartens so that the disease does not spread."
Klitschko added that closing public transport in Kyiv, in particular, the subway, was not ruled out. "For this, there must be a really large outbreak of the disease. You are already talking about emergency measures, namely to close the subway. I hope it will not come to this that we close the transport," the mayor said.
He added the government was carrying out preventive measures in transport, in particular, it was disinfected twice a day.
