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Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said restrictive and quarantine-related measures introduced in Ukraine until April 24 are likely to be extended.

"Once again, I'd like to emphasize Ukraine cannot afford to spend two or three months on the sofa, therefore the economy will have to be restarted. This is an extremely important issue. If there is a reduction in the incidence [of the coronavirus], only in May we will start discussing a possible weakening of the quarantine measures," he said at a government meeting on Wednesday, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

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"It definitely won't be done from April 14 as was reported by some fake news," he added.

"I emphasize – in April we will not lift the quarantine regime that has been introduced and will be maintained until April 24, and, most likely, will be extended until early May. In May, should there be positive dynamics, we will launch the economy according to a certain plan," Shmyhal said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers on April 3 approved new measures to strengthen quarantine, which was introduced in the country over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The current measures will be in effect from April 6 to April 24.

The government imposed bans on: staying in public places without wearing personal protective means, in particular a respirator or face mask, including home-made ones; movement by a group of people of more than two people, except for cases of official necessity and accompanying persons under the age of 14 by parents, adoptive parents, guardians, trustees, foster parents, and other persons in accordance with the law or adult relatives of the child; staying in public places of persons under the age of 14 unaccompanied by parents, adoptive parents, guardians, trustees, foster parents, and other persons in accordance with the law or adult relatives of the child; visiting parks, squares, recreation areas, forest parks, and coastal zones, except for pet-walking by one person and in matters related to service; visiting sports sites and playgrounds; holding public events (with exceptions); walking the streets without IDs confirming citizenship or special status; and leaving the observation (isolation) site without permission.