Ukraine is at the first level now / Photo from UNIAN

Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said the country has introduced four COVID-19 risk levels.

"We have developed a detailed plan defining an algorithm of actions in accordance with four risk levels. This plan ensures the provision of medical assistance to all who need it," he said at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, the TSN TV news service reported.

According to Stepanov, Ukraine is at the first level now. The number of recorded cases is within 5,000-7,000 per day.

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"The healthcare system is able to cope with such a load, while this was impossible even six months ago, three months ago," he said.

At the second level, the bed occupancy in hospitals will be 70% throughout the country with the number of confirmed cases being 8,000-10,000 per day.

"We may reach this level in a few weeks," Stepanov said.

The number of beds in all hospitals will be increased by 30% of the available stock at that stage, or by additional 52,000 beds. Makeshift hospitals will also be deployed, as well as the number of workers in all healthcare facilities will be increased by engaging from other departments to help COVID-19 patients.

Read alsoUp to 35,000 new cases daily: Health Ministry unveils worst COVID-19 scenarioThe third level assumes a daily increase in the number of patients to 11,000-15,000 cases with the bed occupancy throughout the country for those infected being 85% in general. In addition to the measures of the second level, the government will ensure the introduction of lockdown with the application of a full list of restrictions of the red level of epidemic risks.

"All healthcare workers will be mobilized. The work of departmental institutions for civilians will be arranged, as well as ensuring the work of mobile hospitals," Stepanov said.

The Health Ministry's resources will already be exhausted at the fourth level. The daily number of patients will reach 15,000-20,000 people per day.

"Here we will have to activate the triage protocol with the priority of providing medical assistance," the minister said.

Stepanov stresses it is now very important to comply with the quarantine measures.

"I am sure no one wants to see the country at the third or fourth level. We need to convince people of the need to follow the rules by our own example," the health minister added.

COVID-19 in Ukraine: Latest update

  • Ukraine said 5,469 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of October 20, 2020. The total number of confirmed cases grew to 309,107.
  • The death toll has hit 5,786 with 113 fatalities recorded in the past day.
  • The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the capital city of Kyiv rose by 462 in the past day.
  • President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would receive a vaccine against COVID-19 as soon as it was created.