Now 50,000 beds are available / Photo from UNIAN, by Oleksandr Prylepa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that the number of beds in hospitals for COVID-19 patients could be doubled, to 91,000, if need be.

He made a statement on his Facebook page.

"Now 50,000 beds are available. Today we are ready, if necessary, to promptly increase this number by almost twice, to 91,000 beds," he said.

What is more, the number of beds with the centralized oxygen supply and oxygen concentrators grew by 5,000 last week, he said.

"Our plan for this week includes several thousand more beds with oxygen," he said.

He also assured that "the state is ready for any difficult scenario."

Read alsoSome 4 mln Ukrainians to get free vaccines against COVID-19 in H1 2021 – Health official

Coronavirus crisis in Ukraine

  • On November 11, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to introduce the weekend quarantine in Ukraine from November 14 to November 30. It is in effect from 00.00 a.m. Saturday to 00.00 a.m. Monday.
  • On the weekend, a ban will be in effect in addition to the restrictions provided for on weekdays, namely cafes and restaurants (except for the take-out service), shopping malls and entertainment centers, other entertainment outlets, fitness centers and the like should be closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
  • Only grocery stores, pharmacies, veterinary pharmacies, medical institutions, gas stations are allowed to operate.
  • Ukraine reported 13,357 new COVID-19 cases in the past day as of November 19. The number of deaths in the past 24 hours was 257. The total death toll since the beginning of the epidemic has exceeded 10,300.