Features of the delta variant of coronavirus in Ukraine. Photo: Flickr
The current wave of coronavirus came to Ukraine earlier than expected. Moreover, almost all recorded cases—95% of the total number—are attributable to the highly contagious Delta strain. As the Head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health Viktor Lyashko said in an interview with the outlet Voice of America, this coronavirus variant has its own peculiarities in our country.
«The infectious disease doctors talk about certain features of the Delta on the territory of Ukraine: an infected person can have symptoms for 7—8 days, and then oxygen saturation drops sharply from 92% to 70%. Such people are difficult to pull through, they are put on the ventilator.»
Viktor Liashko
Chief Sanitary Doctor
The Minister added that most cases were now recorded in large cities, and the Kherson region was a step away from entering the "red" zone. However, during the previous waves, it had not even been included into the "orange" zone, being in the "yellow" one all the time.
Lyashko noted that now mostly unvaccinated people or those who had not yet had a coronavirus infection were sick.
"We have vaccines, and the healthcare system also has opportunities. But Russian propaganda that disperses fakes on the territory of our country does not allow us to move at the same pace as other European states. We have a hybrid war and we have to fight on all fronts. But I think we can handle it."
Viktor Liashko
Chief Sanitary Doctor
Context. Recall: earlier this month, the Ministry of Health decided on a list of professions vaccination against coronavirus is mandatory for. Employees who are on the list but refuse to be vaccinated will be suspended from work without pay.
In October, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated 25 million UAH for vaccination advertising.
Since the beginning of vaccination against coronavirus in Ukraine, 7,548,873 people have been vaccinated, of which 6,135,032 received two doses of the vaccine.