- Title: 155 Ukraine COVID-19 feature
- Date: 21st March 2020
- Description:Ukraine fights virus: few tests show few cases, but restrictions already in place Ukraine is now also massively fighting coronavirus; public life is severely restricted, borders to neighboring countries are closed, as are the crossings to the two pro-Russian rebel controlled areas in Eastern Ukraine. Ukraine has officially recorded only 41 infected and three deaths; but Ukraine has only tested a total of some 640 people since January; that is very little for a country with 40 million inhabitants; healthcare is very weak, so the Kyiv leadership is trying to prevent the spread of the virus through prevention, ORF reports. The struggle against the COVID-19 is now clearly visible in Kyiv. All places with crowds are closed; these include shopping centers, schools and the subway. Traffic with buses and minibuses will cease from tomorrow (Sunday). Ukraine is taking drastic measures, although official statistics show few cases. Kyiv has now ordered 10 million tests, one million masks and 10 tons of disinfectant in China. The transitions to the pro-Russian rebel-controlled areas are now closed on both sides. Pensioners can no longer go to the Ukrainian side to fix their pensions. No cases of coronavirus have been officially registered in Donetsk; masks and tests were imported via Russia. Passenger traffic to Russia has declined massively. The borders to the pro-Russian rebel-controlled areas are closed to people who do not have a Russian passport. Only about 10 percent have such a passport; the virus hits the inhabitants of the rebel areas particularly hard. Shotlist Location: Kyiv - VS street views Kyiv: only a few people on the streets and public places - VS closed theater, shopping center and metro - Crowds flock to buses TC 01:02 - SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Olga Bogomolez, doctor in Kyiv: “I'm pretty sure the numbers are much higher. The main reason for the lack of adequate statistics is the lack of tests that are available for diagnosis.” - VS street views Kyiv: people walking with masks TC 01:29 - SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian), Olga Bogomolez, doctor in Kyiv (includes cutaway in the middle): “Ukraine has to take very effective quarantine measures because the health system cannot withstand the strain if too many patients come." Location: Donetsk - VS closed transitions to the rebel areas - Temperature controls - Pensioners can no longer go to the Ukrainian side to fix their pensions TC 02:12 - SOUNDBITE (Russian), Valentina, retiree in Donetsk: "In two months I will have to cross the border into Ukraine again, but we are told that the current situation will not affect the pensioners. I think everything will be OK." - VS street views Donetsk: a few people on streets, partly with masks TC 02:48 - SOUNDBITE (Russian) Tatjana, resident in Donezk: "I am very concerned about my relatives, my children and myself. But I think that we will only have isolated cases of infection and deaths." - Declining passenger traffic to Russia - Border crossing to rebel areas - Queue at border crossing to rebel areas - Lorries waiting at border crossing to rebel areas
- Collection: ORF
- Genre:News
- Producer:ORF
- Transmission Date:21/03/2020
- Decade: 2020s