From October 18 the red level of epidemic danger will operate in the territories of Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa regions.

In the territories of Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Odessa regions from 00 o'clock 00 min on October 18, a red level of epidemic danger was established.

This decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the State Commission on Technogenic and Ecological Safety and Emergencies on October 15.

According to the Deputy Minister of Health - Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Igor Kuzin, there is a deterioration of the epidemiological situation in the above areas.

In particular, in Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Odessa regions there is an excess of epidemiological safety indicators on two grounds: the number of hospitalized and the number of beds. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, an excess was recorded on three grounds: the number of hospitalized and the number of beds and the detection rate of COVID-19 infection.

Restrictive anti-epidemic measures provided for this level of epidemic danger will be applied in the regions.

The red level of epidemic danger implies a number of restrictions in the region.

In particular, it is prohibited:

• operation of restaurants, cafes, except for delivery and takeaway orders,
• work of shopping malls and other entertainment establishments, cinemas, theaters, etc.,
• work of educational institutions, except for kindergartens and primary schools,
• operation of non-food markets and shops, gyms, swimming pools and fitness centers,
• holding mass events, except for official sports events and matches of team games without spectators,
• work of cultural institutions, except for historical and cultural reserves, film and video shooting.

The heads of regional state administrations are instructed to ensure compliance with the relevant restrictive anti-epidemic measures.

In addition, Luhansk and Kherson regions were instructed to strengthen control over compliance with anti-epidemic norms, increase the number of beds and introduce additional quarantine restrictions in the territories of the united territorial communities, where the most significant outbreaks of COVID-19 are recorded.

The Ministry of Health also works with oxygen producers to prevent oxygen shortages in health care facilities.