The Government made the relevant decision at a meeting on Wednesday, June 17, by amending a number of acts of the Cabinet of Ministers that establish quarantine restrictions.

Opening the Government's meeting, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal noted that over the past seven days, 4,853 people have contracted the coronavirus in Ukraine, the highest number of cases in the entire pandemic in Ukraine.

"Many people took the weakening of quarantine measures as the abolition of quarantine, and this is the result. The coronavirus has not disappeared and the threats it poses to our medical system and the Ukrainian economy, unfortunately, have not diminished. I understand that people are tired of quarantine in any form, but there is no more effective way to counter the spread of the virus. I urge Ukrainians not to relax and stay focused on reality!" - the Prime Minister said, urging Ukrainians to observe the mask regime, social distance and take disinfection measures, as these are the only means "that will help each of us protect ourselves from this disease, at least until medicines and effective treatment protocols are invented," Denys Shmyhal emphasized.

The Head of Government also said that "due to the growing number of patients with coronavirus disease, we are extending the adaptive quarantine until July 31 this year." "Also at today's meeting, we will consider the updated approach to adaptive quarantine proposed by the Ministry of Health, which provides for the possibility of strengthening quarantine in certain regions. I would like to emphasize that if the situation requires it, then quarantine measures will be strengthened," the Prime Minister said.

In addition, he said that today the Government is also adopting a change in the start of work schedules in certain areas and industries. "This is done to extend the rush hours, when masses of people go to work at the same time and load public transport. This is the way some European countries have been moving, and in Ukraine, the opening hours will now be extended from 8 to 10 am and later," explained Denys Shmyhal.

According to him, the Government is also clearly stating the prohibitions that are in place during the quarantine. For example, the requirement to wear a mask indoors, or restrictions on the number of passengers in transport. "The government understands that in order to demand this, people need to create conditions under which they can comply with quarantine restrictions. Therefore, I appeal to city mayors to run as many public transport routes as possible. If necessary, develop new ones. But people should not stand in lines and ride in crowded, stuffy minibuses. This is your responsibility as city leaders and carriers who allow this to happen," the Prime Minister emphasized.