Government imposes new quarantine restrictions in Ukraine

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on September 13 approved amendments to Resolution No. 1236, which introduce new quarantine restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Ukrainian Health Ministry's press service has said.

"The changes we have proposed are an opportunity to contain the epidemic situation and maintain the country's economic activity. We are talking about the fact that today everyone has an opportunity to get vaccinated and be protected. The vaccines that we have are enough for that," Health Minister Viktor Liashko said.

The approved changes stipulate that a COVID certificate will have two options (a yellow or green mark) and will contain information about vaccination, a negative test result (valid for 72 hours) or recovery from COVID-19. The so-called "yellow" certificate will contain information about the first dose and the "green" certificate about the full course of vaccination.

If the yellow level of epidemic danger is introduced, the requirements for the work of educational institutions have been simplified. They will work provided that at least 80% of employees have "yellow" or "green" COVID certificates.

At the same time, restrictions of the yellow level of epidemic danger will not apply if all participants (visitors) and at least 80% of organizers of mass events, employees of cinemas, theaters, museums or other cultural institutions, gyms and swimming pools have a "yellow" or "green" COVID certificate.

According to the statement, the final decision on whether to provide services only to those vaccinated or to comply with all quarantine restrictions remains with the owner.

If the red level of epidemic danger is introduced, educational institutions will operate only if all employees have a "green" COVID certificate.

In addition, the current red level restrictions will not apply if all participants (visitors), employees and organizers of mass events, including religious events, employees of cinemas, theaters, museums or other cultural institutions, entertainment centers, shopping malls, catering establishments, markets, gyms and swimming pools have a "green" COVID certificate.

At the same time, if a person crossing the border of Ukraine has a "yellow" or "green" certificate of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 may not self-isolate. This also applies to persons coming from Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories.

"COVID certificates will have color marks exclusively in digital format. It is not necessary to print them on paper of the respective color," the ministry's press service said.

The resolution comes into force seven days after its publication.

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