Ukraine to launch app to track contacts of COVID-19 patients

This was stated by Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Officer Ihor Kuzin, who spoke with Liga, according to Ukrinform.

“To help and inform people about how to act, about preventive measures, at the level of all regional centers for disease prevention we are now implementing another application, “GO. Data." This is an information system developed by the WHO, successfully piloted in Chernivtsi region. It allows recording all contacts, selecting a list of people to receive an automatic call, but it’s an actual doctor who speaks with them,” said Kuzin.

The Vdoma application will also be used.

We see when someone installed the application but didn’t press the "activate" button. Or when they activated and then deleted it. Such information is forwarded to the National Police. ... These mechanisms will be used, they have been fixed in a separate resolution of the chief state sanitary officer. We have also transferred and fixed it in the corresponding order of the Ministry of Health," Kuzin said.

He added that the Ministry of Health would cooperate with the National Police to ensure active control over the observance of a mask mandate.

In total, according to Kuzin, since May 2021, some 350,000 fines have been imposed for violating the mask mandate.

The Chief State Sanitary Officer reminded that Ukraine has upheld a ban on staying in public indoor settings and public transport during quarantine without personal protective equipment that covers the mouth and nose.

National Police officers are entitled to issue a fine if the norm is not observed.

As Ukrinform reported, on September 13, the Cabinet adopted amendments to Resolution 1236, which set new quarantine restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In particular, the changes stipulate that the COVID certificate will have two options, the so-called yellow or green, 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 hold data about the first vaccination, and the "green" – about the full course.

In case the yellow level of epidemic threat is introduced, the requirements for educational facilities have been simplified. They will operate as usual if at least 80% of staff hold "yellow" or "green" COVID certificates.

At the same time, the yellow-level restrictions will not apply if all participants (attendees) and at least 80% of organizers of mass events, staff at cinemas, theaters, museums or other cultural facilities, gyms and swimming pools hold a "yellow" or "green" COVID certificate.

In the red-level threat situation, educational facilities will operate only if 100% of staff hold a "green" COVID certificate.

The resolution comes into force in seven days from the day of publication.

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