РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Chaired by the President of Ukraine, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, at its March 13 meeting adopted a decision “On urgent national security measures in the context of the outbreak of acute COVID-19 respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2”

According to the decision, the COVID-19 anti-crisis staff to counteract the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Ukraine starts working round-the-clock. Active outreach campaign on measures to prevent COVID-19 disease and avoid its spread will be conducted.

In order to prevent the negative development of the epidemic situation and to ensure compliance with Article 49 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine was instructed to take a number of measures in the prescribed manner.

Starting from 12:00 AM March 16, 2020, entry into the territory of Ukraine of foreigners and stateless persons will be suspended for the next two weeks, except for persons who are entitled to permanent or temporary residence in the territory of Ukraine, and under separate decisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine – for the accredited staff of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations, etc.

The Government shall urgently conduct a comprehensive analysis of the capabilities of the health care system to respond effectively to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Among the priority tasks to be completed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine are the following:

equipping checkpoints across the state border of Ukraine and checkpoints of entry-exit from temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea with test systems for the detection of COVID-19;

urgent financing of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine for producing at least 200 thousand PCR diagnostic tests of COVID-19;

provision of individual protective equipment for medical personnel, law enforcement and emergency services involved in anti-epidemic measures, as well as persons in contact with patients with COVID-19 disease;

stimulating the production by domestic enterprises of individual protective equipment, medical supplies and specialized medical equipment to assist patients with COVID-19 disease.

The Government shall submit to the Parliament a draft law on non-application of the Law of Ukraine “On Public Procurement” in cases where medical supplies and specialized medical equipment to assist patients with COVID-19 disease are procured.

The Government should take steps to:

ensure the readiness of health care facilities for the provision of medical aid to patients with COVID-19 and the creation of reserves of medical equipment, medicines, medical products, including individual protective equipment, as well as disinfectants;

approve the procedure for temporary self-isolation of persons suspected of having COVID-19 disease;

allocate, in accordance with reasonable proposals, to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine funds for the purchase of medicines, medical equipment, medical devices, including individual protective equipment to counter COVID-19;

urgently consider and optimize plans to re-profile beds in healthcare facilities managed by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, other state bodies, increase the number of medical personnel and resources in case of the mass disease on COVID-19.

The system of anti-epidemic protection will be renewed, in particular with regard to the appointment of the chief state sanitary doctors of the respective administrative-territorial units.

The terms of customs clearance of goods (medicines, medical equipment, medical devices for organizing the fight against COVID-19) coming to Ukraine will be reduced to one day.

The issue of additional material incentives for health care workers involved in anti-epidemic and treatment activities in countering COVID-19 will be addressed.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine shall urgently:

elaborate together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the possibility of receiving humanitarian aid and procuring the necessary means and equipment to counter COVID-19 abroad;

identify and provide the estimated need for test systems for COVID-19 detection and ensure that such systems are permanently available in healthcare facilities;

ensure that standards of medical aid are continually updated in line with new COVID-19 therapy data.

The decision contains a number of assignments to other ministries and agencies.

Ukrainian citizens are advised to refrain from traveling abroad to countries where COVID-19 cases are detected.