It Gets Easier: What You Can And Cannot Do In Post-Lockdown Ukraine

January 25, 2021
Ukraine reopens today after a 17-day lockdown. The country returned to adaptive quarantine measures that were in place before.
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The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced that the government will extend adaptive quarantine until March 31.

"I am sure that the quarantine will last a very long time this year. But what exactly it will be like is a different question". Shmyhal said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

What has reopened?

Officials provided additional details on quarantine restrictions that will remain in place after the end of lockdown.

Starting January 25, all shopping malls, non-food stores, and markets are allowed to open. Restrictions on the sale of some non-food items at food markets are rescinded, as well.

Cafes, restaurants, and bars across the country can re-open. However, these businesses must maintain 2-meter social distancing  between tables. The rules also limit the number of people at a single table to four. All transactions must be closed by  22:00.

Gyms and fitness centers must also follow adaptive quarantine rules. They are allowed to operate only if they can ensure no more than 1 person per 20 m2.

Cinemas, theaters, and other cultural facilities may operate at no more than 50% occupancy per hall. Museums, exhibitions, and galleries must keep no more than 1 visitor per 10 m2.

Religious services may be heldindoors if there is no more than 1 person per 5 m2. Outdoor religious events must maintain social distancing of 1.5 meters between attendees.

What is forbidden?

 All mass gatherings, such as concerts and parties, remain prohibited. Cultural, sport, and social events are allowed only if they have 20 or fewer participants who maintain 1.5 meters of social distancing..

Restaurants may be open only until 23.00, with all transactions closed by 22.00. Night clubs must remain closed.

In public places, everyone must continue to follow mask and social distancing policies. According to the new law on requiring masks, businesses can be fined if their employees or customers don`t wear face masks. Persons without masks can be refused service. If the customer refuses to put on a mask, businesses can  call the police.

In addition, quarantine restrictions ban:

  • Activities of some accommodation facilities, including hostels and tourist bases (hotels, rehabilitation centers for people with disabilities, and sanatoriums may remain open).
  • Offline education process by groups of more than 20 persons at educational institutions (excluding preschools, general secondary schools, and out-of-school and specialized education institutions.
  • Planning in-patient hospital procedures (excluding palliative care, assistance to women in labor, newborns, childbirth assistance, treatment of cancer patients and other emergency medical care measures).
  • Entry to Ukraine for without an existing insurance policy (excluding recognised refugees, diplomats, representatives of international organisations, and those with permanent or temporary residence).

Border crossing for foreigners

Travelers from other countries must be aware of the Ukrainian quarantine border-crossing rules. Firstly, all foreign nationals must have a health insurance certificate. It must cover costs related to COVID-19 treatment and hospitalization, and must be valid for the whole traveler`s stay in Ukraine.

All foreign nationals must have a health insurance certificate. It must cover costs related to COVID-19 treatment and hospitalization, and must be valid for the whole traveler`s stay in Ukraine.

Secondly, rules for arriving travelers depend on the country the person has traveled from or through.  These will dictate whether or not a traveler is required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Government designates countries as either 'Red ZoneorGreen Zone,` depending on the number of reported COVID-19 cases over the last 14 days. Red Zone countries are those where COVID-19 case numbers over the last two weeks are higher than case numbers in Ukraine.  Detailed and updated information can be found at Visit.Ukraine.

Travelers arriving from  'green zone' countries are not required to undergo self-isolation or observation on arrival. Those who come from the 'red zone' are required to undergo 14 days' self-isolation as monitored by the government tracking app 'Dii Vdoma' ('Act at Home') that is available in Google Play or App Store. However, this app can only be installed by users with Ukrainian phone numbers (+380).

Mandatory self-isolation and quarantine are not necessary if a traveler receives a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result no more than 48 hours in advance of his/her arrival in Ukraine.

This article is based on the information from the website of the Government of Ukraine and the official information page for tourists, Visit.Ukraine.

Olha Kravchenko
analyst and journalist at UkraineWorld and Internews Ukraine