KYIV, Dec 2 – Ukraine cancelled mass public gatherings, sports events and music concerts throughout the country until the government has more data to support the next lockdown, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Wednesday.

The measures are outlined in the government’s color-coded system under the ‘Orange’ level, which also bans all individual accommodation services, except by hotels, and allowing schools to have no more than 20 students in class.

"The Orange level restrictions will be in effect throughout the country during both, weekdays and weekends,” Shmyhal said after the government meeting.

The measures come as the government has cancelled massive restrictions during weekends that were in effect between November 14 and November 30 as those that had only limited success.

The new measures will be in effect until the government decides on how severe the next lockdown is going to be. People familiar with discussions indicate a new stay-at-home order may be declared on December 24 and will be in effect through January 15, 2021.

Ukraine reported 13,141 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, up from 12,498 on Tuesday and 9,946 on Monday, indicating that the weekend restrictions had a limited impact on the spread of the coronavirus.

Ukraine would start running out of hospital beds if the number of daily cases increases to 20,000, according to government officials.

So far 12,717 people died from COVID-19 complications in Ukraine since the pandemic had started in early March, according to the Health Ministry. This number can increase to 33,000 this year if the government fails to stop the pandemic, and may be 17,000 if the government’s measures prove successful in December, according to the Kyiv School of Economics.

The measure that will be in effect during the next two weeks also regulate gatherings inside buildings that must have not more than 220 people, or one person per 10 square meters of space, while gyms and fitness centers must be closed unless they comply with one person per 10 sq. m space rule.

Also, children’s health improvement and recreation camps must be closed, while public transportation vehicles must operate at not more than at 50% capacity. (tl/ez)