The incidence of ARVI, flu, and COVID-19 increased by 20% over the week, and, according to forecasts, this trend will continue for the next two weeks. The high-level epidemic threshold has been exceeded in three regions, and "local quarantine" may be introduced in 19 regions, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine reported on Wednesday, writes UNN.
Details
Ukraine is experiencing a rise in the incidence of ARVI, flu, and COVID-19, which is typical for the middle of the epidemic season. Compared to the previous week, the number of sick people increased by 20%: from February 17 to 23, 249,344 people fell ill, of whom 141,372 were children. According to epidemiologists' forecasts, the upward trend in morbidity will continue for the next two weeks.
As assessed by the Ministry of Health, "at the national level, the hospitalization rate among patients with ARVI complications is not critical." In each region, as noted, enhanced epidemiological monitoring continues, including the provision of hospitals with medicines and beds for patients.
In particular, during the week from February 17 to 23, 6,927 people were hospitalized with complications of ARVI, flu, and COVID-19, including 4,133 children. Among the patients who needed medical care in a medical facility, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 220 people.
All regions confirmed the provision of necessary medicines for patients with ARVI complications in designated medical institutions at the regional level.
Overall, compared to the previous epidemic season, the incidence is 17% lower. The rise in ARVI incidence is due to the circulation of influenza viruses in 22 regions of the country.
According to the Ministry of Health, since the beginning of influenza virus circulation in the country - since January - 25 deaths have been registered due to complications of the disease. According to doctors, the deceased did not have preventive vaccinations against influenza.
"Local quarantine"
Currently, in 3 regions - Rivne, Khmelnytsky, and Chernivtsi regions - a high-level epidemic threshold has been exceeded. In 14 other regions - Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, Ternopil, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions - the level is medium. In Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions - the level is low. In these regions or individual settlements of the region, by decision of the regional commission for technogenic and environmental safety and emergency situations, enhanced anti-epidemic measures, so-called "local quarantine," may be applied.
In particular, as indicated, this refers to distance learning in individual classes in schools, educational institutions, limiting the number of visitors in institutions, and other anti-epidemic measures.
In other regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv, the situation is stable, a pre-epidemic level is observed.
Figures since the beginning of the epidemic season
Since the beginning of the epidemic season from September 30, 2024, to February 23, 2025, 2,718,757 people have suffered from ARVI, flu, and COVID-19, which is 17.3% less than in the corresponding period of the 2023-2024 season. During this time, doctors diagnosed 18,329 cases of COVID-19. As a result of complications from flu and ARVI, 108 deaths were registered.