Ukraine's first coronavirus death and a nation under quarantine
A look back at the day Ukraine's Ministry of Healthcare reported the country's first COVID-19 death, one day into a nationwide quarantine.
What did it mean for Ukraine when the coronavirus stopped being a distant outbreak? On 13 March 2020, the Ministry of Healthcare reported the country's first death from COVID-19: a 71-year-old woman from Radomyshl. As reported at the time, she died in the Zhytomyr region.
The death came just after the government moved to contain the spread of the virus. On 11 March 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers introduced a nationwide quarantine running from 12 March to 3 April. Mass events of more than 200 people were banned, and kindergartens and educational institutions were closed. The government said some sporting events might still go ahead, but without spectators.
A region moving in the same direction
Ukraine was not acting alone. On 12 March 2020, Poland suspended all schools and universities for two weeks and closed theatres, operas, cinemas and museums. Mass events were banned there too. The Polish Football Association announced that its two friendly matches later in the month, against Finland and Ukraine, would be played behind closed doors.
Slovakia went further on the same day, ordering its borders closed to non-residents. It also closed all international airports and schools to prevent the virus from spreading.
A day that marked a shift
The report of the first death on 13 March 2020 came within a day of the quarantine taking effect. The restrictions on gatherings and schools, announced on 11 March, were already in place when the Ministry of Healthcare confirmed the loss.
