Dear citizens of the Donetsk People’s Republic, dear countrymen!
Two cases of coronavirus infection have been registered in the Donetsk People’s Republic. As promised, we made this information public as soon as the diagnosis was confirmed. The patients have a mild case of the illness, their lives are not in danger, and they are getting all necessary treatment.
We will continue to be completely honest with you. We will be able to avoid severe consequences of the coronavirus expansion only if we realize the situation fully, understand the importance of strict compliance with all necessary recommendations and restrictions.
I assure you that the situation regarding the cases of coronavirus infection registered is fully under control.
The life and health of our citizens is what matters most. Therefore, from now on, we are enhancing our high alert regime with a series of additional measures. They are set forth in the amendments to the Decree On Introduction of High Alert Regime.
I want to draw your attention to some of the measures.
From now on, citizens who have arrived in the Donetsk People’s Republic from the Russian Federation and the Lugansk People’s Republic, as well as persons living with them, ARE OBLIGED to observe a 14-day period of self-isolation. At first signs of respiratory disease, it is necessary to immediately seek medical service from home without visiting health care institutions.
Until April 17, 2020, citizens over 65 years of age ARE OBLIGED to observe self-isolation, except for those whose presence at the workplace is critically important. Real-time interaction will be established with citizens undergoing self-isolation, they will be provided with targeted social assistance, including with due regard for their requests coming via the hotline.
We are compelled to prohibit entertainment, cultural, sports and other events, including in shopping malls, parks and other mass gathering places. After 6 PM, all public catering facilities, including cafes and restaurants, are prohibited, except for takeout services and order delivery.
Citizens are obliged to keep a social distance of at least one meter in public spaces. Senior government officials and managers of enterprises of all forms of ownership are obliged to ensure that citizens, including employees, observe social distance.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of State Security and the body responsible for state sanitary and epidemiological supervision are instructed to identify persons who do not comply with the requirements of self-isolation and other restrictions that apply for the period of high alert regime.
We urge citizens to refrain from visiting religious sites for this period.
We also recommend that state bodies, local administrations, enterprises, institutions and organizations of all forms of ownership switch the maximum possible number of employees to a remote working mode.
I ask everyone to carefully read today’s decree, the mass media will be publishing it widely enough.
Dear friends, it is possible that some people will find such steps excessive, but others, on the contrary, too moderate. I assure you that many factors were weighed before making such a decision.
I am convinced that the special character and spiritual strength inherent in the natives of Donbass will allow us to deal with the coronavirus successfully!
Denis Pushilin
Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic