The President’s Office today hosted a traditional conference call chaired by Vladimir Zelensky to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The head of state was informed about the readiness of medical institutions to accept patients and the latest statistics on the spread of infection, and also reported that the mortality rate from COVID-19 in Ukraine is low - 2.6%.

This was reported in the Office of the President.

The President inquired about the state of the economy and the functioning of programs that should help businesses in the quarantine period.

“We discussed a number of credit support programs for small and micro-businesses, because they suffer most from quarantine. We must help them now and after quarantine so that they can quickly recover.. We need to offer them the so-called credit holidays, ”said Vladimir Zelensky.

Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said that the government has created all the prerequisites for the full-fledged work of the updated program “Affordable loans 5-7-9%”, another program is also finalized - “New money”, under which entrepreneurs will be able to get loans at a very low.

“These programs will help Ukrainian businesses withstand the difficult economic conditions caused by the epidemic, and will also guarantee the preservation of jobs. The main condition of the programs is the preservation of at least 80% of jobs in small and micro-businesses, ”said Denis Shmygal.

The Prime Minister also said that, according to the State Employment Center, an additional 140,000 were registered this month.. unemployed. To help payouts to people who lost their jobs, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated six billion hryvnias from the Coronavirus Foundation.

The President also commented on the delay in March premiums for doctors working with patients with COVID-19. The head of government explained that the money was sent to the regions, however, local authorities were guided not by the current resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, but by a document of the Ministry of Social Policy of 2003. Therefore, despite the availability of funds in the regions, they could not be paid. This week, the government will seek solutions so that these financial resources are allocated to doctors.

“Be sure this money must be paid.

The bureaucracy, of course, is often an obstacle, but in this case one cannot be allowed to follow the old rules in the face of new challenges. Supplements should be received by all who deserve it. As soon as possible, ”emphasized Vladimir Zelensky.

April payments will be made through the National Health Service of Ukraine, and therefore there should be no problems here, added Denis Shmygal.

The meeting discussed quarantine mitigation plans. When implementing adaptive quarantine, masks and social distance will be mandatory - to avoid outbreaks of COVID-19.