Ukraine reports record daily virus deaths

Ukraine on Tuesday reported a record number of new deaths from coronavirus, with 333 fatalities over the past 24 hours, as authorities warned of a “very difficult period” ahead.

Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said that despite the start of a vaccination campaign the situation in the ex-Soviet country was “getting worse”.

“We are entering a very difficult period,” Stepanov told reporters.

As infections surge and the vaccination drive stalls, authorities in the capital Kiev reintroduced coronavirus restrictions Saturday.

The measures shut cultural venues and large shopping centers and limited restaurants to takeouts.

Last week Prime Minister Denys Shmygal warned of the possibility of a new national lockdown and urged regional authorities to impose stronger restrictions to curb the spread of the disease.

The country has recorded over 1.5 million infections and more than 30,000 deaths from the virus since the pandemic began.

One of the poorest countries in Europe, Ukraine has an aging healthcare system.

Ukraine has so far received only 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine for its population of 40 million people.

Ukraine launched a vaccination campaign in February, far behind its neighbors. In the first four weeks, more than 120,000 people received the first jab, the health ministry said.