NEWS
People queuing for trains in the tents claimed they were no longer concerned about Covid but rather for their own safety. There were no masks on the half-dozen people there. Recently, Ukraine has been dealing with a rare epidemic of polio spread by unhygienic circumstances and contaminated water, which are prevalent in refugee situations.
During the coronavirus pandemic, vaccination for polio and other diseases has delayed worldwide, adding to the hazard. Like most of Europe, Ukraine had a coronavirus outbreak earlier this year, with over 35,000 cases a day in early February and over 200 daily deaths by the middle of the month.
Official figures fell dramatically from such highs, reaching zero in the days following the Russian invasion, showing a reporting lapse. According to Matskov, reported incidents were in areas not immediately affected by the war. He stated there were 6,112 cases and 115 deaths on Wednesday.
Just before the war, Ukrainians were rather diligent about wearing a mask in shops, restaurants, and on public transportation. Still, most individuals appear to have discarded any procedure. As refugees piled onto trains and into station waiting rooms, social distance has become unthinkable. There is hardly a mask in the crowds.
