KIEV, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's Health Minister Maxym Stepanov said he will no longer recommend the government continue weekend quarantines to quell the spread of COVID-19 since it has little effect, UNIAN news agency reported Tuesday.
The number of new cases dropped after the weekend, but overall the restrictions did not bring the expected effect, Stepanov said in an interview with a local TV channel.
The minister said Ukraine should have at least three weeks of a complete lockdown to have a visible positive effect.
A total of 745,123 COVID-19 cases, with 12,548 deaths, have been registered in Ukraine as of Tuesday, while 355,172 patients have recovered, according to the country's health ministry.
On Nov. 11, Ukraine decided to introduce a weekend quarantine on Nov. 14-30. Under the quarantine, gatherings with over 20 people, beauty salons, as well as shopping and entertainment facilities will be closed on weekends. However, the restrictions were not strictly observed throughout the country. Enditem
