Gloomy outlook: Hungary’s neighbours report record Covid-19 caseload

The Covid-19 pandemic is taking an increasing toll not only on Hungary, but also on its neighbouring countries. These are the latest highlights from Ukraine, Slovenia and Croatia:

Ukraine’s total COVID-19 cases top 700,000

Ukraine’s national COVID-19 caseload reached 709,701 on Saturday, after the country reported a record daily increase of 16,294 cases during the past 24 hours, its health ministry reported.

Meanwhile, 184 patients have died of the disease, bringing the nationwide death toll to 12,093, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said.

The Eastern European nation registered nearly 100,000 coronavirus infections during the past week.

The ministry is working with the World Bank on a project that will allow the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and equipment for medical institutions, said Deputy Health Minister Svitlana Shatalova on Thursday.

The World Bank would provide around 100 million U.S. dollars, which will be used to “purchase COVID-19 vaccines, as well as diagnostic and laboratory equipment for medical institutions,” Shatalova told a briefing.

Slovenia’s COVID-19 cases exceed 70,000

Slovenia’s national tally of confirmed cases increased to 70,911, according to official figures.

The country conducted 7,391 coronavirus tests on Wednesday, with 23.9 percent returning positive. A total of 1,302 patients are being treated in hospitals, including 215 in intensive care units, 13 more than the day before. With 46 new deaths, the country’s total death toll from the coronavirus-caused disease has risen to 1,245.

According to the official COVID-19 tracker site, there are currently 20,174 active cases in the country. The average 14-day incidence rate is now 963 per 100,000 population.

The Slovenian government on Thursday decided to extend all of the restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 epidemic. The ban on gatherings, in-class schooling, movement among municipalities and the 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew will remain for one more week.