Coronavirus (COVID-19): Travel advice in Ukraine

Tests for COVID-19
Source: Reuters

Travelers can take a Covid-19 test in their country before coming to Ukraine. If you take a COVID-19 PCR test at a certified laboratory in Ukraine and receive a negative result you do not have to continue medical observation / self-isolation. 
Ukraine has purchased German and Chinese test systems for detecting COVID-19. The reagents in the test systems make it possible to carry out laboratory diagnostics of the new coronavirus at the current level.The test for Coronavirus will take approximately 5-6 hours to get the result. The cost of the test is between 70-100 US Dollars (depends on the laboratory).In case of a negative result of testing for COVID-19 by PCR:

• the laboratory that directly performed the research must enter the result of the negative research into the electronic system of the Center for Public Health of Ukraine;
• data entered by laboratories are automatically synchronized with the „Dii vdoma (Act at home)“ service/app;
• the person will be informed about the possibility of termination of self-isolation by the corresponding message of the service/app „Dii vdoma (Act at home)“.

REMEMBER! The phone number provided when taking a COVID-19 test must match the number used to install the Dii Vdoma app.

HERE you’ll find the list of laboratories that have the right to transmit the results of testing for COVID-19 by PCR to stop self-isolation through the application „Act at home“.

Please note that the list of laboratories may change, so be sure to review it in advance on the day of visiting the selected laboratory.

Airports Offering Covid-19 Testing

Kharkiv airport

• Location: Ticket office #20, Terminal A ground floor; performed by MTM medical center
• Price: 1,800 UAH from 08:00–21:59, 2,100 UAH from 22:00–07:59
• Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat – 9:00-23:00 / Thur, Fri, Sun – 9:00-02:00
• Payment: cash or card

Kyiv Boryspil airport

• Location: 2nd floor of Terminal D passenger (domestic flight departure area)
• Samples are taken 24/7 by airport medical station personnel and processed by the following labs: Dila, Adonis, Medlab, Esculab, Universum Clinic, IMMD
• Prices are set by each lab
• Contacts: [email protected] / +38 044-281-72-35
• More info can be found on the KBP website

Lviv airport

• Performed by UNILAB
• Price: 1,500 UAH
• Results can be obtained in Ukrainian, Polish or English
• Payment: online at https://www.unilab.com.ua/index.php/ua/covid-19/2-uncategorised/69-coronavirus 

Odesa airport

• Performed by CSD Medical Laboratory 24/7
• Price: 1800 UAH
• Contacts: +380(67)815-6557
• https://testcovid19.com.ua/odessa 

App Dii Vdoma (“Act at Home”)

Travelers arriving from Red Zone countries who do not arrive with a negative covid-19 test result must install the Dii Vdoma (Act at Home) mobile app. Those who cannot do that are subject to observation.

In order to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Ukraine a mobile application „Act at Home“ was launched. The application is designed to maintain contact with the person and control the observance of obligatory self-isolation during the quarantine.

According to the legislation, persons crossing the state border of Ukraine may choose one of two options (CMU Resolution №211 of March 11, 2020):

1. Hospitalization to specialized observatories (isolators).

2. 14-day self-isolation at the place of residence for persons who have agreed to undergo it using the Act at Home app.

Functions of the Act at Home application are as follows:

????Confirmation of the location of self-isolation with location determination.

????Photo confirmation of stay at the place of self-isolation.

???? Emergency call to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine hotline.

????Planned functions for monitoring symptom development.

If you receive a message, you need to take a photo of your face against the background of the environment within 15 minutes, so you should always keep your smartphone close by. Messages won’t be sent at night.

If a person chooses self-isolation with the „Act at Home“ app, he or she must confirm this decision when passing the passport control – first by informing his/her phone number and the address of the place of self-isolation, and then showing the appropriate application screen to the State Border Service employee.

You have 24 hours after installing the app to arrive at the destination where you plan to self-isolate. The app sends push notifications for selfies confirming your location – you have 15 minutes to do so. Local police are notified if the photo or geolocation do not match, if the app has been uninstalled or the phone has been turned off. If you are unable to install the app, you must go to a designated facility for observation.

You need to install the application by scanning the QR code on the information posters in the areas of passport control, or find „Act at home“ by searching the App in Google Play  or App in Apple Store.

QR code for the App  „Act at home“ (“Dii Vdoma”)

NOTE! Act at Home can only be installed with Ukrainian phone numbers (+380).

Medical Insurance

Foreigners and stateless persons are now allowed to cross the border into Ukraine provided they have an insurance policy certificate issued by a Ukraine-registered insurance company, or a foreign insurance company with an office in Ukraine or a contractual partnership with one of the Ukraine-registered insurance companies. The policy must cover the potential costs of COVID-19 treatment, observation, and be valid for the period of intended stay in Ukraine.

The policy must be issued by:

• an insurance company registered in Ukraine;
• a foreign insurance company with a representative office in Ukraine or a contractual relationship with a partner insurance company in Ukraine.
• Ukrainian health insurance coverage can be purchased online

We recommend you the conclusion of online insurance through the state portal  Visitukraine.today  to avoid any doubts.

This requirement does not apply to:

• foreigners and stateless persons permanently residing in Ukraine;
• refugees and persons needing additional protection;
• employees of diplomatic missions and consulates, representative offices of international missions and organizations accredited in Ukraine, members of their families;
• military of NATO member states and Partnership for Peace member states participating in the training of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Red and Green Zone Countries

The Ukrainian Government designates countries as either “Red zone” or “Green zone” depending on covid-19 case numbers. They have created a ‘RED Zone’ country list and a ‘GREEN Zone’ country list.  What does it mean and why we need it? Depending in which Zone is your country, certain rules apply.

 

Source: Visit Ukraine

“Green zone” – less than 40 active cases per 100,000 population. People entering Ukraine from the “green zone” countries do not need self-isolation or observation.

„Red zone“ countries are those where:

a) the number of new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people in the last 14 days exceeds the number of such cases in Ukraine; or

b) there is a more than 30% increase in new cases of COVID-19 in the country in the last 14 days compared to the previous 14 days.

Caution! Citizens of the “red zone” countries do not need to undergo self-isolation or observation if they arrive from the „green zone“ countries and are able to confirm their stay in the “green zone” area within the last 14 days.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine is to update the number of active cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population in other countries every three days.

So, first before going to Ukraine check in which Zone is your country: 

Map of GREEN and RED zone countries:
https://www.endcoronavirus.org/map-visualization 

Official statistic of Corona in countries:
https://covid19.rnbo.gov.ua/  

The list is updated weekly. See the current list (as of February 19) of Red Zone and Green Zone countries on the Ukrainian Ministry of Health website.

Safety, Safety and Safety Again!

CHERNOBYLX is closely monitoring the development of coronavirus. For us the health and safety of our tourists have been our top priority since 2008. During a pandemic, we continue to take care of you, our brave travelers! That’s why we have made the best possible preparation for our tours.

Face Masks

Sorry, our dear travelers, but you won’t see beautiful smiles of your tour guide and driver because of the face mask, but we hasten to tell you, we always smile no matter what! And you will see it in our eyes.  Coming to the Exclusion Zone you use a mask (including homemade mask) or respirator. We have one for you in case you forgot yours. Don’t forget to cover your nose and mouth, and replace the mask every 3 hours.

Our buses will be equipped with a separate container with a lid and disposable plastic bags for centralized collection and subsequent disposal of used personal protective equipment (masks, respirators, gloves).

Temperature Screening