KYIV, Aug 20 - Ukraine registered 2,134 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, a new daily record for infections in the country, Reuters reported on Thursday citing Health Minister Maksym Stepanov.

Stepanov said the new data surpassed the previous single-day record of 1,967 reported the previous day.

“We have seen an increase of number of new infections throughout Ukraine, almost every day we have a new anti-record,” Stepanov said at a televised briefing.

The minister said that 407 patients were admitted to hospitals and 40 died in the past 24 hours, also the highest daily tally.

He urged citizens to wear masks, keep distancing and follow other rules recommended by the ministry.

“Our doctors, no matter how professional they are, cannot defeat COVID-19 by themselves, we can do it only by joint efforts,” he said.

The number of new cases increased sharply in August despite the country reimposing some restrictions recently.

The total number of cases has reached 98,537, including 2,184 deaths.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to share coronavirus vaccine with Ukraine once it is fully tested and available amid growing concerns that number of COVID-19 cases has been growing rapidly.

Zelenskiy and Netanyahu recently spoke over the phone as Ukrainian officials have earlier expressed concerns that the vaccine might not be available for all countries at once.

"Ukraine should be among the friends of Israel who will be the first to join the research and use of the vaccine," Zelensky told Natanyahu.

The efforts of the Ukrainian authorities to combat the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in the country are considered insufficient by 46.1% of Ukrainians. This is evidenced by the results of a survey carried out jointly by the Center for Social and Marketing Research SOCIS and the Razumkov Center. (rt/tl/ez)