KYIV, March 4 – Ukraine will be forced to declare a lockdown in the economy for the third time if the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise rapidly, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Thursday.

Shmyhal made comments after the number of new coronavirus cases dramatically accelerated over the past several weeks as the government had failed to secure timely supplies of vaccines.

“If the situation continues to worsen, if we see that medicine is not working, then we will probably have no choice but to impose strict quarantine of the type we have already experienced,” Shmyhal said at a press conference. “I really wouldn't want that.”

The number of new coronavirus cases rose to 10,057 as of March 4, up from 7,235 as of March 3 and up from 2,030 as of February 1, according to Health Ministry. The number of coronavirus death rose to 194 on March 4 from 185 on March 3 and from 61 on February 1.

The figures underscore a major acceleration of coronavirus pandemic over the past several weeks that mat warrant a strict action from the government. At the peak of the pandemic on November 28 2020, Ukraine has reported 16,294 new cases and 184 deaths.

"It is already obvious that the third wave of the pandemic has started,” Shmyhal said. “Very strict restrictions have already been introduced in Ivano-Frankivsk region and Chernivtsi region. Several more regions are on the way.”

Lagging behind the rest of Europe, Ukraine has only just started vaccinating its population after receiving its first batch of 500,000 Indian-made AstraZeneca shots last month, prioritizing frontline healthcare workers and the military.

Shmyhal said the vaccination process will take at least two years, during which the people will have to continue wearing masks.

"There is no need to please yourself with the illusion that the vaccine will save everyone," he said.

Health Minister Maksym Stepanov also told the Ukraine 24 television channel on Tuesday evening that shipments of the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine would likely be delayed.

Stepanov's ministry came under fire since signing a contract with a local intermediary, the pharmaceutical company Lekhim, to procure Sinovac vaccines.

Activists said the contract was expensive and the national anti-corruption bureau opened an investigation.

Stepanov denied wrongdoing and said "dirty information attacks" on the ministry's work were hampering negotiations with other suppliers for more vaccines. (nr/ez)