KYIV, March 18 – The number of people in Ukraine infected since the beginning of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Ukraine has exceeded 1.5 million, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said Thursday.

As of Thursday morning, 15,053 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, some 6,514 people recovered and 267 patients died, he said.

"Some 15,053 new cases of COVID-19 disease were recorded in Ukraine as of March 18, 2021. In particular, 744 children and 425 medical workers fell ill. Over the past day, some 4,376 people were hospitalized; some 267 people died; some 6,514 people recovered," Stepanov said on his Facebook page on Thursday morning.