KYIV, Aug 6 – Ukraine has resumed PCR testing for unvaccinated travelers arriving to the country and has declared it’s mandatory to self-isolate after visiting Russia and India amid growing concerns over the Delta coronavirus strain.

The establishment of quarantine and the introduction of restrictive anti-epidemic measures are aimed at preventing the spread of acute COVID-19 in Ukraine, according to a regulation published on the government’s website.

The new restrictions come less than a week after the National Bank of Ukraine has issued concerns that the resurging new COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta strain may have negative impact on the country’s economic growth.

Ukraine reported 1,081 new cases of COVID-19, along with 478 recoveries and 16 related deaths in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

The government’s amended regulation states that citizens of Ukraine who left abroad before August 4 will be able to return home without any delayes. In the future, Ukrainians will be able to freely cross the border if they have at least one COVID-19 vaccination.

Foreigners when crossing the border are required to have a full course of vaccination or a negative test result, taken 72 hours before entry, and an insurance policy.

In the absence of a full course of vaccination from a foreigner, at least one dose of vaccination from a citizen of Ukraine when crossing the border will be asked to install the Vdoma application, which will start to control self-isolation after 72 hours, if during this time the person does not receive a negative PCR result or an express test for the territory of Ukraine. In case of a positive result, the person is sent for self-isolation or treatment.

For those arriving from Russia and India, as well as those who have been on their territory for seven days in the last 14 days, there will be no opportunity to terminate self-isolation early: they will be required to go through a 14-day self-isolation or observation.

If the entrant refuses to activate the Vdoma application, he will be denied permission to cross the border.

In addition, self-isolation is provided for citizens arriving from the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

It will not affect persons under the age of 18; employees of representative offices of official international missions, organizations accredited in Ukraine, as well as participants in external independent assessment.

Compulsory self-isolation is also not provided for persons who intend to enter educational institutions, including courses (departments) for preparing for admission to state higher educational institutions located in the territory where public authorities exercise their powers in full, according to the regulation. (om/ez)