Ukraine registers record daily number of COVID-19 deaths

By YURAS KARMANAU
Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has reported another record daily number of COVID-19 deaths as vaccinations in the nation of 41 million people lags. Ukraine’s Health Ministry registered 734 deaths in 24 hours, raising the country’s pandemic death toll to 64,936. Ukrainians can choose between the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines, but just about 16% of the population has been fully vaccinated. That’s Europe’s second-lowest rate after Armenia. The government responded to a steady rise in confirmed cases and deaths by requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test to board planes, trains and long-distance buses. A city in southeastern Ukraine had to suspend public transportation on Tuesday due to the number of drivers refusing to get vaccinated.