RNBO being the National Security and Defense Council:

On the backburner for now?

From RFE/RL's news desk:

Ukraine Reports First Coronavirus Death

Ukraine has reported its first novel coronavirus death. Authorities said on March 13 that an elderly woman died after being hospitalized a day earlier in a western region of the country, prompting security officials to announce a border closure to foreigners within 48 hours.

The 71-year-old victim, a resident of the town of Radomyshl in the Zhytomyr region, had reportedly felt unwell after returning from Poland on March 1 but did not initially seek medical care.

Ukrainian authorities said the borders would be closed to foreigners for two weeks but Ukrainian nationals would be allowed back into the country.

"In 48 hours, our country will close the border to foreigners," Oleksandr Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said.

State media said Ukrainian citizens who have been to any country with an acute outbreak of the virus will be allowed to enter but must comply with special observation procedures.

The Healthy Ministry said the woman who died was hospitalized on March 12 after her COVID-19 test came back positive.

Her case was the third confirmed coronavirus infection in the country.

Based on reporting by UNIAN, Espreso.tv, TASS, dpa, and Hromadske

BREAKING!!!

The Ukrainian Health Ministry has reported the country’s first recorded death by coronavirus. (Reuters, Interfax)

More to follow...