Coronavirus is a pandemic that has already affected nearly 350,000 people in 192 countries. Ukraine is among those who have been active in the fight against COVID-19. Lviv, like the entire country, has been under quarantine since March 12 and it will continue until at least April 3. To implement additional measures in the fight against the virus and prevent its spread, Lviv IT Cluster launches an emergency project United for health to help Lviv and Lviv region.
The mission of the United for health project is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help the citizens who tested positive in Lviv and Lviv region. For this purpose, Lviv IT Cluster mobilizes forces of the IT community in Lviv, municipal and regional authorities, and the Coronavirus emergency operation center.
“Now is the time when every citizen has to take responsibility, observe quarantine rules, self-isolate, and take care of the health and well-being of their relatives. We, as a responsible IT community of the city, simply cannot stand aside from the fight against COVID-19. Therefore, we join forces to help physicians and citizens,” says Ivan Babichuk, Lviv IT Cluster Supervisory Board Chairman.
First of all, Lviv IT Cluster considers it necessary to purchase special express tests for mass testing of the population for the presence of the virus. After all, Ukraine ranks last in the ranking of countries by the number of tested for SARS-CoV-2. The most influential Ukrainian medical experts and media call this the most pressing problem, since an infected person can develop the disease even without symptoms, and at the same time, spread COVID-19.
“Diagnosing the virus on a large scale can save millions of lives. Therefore, joining efforts of the IT community and the authorities, we aim to purchase 100,000 express COVID-19 antibody tests for Lviv, which will be accessible to all residents of the city and the region”, – emphasizes Stepan Veselovsky, CEO of Lviv IT Cluster, – Mass population testing is the most effective way to combat the spread of the virus. That’s why purchasing the tests is our first step.”
All money of the Fund will be effectively distributed to those places and facilities, which will be determined by the emergency operation centers in Lviv and Lviv region. Overall, Lviv IT Cluster plans to raise UAH 5 million in the first phase of the project to procure SARS-CoV-2 express tests.
The next steps of Lviv IT Cluster include launching a campaign to raise funds for the city’s medical facilities` emergency needs and creating the Coronavirus Fund.
As a reminder, as of the morning of March 23, 61 people are being treated in Lviv Infectious Diseases Communal Clinical Hospital on suspected symptoms of COVID-19.