Fearing infection, dozens protest in Ukraine over coronavirus evacuees

Several people in central Ukraine have launched a protest to stop authorities from shifting evacuees from virus-hit China to a quarantine facility there.

Roads leading to a sanatorium in the village of Novi Sanzhary were blocked by residents over fears that the evacuees could be infected with the coronavirus, despite authorities assuring otherwise. 

It prompted President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to issue a statement reassuring the public there was no danger.

"But there is another danger that I would like to mention. The danger of forgetting that we are all human and we are all Ukrainian," he said.

"Attempts to block routes, block hospitals, not allow Ukrainian citizens into Ukraine - this does not show the best side of our character. Especially when you consider that most passengers are people under 30 years of age. For many of us, they are almost like children."