A Ukrainian government commission will meet soon to decide whether to tighten coronavirus lockdown restrictions, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal told a televised government meeting.

Ukraine lifted lockdown restrictions as cases dropped over the summer but could impose a nationwide “yellow” code, which restricts mass events, and limits the occupancy rates of gyms, cinemas and other culture venues.

“The epidemiological situation in Ukraine is predicted to deteriorate ... we see a tendency towards an increase in hospitalisations of patients with Covid-19, but the situation is not critical,” Reuters quoted Health Minister Viktor Lyashko as saying.