Queues for COVID vaccines in Ukraine as cases, deaths hit record

KYIV - People in Ukraine's capital Kyiv queued in their hundreds for COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday after a surge in daily cases and related deaths past previous highs led authorities to tighten pandemic restrictions.

Some 22,415 new infections were registered over the 24 hours to Thursday, exceeding the previous record of 20,341 on April 3. Health ministry data also showed there were 546 new deaths, more than the Oct. 19 high of 538.

Coronavirus cases among Ukraine's population of 41 million have been climbing for weeks, prompting the government to tighten curbs last month.