All travellers thermal screened before being allowed into Kyiv

Kyiv city authorities restricted entry to the capital of Ukraine on Thursday, with a thermal screening for all travellers as a preventive measure against the spread of the new coronavirus.

Police started with a selective check of drivers and passengers of private cars, later screening buses too.

If those screened showed temperatures higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 Fahrenheit) and there were symptoms of respiratory illness, they would then be tested for COVID-19 and sent into self-isolation.

For those with temperatures higher than 38 Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) and further symptoms of the coronavirus, an emergency medical team would be called to take the patient for hospitalisation.

In the first hours of the checks few people were found to be ill, but one was taken to a hospital for further examination.

Kyiv city authorities are eager to restrict the spread of the virus during the Easter holidays in Ukraine.

Ukraine has registered 4,161 coronavirus cases, including 116 deaths.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.

(Image Credit: AP)