Kyiv

[AntonySun1996]

So conceivable that Kyiv will be flooded with older mongers soon

Not if the coronavirus eventually leads to a global recession. Fewer mongers would have the money to spare.

[Kozerog]

From what I'm reading, most people in big cities will eventually get infected, though hopefully the virus will soon mutate to be less deadly than the current 3% or whatever. I'm taking few precautions myself to avoid infection, but I am trying to keep strong and healthy so as to fight the infection when I do get it. I am also keeping in mind that, at any moment, I might suddenly get very sick and need to climb into bed and remain there for several weeks. So need to arrange my business affairs to allow this. There's also the risk of everyone around me suddenly getting sick, so that services I depend on might shut down (air travel, in particular), so need to be prepared for that too.

Currently, coronavirus kills or leaves lasting injuries mostly in those over age 40, while mostly leaving younger people unhurt. Since Kyiv has a youngish population, it should be lightly affected if this age selectivity continues true. Mongers are mostly older and thus more vulnerable and of course mongering is a discretionary activity that can be reduced at any time. Thus possibly girls will become desperate for busines once they are reassured that young people are not too vulnerable. Then again, something I've noticed in other crisis situations, is that many people who should be running away instead run towards the crisis, and vice-versa. So conceivable that Kyiv will be flooded with older mongers soon but no girls want to work. I still plan on going there this summer myself.

[Koijima]

Welcome to the forum, Koijima!

I am curious where you flew in from and if they do that with all flights.

I flew in from Nuremberg, no idea about the other flights.

[YummyPL]

When I flew in, they temp checked everyone on the plane. Not sure that qualifies as good government controls.

Welcome to the forum, Koijima!

I am curious where you flew in from and if they do that with all flights.

[Riina]

I'm guessing all expats are wondering how their sweetheart will react in a time of crisis. Get out now if you only have fake friends.

[AntonySun1996]

When I flew in, they temp checked everyone on the plane. Not sure that qualifies as good government controls.

Glad to see the government has started to take actions to mitigate the risk of virus outbreak.

However it looks like the death rate is actually lower since they are catching more people with the disease that only have mild symptoms. Previously, they were only catching the worse cases so the death rate is significantly inflated.

In any case wanted to give my 2 cents and thank all the previous contributions to the forum.

The global death rate so far is about 3%. It varies depending on the country and age group. Older people are more likely to develop severe symptoms, and death rate in countries with insufficient medical resources could be higher.

Anyway I hope everything could get under control soon.

[Koijima]

Yes there seems to be a significant decrease in travellers to Kiev from my observation at Borispil Airport. No long queues at passport control when I arrived there late February.

On the other hand I am a little bit concerned about the potential coronavirus outbreak in Ukraine. It appears to me that the government has done little trying to stop the epidemic. There was no health or temperature check at KBP, and the immigration officer didn't ask me any question regarding my traveling history. This was very different from my experience in Moscow and Minsk airports, where I was required to take health checks by medical teams at the airports because I come from a high-risk country.

There are already multiple confirmed cases in surrounding countries including Russia, Belarus, Romania and Baltic States. There is a high risk of potential outbreak of this disease in Ukraine, considering the number of Ukrainians traveling to EU, and the public lack of awareness of severity of the coronavirus situation. I live in Kiev suburbs with my girlfriend and I have seen literally no one here wearing masks in the streets.

I would suggest to stop meeting random girls for a while if possible. This disease is not a common flu. Its death rate is significantly higher than flu. It keeps mutating quickly. A new study in China finds that the coronavirus can cause irreversible brain damage even if it is eventually cured.

When I flew in, they temp checked everyone on the plane. Not sure that qualifies as good government controls.

Given the infection rate if you go out you're vulnerable, no intimate contact needed.

However it looks like the death rate is actually lower since they are catching more people with the disease that only have mild symptoms. Previously, they were only catching the worse cases so the death rate is significantly inflated.

In any case wanted to give my 2 cents and thank all the previous contributions to the forum.

[AntonySun1996]

Is the Coronavirus affecting the number of people traveling to Kiev yet? I understand when the bird flu hit Kiev was a ghost town.

Yes there seems to be a significant decrease in travellers to Kiev from my observation at Borispil Airport. No long queues at passport control when I arrived there late February.

On the other hand I am a little bit concerned about the potential coronavirus outbreak in Ukraine. It appears to me that the government has done little trying to stop the epidemic. There was no health or temperature check at KBP, and the immigration officer didn't ask me any question regarding my traveling history. This was very different from my experience in Moscow and Minsk airports, where I was required to take health checks by medical teams at the airports because I come from a high-risk country.

There are already multiple confirmed cases in surrounding countries including Russia, Belarus, Romania and Baltic States. There is a high risk of potential outbreak of this disease in Ukraine, considering the number of Ukrainians traveling to EU, and the public lack of awareness of severity of the coronavirus situation. I live in Kiev suburbs with my girlfriend and I have seen literally no one here wearing masks in the streets.

I would suggest to stop meeting random girls for a while if possible. This disease is not a common flu. Its death rate is significantly higher than flu. It keeps mutating quickly. A new study in China finds that the coronavirus can cause irreversible brain damage even if it is eventually cured.

[Tomster99]

I don't.

Website is up, and has phone + email, but online chat doesn't respond. Maybe Viber or other messenger is available on the number they provide in contacts? Massage parlors in Kiev open and close when they feel like.

Thanks P.S. Yeah. I checked their website and came to the same conclusion. But my phone would say something in Ukrainian if I call. Seems they have been disconnected.

Darn.

[PhotoSlider]

Anyone would know if they are out of business?

Last two times I wanted to go by noone answered the door.

I don't.

Website is up, and has phone + email, but online chat doesn't respond. Maybe Viber or other messenger is available on the number they provide in contacts? Massage parlors in Kiev open and close when they feel like.

[Tomster99]

Anyone would know if they are out of business?

Last two times I wanted to go by noone answered the door.

[DramaFree11]

Yes and no. Going to public hospital with Corona symptoms may indeed result in a great adventure! And a newbie considering a visit Kiev for few days perhaps better should stay away for now, to see how it plays out. Yesterday there was a first officially recognized case in Chernovcy. There must be more, as travel with Europe is strong.

In that respect Riina is definitely right.

Still, I have been treated with real problems in Kiev. I have received not only much more affordable, but also more professional wholistic care, way better than in US under corporate umbrella. Certain chronic issues were not treated in US for many years after repeated attempts. Urology, dermatology, etc.

I certainly wouldn't show up at the public city hospital, especially if the system gets overwhelmed. On the other hand private clinics in Kiev, as CastOnThis pointed out, serve me personally better than in US. I travel to Kiev since 1986, and since 2016 regularly use few private clinics for anything, ranging from proactive diagnostics to more serious ailments.

For surgeries though, I would still prefer US. For any dental emergency in Kiev I would only go to the dentist after referral from a solid source. Did that as well. In rare specific cases orthodontists (bite experts) in Kiev were better educated than in US. Sure there are many charlatans, that can not only do poor job, but also infect with hepatitis or god knows what. One of my fired GFs had paid to cosmetic surgery for nothing. She looks OK, but after paying few thousand dollars to a part time undertaker, that she found on Internet, the desired result was not achieved. So I do not go at random.

I have to agree with P.S. On this one. I had great experience with doctors and dentist in Kiev. Definitely would try to avoid Surgery there, but as he said there are no issues with the good clinics in Kiev, also he is correct they do incorporate the holistic medicine with traditional medicine, unlike the states.

[PhotoSlider]

That's just not true if you fall ill to a real problem. I'm just saying to wait for warmer weather and better news. Foreigners can expect the respect of a buck tooth idiots if they show up to a Ukrainian hospital with scary symptoms.

Yes and no. Going to public hospital with Corona symptoms may indeed result in a great adventure! And a newbie considering a visit Kiev for few days perhaps better should stay away for now, to see how it plays out. Yesterday there was a first officially recognized case in Chernovcy. There must be more, as travel with Europe is strong.

In that respect Riina is definitely right.

Still, I have been treated with real problems in Kiev. I have received not only much more affordable, but also more professional wholistic care, way better than in US under corporate umbrella. Certain chronic issues were not treated in US for many years after repeated attempts. Urology, dermatology, etc.

I certainly wouldn't show up at the public city hospital, especially if the system gets overwhelmed. On the other hand private clinics in Kiev, as CastOnThis pointed out, serve me personally better than in US. I travel to Kiev since 1986, and since 2016 regularly use few private clinics for anything, ranging from proactive diagnostics to more serious ailments.

For surgeries though, I would still prefer US. For any dental emergency in Kiev I would only go to the dentist after referral from a solid source. Did that as well. In rare specific cases orthodontists (bite experts) in Kiev were better educated than in US. Sure there are many charlatans, that can not only do poor job, but also infect with hepatitis or god knows what. One of my fired GFs had paid to cosmetic surgery for nothing. She looks OK, but after paying few thousand dollars to a part time undertaker, that she found on Internet, the desired result was not achieved. So I do not go at random.

The level of Kiev healthcare is dictated by amount of money available in multi-million people megapolis, tradition of health care in Kiev in particular, and availability of visa free travel to outside clinics for treatment of customers and education of staff.

There is no doubt there are medical scams, collusion and corruption. Few weeks ago cosmetic surgeon was shot dead downtown Kiev by hired killer to make a point about certain business practices by his parents. Family moved from Donetsk, where his industrious mom laid off number of employees. And it came back. Both perpetrators have been arrested, but the doctor has checked out forever.

That is why I use my Kiev connections, going to specific trusted clinics and specialists.

The other serious problem in Ukraine. Fake counterfeit medication, all over!

But I like direct access to anything: treatment, most medication, diagnostic tests, specific specialists.

Anyway, it's a matter of perception. For some it is convenient to believe that Ukraine is inferior in everything. My belief is that US healthcare objectives are making money, long term health management and milking instead of cure, patching of symptoms, waiting out to see if ailment disappears on its own, strong reliance on pharmaceutical miracles, control of information flow, and elimination of potential liability. Healthcare in Kiev is slowly and inevitably moving in that direction too due to business drivers, but still, the main objective is to **cure** the patient.

This discussion is somewhat similar to mongering. I think that for me personally Kiev has the best girls, and many of them are acting sincere enough while we are together. Over the years, just like with doctors, I built a network of regulars, that are happy to meet. 4 of them spoke to me remotely today. Someone else may say that they are all ugly scammers and cannot be trusted. Matter of perception. Nothing personal.

[PhotoSlider]

That's because you pay for top doctor and institution in Kiev that most people in Ukraine cannot afford. While if you paid the same amount in the states, they would just laugh at you and you would be treated by mediocre healthcare staff.

Precisely! Few more healthcare options are available in US:

1. Health Management Organization / Insurance or even primary care physician may deny the treatment because it is outside of their guidelines / cost structure.

2. Become a rock star, like Keith Richards, and pay exorbitant amounts to private doctors and clinics, where the best care is available. Except, as we know, Michael Jackson has died in the hands of those. So did Chris Cornell. And many others.

[Riina]

I am of an opinion that healthcare in Kiev for me personally is better than in US.

That's just not true if you fall ill to a real problem. I'm just saying to wait for warmer weather and better news. Foreigners can expect the respect of a buck tooth idiots if they show up to a Ukrainian hospital with scary symptoms.