Ukraine reaches 10,000 coronavirus cases as public chafes against lockdown

FILE PHOTO: A police officer wearing protective gear stands guard at the entrance of a quarantined hostel, which was closed after dozens of residents tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Vyshneve near Kiev, Ukraine April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine reached 10,000 coronavirus cases on Thursday as Health Minister Maksym Stepanov urged the public to be patient and not violate lockdown measures that have kept the country's death toll far lower than in much of western Europe.

The government shut businesses such as cafes, restaurants, markets and cinemas last month, closed its borders to foreign citizens and shut down almost all air and rail travel, causing a spike in job losses.