Ukraine sank deeper into crisis over the spread of the Covid virus, with 333 deaths recorded over a 24-hour period on March 23 — exceeding 300 for the first time — and tough red-zone restrictions extending into new areas throughout the country, the Health Ministry said.

Health Minister Maksim Stepanov issued a separate warning about the dangers posed by the “UK variant” of the virus, saying he was considering altering medical protocols because of the variant’s higher risks of contagion – three times greater than the standard virus. It was now present in most parts of Ukraine.

“This means that the number of cases is growing very rapidly,” Stepanov told a briefing. “This stream has a short incubation period of three days. And the virus is spreading very quickly.”

The number of new infections in Kyiv exceeded 1,000 over a 24-hour period, as it did throughout most of last week and doctors told media that many hospitals had all available beds occupied. Nine regions, including the capital, were subject to “red zone” restrictions, with schools on remote learning and most shops shut, along with restaurants, theatres and cinemas.

A leading member of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party said legislation would be introduced to parliament urgently to provide compensation for businesses.

Some 1.56 million people have contracted Covid in Ukraine and just over 30,000 have died. Ukraine has secured half a million doses of an Indian produced version of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine, but medical staff and opposition politicians say the vaccination campaign is proceeding too slowly. Authorities face resistance from Ukrainians unwilling to receive the vaccination — a recent poll showed just over a half of respondents had no intention of getting the shot.