KIEV, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine saw record-high COVID-19 infections and deaths in the past 24 hours, data from the country's health ministry showed on Thursday.
Some 22,415 people have tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, marking the highest daily tally of newly confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic last year, according to a statement released on the ministry's website.
Besides, 546 Ukrainians have died of COVID-19 complications in the past 24 hours, exceeding the previous record of 538 fatalities reported on Oct. 19.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko urged local officials to speed up the pace of vaccination to help prevent further spread of the disease.
Ukraine, which has a population of some 42 million people, has recorded more than 2.7 million COVID-19 cases and 62,389 deaths during the pandemic.
According to official data, more than 6.7 million Ukrainians have been fully vaccinated so far. Enditem
