Residents of the village of Iza, Khust district, Transcarpathia, protested against quarantine restrictions imposed due to an outbreak of viral hepatitis A. People blocked the road and set fire to a metal trailer where a quarantine checkpoint was supposed to be located.
The protest began on the evening of November 18. Several dozen villagers demanded the lifting of restrictions imposed by the regional commission on energy and emergency situations. Due to security measures, parents of schoolchildren received notices about the transfer of education to distance learning, and educational institutions in Iza were temporarily closed.
According to local residents, the decision to quarantine was unexpected and did not take into account the needs of the community. "Today, officials came to our village and declared it closed. Parents of children received text messages that they were not allowed to attend the school and kindergartens in Khust," said a protester.
The fire destroyed the metal trailer and the property inside. Several police and emergency services crews were on scene. Drivers were advised to take alternative routes.
On November 19, the protest continued: people again blocked the road at the pedestrian crossing, and the school remained closed. The leadership of the Khust community has not yet reacted to the situation.
As a reminder, on November 16, seven confirmed cases of hepatitis A were registered in Iza. On November 17, the regional commission adopted a number of anti-epidemic measures, including distance learning, a ban on mass events, and restrictions on the entry of tourist buses.
