KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine faces a “very severe” period of COVID-19 cases but will not tighten lockdown restrictions because measures taken last week should stabilise the situation, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov told Reuters on Wednesday.The government on Saturday introduced a lockdown at weekends, closing or restricting most businesses except essential services such as grocery shops, pharmacies, hospitals and transport. A member of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s administration resigned over the decision, some mayors refused to comply with the government’s order and some business owners held protests. But Stepanov said the move meant there would be 10-15% fewer COVID-19 cases than there might have been. “I can say with confidence that if we adhere to these measures, we will be able to stop the growth, at least stabilise it where it is now,” Stepanov said in a video interview.