Pandemic of COVID-19: Scotland abolishes final school tests, whereas Ukraine enforces a lockdown.
In Ukraine, authorities are monitoring two new fast-spreading COVID-19 subvariants, Nimbus and Stratus, which pose a higher risk to immunocompromised individuals. The Ministry of Health advises vaccination with Omicron-specific vaccines, with revaccination every 6 to 12 months for high-risk groups. The authorities emphasize ongoing vigilance and preventive measures due to the potential for outbreaks outside the typical winter season. There are proposals to lift travel restrictions on Ukrainian men under 22, reflecting a loosening of some earlier movement restrictions [1].
In Moldova, no recent specific COVID-19 restrictions or updated measures were found as of August 2025 [2].
In Scotland, the search results did not provide information on the country’s current COVID-19 restrictions or policies. However, in 2020, final exams were canceled in high schools due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus, and students' final grades were determined based on teachers' assessments [3]. From January 8 to 24, 2021, Ukraine will strengthen quarantine restrictions, which they are calling 'Winter Holidays for Safety'. During the lockdown, cafes and restaurants will only operate for delivery and takeout [4].
In other news, Joe Biden has presented a new team to combat the coronavirus, promising a decisive, systematic approach. Biden plans to ask Americans to wear masks for an extended period, similar to the measures taken in Ukraine [5]. Biden also aims to vaccinate 100 million people in the first 100 days of his presidency [6].
References:
[1] Ukrainian Ministry of Health website
[2] Government of Moldova COVID-19 website
[3] Scottish Government COVID-19 website
[4] Ukrainian Government COVID-19 website
[5] White House COVID-19 website
[6] Biden-Harris Transition COVID-19 website
- The new COVID-19 team appointed by Joe Biden proposes an extended mask-wearing strategy, adopting a similar approach as Ukraine's initiatives in managing the virus, focusing on science and health-and-wellness.
- In the field of education-and-self-development, the disruptions caused by the coronavirus in Scotland led to the cancellation of final exams in high schools in 2020, underscoring the need for medical-conditions awareness and flexible policies.
