Ukraine Cabinet moves to tighten quarantine through November

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine proposed on Aug.
25 to increase restrictions on foreign nationals entering from ‘red zone’
countries and extend domestic COVID-related quarantines through Nov. 1. The
measures, which include restricting the entry of Hasidim from Israel during the
Rosh Hashanah celebration, were discussed at the scheduled call-in chaired by
President Zelensky, as reported on the president’s website. Visitors from
countries with elevated coronavirus infection rates would be barred from
entering Ukraine for 30 days. One exception would be for Belarussians, and the
president recommended easing entry requirements due to the political situation
in Belarus.

During the call, preparations for the upcoming flu
season were mentioned as well as the need to protect the 500,000 people
involved in election commissions during the Oct. 25 local elections. Secretary
of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov
specified that masks and other personal protection equipment be made available
for them.

In related news, the Health Ministry reported on Aug.
26 that 1,670 people had been registered as having COVID-19, compared to peaks
last week at over 2,000 people.

James Hydzik: Now that the European summer travel season is winding down, tightening
travel restrictions will not have as much effect on sentiment, and discussing
plans regarding the flu season and elections are good on both pragmatic and
polling grounds. The proposal regarding Belarus may have unintended
consequences, though, if the government is not prepared to quarantine fleeing
Belarussians as part of the entry procedure.