U.S. moves Ukraine to Level 4 as COVID begins to peak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
in the U.S. moved Ukraine to Level 4, it’s most severe rating, on Oct. 25. The
CDC recommends to avoid travel to Ukraine, even for the vaccinated, due to the
likelihood of catching and spreading COVID, the CDC’s announcement on cdc.gov
stated.

The move  comes as more oblasts are included in
Ukraine’s Red epidemiological level. On Oct. 26, 22,574 new cases of COVID-19
were recorded, and 692 deaths, the Health Ministry reported. Moreover, Minister
of Health Viktor Lyashko told pravda.com.ua on Oct. 26 that Ukraine would start
importing oxygen from Poland due to closures at two of Ukraine’s medical oxygen
producing plants and that it’s faster to import it from Poland than transport
it from eastern Ukraine.

James Hydzik: While Ukraine now has a general flow for dealing with pandemic waves,
the oxygen situation shows how fragile the response is. In terms of travel, the
border is not totally closed yet, and no indication has been made that this is
being considered – yet.