Ukraine prepares for September COVID wave as case numbers rise

Ukraine registered 962 cases of COVID-19 on July 29,
the Health Ministry announced on Facebook. This marks the second day in a row
of more than 800 cases registered, after a month below 800 cases daily.

In an interview with pravda.com.ua on July 28, Chief
Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin stated that the Delta variant of the coronavirus was
present in Ukraine, and that the first community transmissions had been
registered. Most cases involving the Delta variant involved people who had
travelled to Russia or India, however.

Kuzin expects the Delta variant to become the dominant
strain found in Ukraine in September, and that a new wave of COVID can be
expected. He expects to utilize the same adaptive quarantine system used since
November 2020, saying that it’s effective and quite flexible.

James Hydzik: With approximately 5% of the Ukrainian population vaccinated, an autumn
wave of COVID will be no surprise. Considering the experience of the past year
and a half, business disruption can be gauged. Essential business travel,
however, should be done sooner rather than later.