Scotland Abandons Final Exams in Schools Amid COVID-19, Ukraine Enforces Lockdown
In the ongoing global battle against COVID-19, several significant developments have emerged.
Moldova's Prime Minister, Ion Chicu, has contracted the virus and will continue working in self-isolation. As of now, Moldova has reported 119,204 cases of infection and almost 2,500 deaths.
Across the Atlantic, the United States has registered over 15 million cases of Covid-19 and over 286,000 deaths. As of late July to mid-August 2025, COVID-19 infections are rising steadily with wastewater and test positivity rates increasing, especially in the West and Southwest regions. However, deaths have slightly declined recently.
In Europe, Scotland's authorities have cancelled final exams for senior classes in 2021. These exams determine students' eligibility for university places in Scotland. In 2020, final results were calculated using a computer model based on past school averages in the UK.
Switzerland has previously been reported to be tightening anti-coronavirus measures. In Ukraine, authorities plan to reintroduce strict measures to combat the coronavirus after the New Year holidays, with a lockdown from January 8 to 24 referred to as 'Winter Holidays for Safety'.
Joe Biden has presented a new team to combat the coronavirus and promised to vaccinate 100 million people in the first 100 days of his presidency.
In Scotland, teachers will assess students' achievements throughout the year to determine their final grades, as opposed to the average-based method used in 2020. This change was made due to disruptions in normal school operations and the learning process caused by the coronavirus. Consequently, authorities abandoned the average-based method and awarded students the grades given by their teachers in the UK in 2020. Final exams were also cancelled across the UK in 2020.
During the lockdown in Ukraine, cafes and restaurants will only operate for delivery and takeout, gyms, cinemas, and non-food stores will be closed. Public transport will continue to operate, and grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, hotels, and post offices will remain open.
Globally, in the 28-day period from June 30 to July 27, 2025, 5,184 new COVID-19 hospitalizations and 171 ICU admissions were reported across 36 countries. There were 846 new deaths reported in 41 countries, which is a decrease compared to the previous period. Most deaths (87%) occurred in people aged 65 and older.
Specific country-level current infection and death rates for Ukraine, Moldova, and Switzerland were not detailed explicitly in the latest WHO or CDC reports available. However, some European countries, which could include Ukraine, Moldova, and Switzerland, showed trends of increasing hospitalizations, ICU admissions, or deaths, but no exact figures for these countries were provided.
For the most accurate and up-to-date figures by country, consulting national health ministry dashboards or the WHO COVID-19 dashboard directly may be necessary.
Science plays a crucial role in the ongoing medical-conditions battle against COVID-19, with education-and-self-development resources providing essential information to combat the pandemic. World leaders, including Moldova's Prime Minister Ion Chicu, are utilizing health-and-wellness best practices, such as self-isolation, to manage their personal COVID-19 battles.
