Starting with Python 3.8, the .dll search mechanism has changed (Win specific).
According to [Python.Docs]: os.add_dll_directory(path) (emphasis is mine):
Add a path to the DLL search path.
This search path is used when resolving dependencies for imported extension modules (the module itself is resolved through sys.path), and also by ctypes.
…
Availability: Windows.
So, you could do:
os.add_dll_directory("${path_to_working_dlls_directoy}")
where ${path_to_working_dlls_directoy} is a placeholder for the actual path and it (obviously) should be replaced by it.
You can check [SO]: PyWin32 and Python 3.8.0 (@CristiFati’s answer) (which although it seems very different, has the same cause), for more details.
P.S.: Nix OSes are not impacted.