The Lithuanian Health Ministry has announced updated rules for travellers in the context of Covid-19 testing, self-isolation and the virus variant of Omicron spreading fast in the EU.
Lithuania has updated its weekly travel restrictions, adding Spain’s Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and French Guiana to the red list. Romania has been moved from the red to the yellow list.
According to the Health Ministry, arrivals from the red and grey list countries will be recommended to take a Covid-19 PCR test on the third day of arrival at the latest, including those who have been fully vaccinated.
This recommendation will not apply to those who have tested positive for the coronavirus (confirmed by a PCR test) within 90 days of arriving in Lithuania.
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The tests can be taken free of charge by registering with the country’s coronavirus hotline at 1808 or 1808.lt.
People coming from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe will have to self-isolate for 10 days and take two PCR tests, one on the third day of isolation and the second test between seven and ten days after arrival.
However, under the new rule changes, those recovered from Covid in the past 90 days will be exempt from the mandatory double testing when returning from the Omicron-affected countries listed above, which are subjected to enhanced control measures.
Self-isolation rules remain unchanged, and people arriving from these countries will still need to undergo a 10-day quarantine. The rules also apply to people who have been fully vaccinated.
Remaining requirements stay the same
As before, people coming from countries on the red list must self-isolate for ten days and get tested for Covid-19, unless they have recovered from the coronavirus in the past 180 days or have been vaccinated.
Travellers arriving from yellow-zone countries are required to get tested before their trip and take a second test between days 3 and 5 after arrival. Testing can be done at a mobile testing site after registering online (1808.lt) or by phone (1808).
Arrivals from a country on the green list only need to have a pre-departure Covid-19 test.
These requirements do not apply to travellers who have a certificate that they have recovered from the coronavirus, valid for 180 days after the positive test result, and those who are fully vaccinated with at least 14 days after their second shot.
All travellers must also fill in a questionnaire before coming to Lithuania. The lists of countries are available on the website of the Lithuanian Health Ministry here.
The article originally appeared on LRT English: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1568070/travel-update-lithuania-changes-testing-requirements-for-arrivals
Lithuania changes covid test rules to travellers
