Police in Lithuania is looking into, weather the mandatory rule of wearing respirators at indoor events has been complied with during an indoor reception in Kaunas to mark the second largest city becoming the European Capital of Culture. Lithuanian prime minister Ingrida Šimonytė has been one of the guests, public broadcaster LRT and Valdemaras Šukšta report.
On Saturday, Jaunary 22, Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matijošaitis welcomed guests at Žalgiris Arena before the official opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture 2022. Photos released by the Government Office show Šimonytė, Matijošaitis, and other guests were not wearing respirators – mandatory for public events – at some points during the reception. The prime minister was not wearing a respirator while giving a speech at the event.
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In accordance with current regulations, respirators must be worn at indoor events in Lithuania because of the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.
The officers are investigating the circumstances of the possible administrative offence, said Odeta Vaitkevičienė, a spokeswoman of the Kaunas Police. “We’ve received four reports […] on respirators not being worn during the event at Žalgiris Arena on Saturday. A decision will be taken after clarifying the circumstances,” she told LRT.lt. The offenders could receive a fine of between 500 and 1,500 euros, according to Vaitkevičienė.
The article originally appeared on LRT English: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1596140/police-investigate-lithuanian-pm-not-wearing-mask-at-reception
Lithuanian PM under police radar over compliance with respirator rule in events
