Latvian musicians, producers, event organisers and technical staff have turned to the Cabinet of Ministers with a request to follow the example set by neighbouring countries and lift Covid-19 restrictions.
According to authors of the letter sent to the government, as well as Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Health, organisations uniting Latvian musicians, producers, event organisers and staff servicing the entertainment industry with a request to «reopen» the doors of culture and public events for visitors and thereby follow the example of Lithuania and Estonia, as well as other EU member states.
The manager of L Tips Agency Gints Putniņš stressed that Covid-19 restrictions, «life-changing» rules and the inconsistency with which decisions are made have the biggest impact on sectors directly linked to public services – culture and entertainment events, concerts, sports events, catering and accommodation.
«We understand the efforts the government puts into caring for public health. We also understand the global processes related to Covid-19 pandemic, but what we don’t understand is why all decisions are made with a delay in Latvia, why decisions change every hour, if not everyday, and entrepreneurs that provide public events, musicians and other creative people often have no time to adapt, let alone engage in any long-term planning,» said Putniņš, adding that the only fact known for sure is that 28 February will mark the end the state of emergency.
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Technical support companies’ representative Normunds Eilands points towards the fact that the restrictions imposed in Latvia at the beginning were at least similar to the restrictions imposed elsewhere. «But a different thing is completely absurd: our neighbours and industry competitors in Lithuania and Estonia have already decided to lift restrictions, whereas our leaders in Latvia only intend to decide based on the situation,» said Eilands.
Kompānija NA manager Aldis Janēvics stresses that organisation and technical support is not a one-day project: it requires lengthy planning, managing and technical organisation.
«This is why we – technical staff, producers, event organisers and musicians – cannot do one thing one day and something different the next. It’s impossible. This is why predictability and permission to work when other countries already permit it is vitally important to let the industry function, earn and pay taxes to the state budget,» said Janēvics.
Musician Dons stresses that all the industry wants is for the government to lift all restrictions on 1 March, which would be done not in the interest of the people who submitted the request, but rather to ensure equal rules across the European Union.
Dons believes Latvia is the worst spot than other Baltic States. Additionally, in spite of the tightest restrictions for the event and entertainment sector in Baltic States, the infection rates in Latvia are not better when compared to Estonia and Lithuania.
As previously reported, in February the government in Latvia plans to decide on an exit strategy for Covid-19 pandemic.
«We want there to be clarity in this topic by the end of the state of emergency at the end of February,» said Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš.
«We have to move in line with infection and hospitalisation rates. It seems the level of hospitalisation in Latvia with Omicron variant of Covid-19 is different to the rate observed during Delta period – hospitals do not fill up as quickly.» The head of the government said one of the reasons is the large number of people who are vaccinated for Covid-19.
Musicians and event organisers urge the government to lift Covid-19 restrictions
