Latvian PM: many restrictions will be lifted, the only question is – when

Many restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of Covid-19 will be lifted. However, it is important to consider if this happens before or after the end of the state emergency in Latvia, said Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš in an interview to LTV programme Rīta panorāma.
He stressed that all restrictions currently in place in Latvia were adopted based on early predictions. However, the situation has changed, which means it would make sense to also change existing rules. Kariņš admitted that opinions about restrictions tend to veer towards extremes. This is why the government needs to come to a reasonable middle-ground. The PM believes it is important to continue the booster shot policy, the requirement to wear masks and undergo tests. «Everything should be balanced in accordance with this approach,» said the head of the Latvian government.
Kariņš stressed it is necessary to consider where and when the use of Covid-19 certificates has a point. He believes certificates should be requested in situations when residents are required to wear masks in public places.
«If, for example, stores are divided into limited areas for shoppers and people have to wear masks, we can employ the approach used in Lithuania, where certificates are not requested because there are two other levels of protection,» says the politician.
Lifting the requirement to present a certificate in certain situations is topic of discussions. Additionally, it is important to consider if the Ministry of Health is of the same mind, said the PM, adding that he has asked the ministry to reconsider all restrictions based on hospitalisation indexes.
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According to Kariņš, it is also important to understand that the current infection level might not have anything to do with the requirement to present a certificate in certain public places. «It seems we are close to the peak of Covid-19 pandemic, and the wave may come to a close in the coming weeks,» said the PM, stresses it is important for the restrictions policy to be similar to that in Estonia and Lithuania.
Latvian PM admits the Ministry of Health has employed a generally conservative approach in regards to lifting restrictions, adding that some sectors may have to remain closed even if some services are already available abroad. «People are like water that always finds its way, and right now we are warming Estonia’s economy,» said the PM, pointing to the aqua parks, which remain closed in Latvia but are already open in Estonia.
He says he would be happy if it is possible to lift some restrictions in February, especially the ones with the lowest epidemiological justifications. «We will lift open hour limits for businesses. I am convinced we will be able to lift the use of certificates in many sectors. The question is will this happen before or after the end of the state of emergency,» explains the politician.