Latvian Minister of Health Daniels Pavļuts will submit to the closest meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers the three-step plan to reduce Covid-19 restrictions as conceptually agreed upon by parties of the ruling coalition this week.
The minister said that, considering an incredibly complicated and fragile situation with the healthcare sector, it is planned to lift security measures gradually. Pavļuts also thanked partners of the coalition ‘for their understanding of the situation and the support provided to explain to residents in a clear manner when and which restrictions will be lifted while maintaining the necessary level of epidemiological safety’.
The first step provides for lifting restrictions for children and lifting the open hours limit for retailers from 16 February onward.
The Ministry of Health explains – considering the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic in Latvia has reached its peak among children and youngsters and that infection rates have started to drop, from 16 February onward children and youngsters will be allowed to go to places under green regime, as well as participate in hobby group education, amateur arts and sports activities without the need to present a valid Covid-19 certificate or negative test result.
Amendments to relevant Cabinet of Ministers regulations are already approved to allow students and teachers listed as contacts of confirmed Covid-19 patients to not have to undergo self-isolation after 14 February. From 16 February onward the same will apply to kindergartens. For the safety of students and teachers, however, it is planned to maintain comprehensive testing, notes the ministry.
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The second step includes the cancellation of many active epidemiological restrictions from 1 March onward. The ministry explains that it is planned to open up the sectors of the economy that were closed down due to the pandemic, such as indoor entertainment, attractions, night clubs, etc. It is also planned to lift the restriction on open hours, as well as the requirement to present a valid Covid-19 certificate at retail stores. At the same time, similarly to Lithuania, the government will maintain the requirement for stores to provide an area of at least 15 m2 per customer.
From March onward the ministry plans to increase the number of simultaneous participants of organised events (to 3 000). It is also stated there will be no need to register participants or create distance between seats. Events that do not require seats for an audience will be permitted as well. As for private events, both indoor and outdoor events will be permitted to include 50 people. No group restrictions will be imposed for amateur art, sport and education.
The ministry plans to permit non-essential travel (tourism) from all countries as long as travellers have a valid Covid-19 certificate or negative test result. There will be no self-isolation requirement. The requirement to wear medical masks or FFP2 respirators will remain. Ventilation and distance work will be a recommendation. A the same time, Covid-19 certificates will not be requested at outdoor events and services.
By 1 April it is planned to make sure Covid-19 certificates are used in indoor environments with the highest risk of the spread of infection – public events (concerts, performances, film theatres, indoor sports events), night clubs, attractions, sports or amateur performances, catering, individual services at which medical masks or FFP2 respirators are not used. Certificate validity term to receive services will be moved from 15 February to 1 April.
The third step states that from 1 April onward all mandatory safety measures are to be cancelled and only recommendations are to remain.
Minister of Health to present Latvian government with three-step plan to lift restrictions
