Last week, the top news in Lithuania were honorary title to former President Valdas Adamkus, easing of Covid-19 restrictions by the government and Lithuania’s welcoming attitude to Covishield, Nuvaxovid vaccines.
Family Movement’s request to stage February 16 rally denied
Vilnius authorities said on Monday, January 31, they have received two requests for events in the Lithuanian capital on February 16 when the country will mark its Independence Day. One of them was lodged by the Lithuanian Family Movement, asking for permission to stage a rally. The requests have been turned down. On January 13, people attending a rally held by the Lithuanian Family Movement near the Seimas booed Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė who were giving speeches during a Freedom Defenders’ Day commemoration. Following the incident, fears were growing that similar things might happen on February 16.
US’s Library of Congress to store digital info from Mažvydas Library
The Library of Congress, one of the world’s largest and oldest libraries, will store the digital content of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania in its archives, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library announced on Tuesday, February 1. According to the Lithuanian library, the Library of Congress has been granted permission to regularly collect and archive information from Lithuania’s National Library, published on its website, including the website’s public third-party contents, for example, Facebook, YouTube etc. The Library of Congress will provide access to the collected contents under a special agreement signed with the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.
Ex-President Adamkus named honorary citizen of Vilnius
Vilnius City Council on Wednesday, February 2, decided to make ex-Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus an honorary citizen of the Lithuanian capital as was proposed by Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius. The latter says Adamkus’ policies «had major impact on Vilnius becoming a safe EU and NATO capital in this century», adding that during his presidency, Vilnius became visible in the world as defending democratic freedoms and human rights, as well as «a city promoting dialogue between cultures and civilizations ». Adamkus becomes the city’s 20th honorary citizen since 1996 when the Lithuanian capital started awarding this title.
Lithuanian cabinet approves zero VAT on heating
The Lithuanian government decided on Wednesday, February 2, to temporarily apply a zero VAT rate to district heating for households. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said the parliament would be asked to debate and vote on the proposed amendment under a fast-track procedure. Finance Minister Gintarė Skaistė said zero VAT would help mitigate a surge in households’ heating bills and would cost the state budget 23 million euros. District heating to households is now subject to a reduced VAT rate of 9 percent. If the parliament passes the amendment, the zero VAT rate will be in effect from January 1 to the end of the heating season in late April.
Lithuania to recognize Covishield, Nuvaxovid coronavirus vaccines
Covishield, AstraZeneca’s Indian-manufactured Covid-19 vaccine, and Nuvaxovid, Novavax’s jab registered by the European Medicines Agency, will be recognized in Lithuania, the government decided on Wednesday, February 2. According to Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys, Covishield has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Covishield shots are not administered in Lithuania, but AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria vaccine, approved for use in the EU, is available in the country. As to Nuvaxovid, the Lithuanian government has decided to purchase 633,000 doses of the vaccine, with the first shots expected to arrive in the country in the first quarter of this year.
Read also: BNN ANALYSES | Is ex-Lithuanian PM Skvernelis seeking presidential office with his new party?
Lithuania scraps compulsory preventive Covid-19 testing of workers
The Lithuanian government decided on Wednesday, February 2, to lift the compulsory preventive Covid-19 testing requirement for workers in certain areas. The resolution will take effect after its publication. Deputy Health Minister Aurimas Pečkauskas also said that the lifting of the preventive testing requirement would considerably reduce the workload on testing sites. With Lithuania’s daily count of new Covid-19 cases hitting new record highs in recent weeks, people sometimes have to wait for up to several days to get tested. Currently, workers in medical, social care, education, pharmacy, public transport, manufacturing, food service and other sectors are required to get tested for Covid-19 regularly as a precaution.
President suggests raising tax-free income
President Gitanas Nausėda on Thursday, February 3, suggested raising the non-taxable personal income threshold to 510 euros, from the current 460 euros, as part of measures to help people cope with high inflation. Nausėda also suggests providing one-off payments of 100 euros to some of the most vulnerable groups, such as pensioners, or families with many children or those struggling to make ends meet. The parliament will be asked to debate amendments to the non-taxable personal income threshold at a special session in February. If approved, the measure would be effective from the start of this year or from July, according to Nausėda.
Unemployment edges up to 7 percent in last quarter of 2021
Lithuania’s unemployment rate edged up by 0.3 percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2021 from the third quarter to 7 percent, official statistics showed on Friday, February 4. The total number of people out of work rose by 3,800 over the quarter to 102,800, and the number of long-term unemployed people increased by 8,100 to 43,800, according to Statistics Lithuania.
Lithuania reports 12,294 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths
Lithuania has recorded 12,294 coronavirus infections and 13 deaths from Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Friday, February 4. Two of the fatalities were fully vaccinated. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals has risen by a few dozen to 1,442, including 92 ICU cases. The 14-day infection rate has increased further to 4,693.8 per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests up to 44.4 percent. Overall, around 727,200 people in Lithuania have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic and the death toll has reached over 7,900.
Week in Lithuania: Ex-President named honorary citizen of Vilnius, Lithuania to recognise new Covid-19 vaccines
