News in light language on March 21
News in light language on March 21Solveiga Leitlande00:00 / 04:49
—Everyone will be able to be vaccinated in the household
Off-site vaccination against Covid will soon begin. The Ministry of Health says it requires a lot of resources. Considerable time is spent on the road, and a different set of personal protective equipment is required for each vaccination.
Therefore, in order to save resources, all people in the household will also be able to be vaccinated against Covid in case of off-site vaccination.
Record 260 new cases of Covid; calls for vaccination against other diseases as well
Last day in Latvia, 260 new cases of Covid disease were registered and information on five deaths was received. Almost 5,000 tests have been performed. Of these, 5.3% were positive. 49 people were hospitalized and 17 people were discharged.
The Center for Disease Prevention and Control recalls that it is also important to be vaccinated against other diseases for which vaccines are intended during a Covid pandemic.
KNAB is not competent to assess the purchase of municipal cars
The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) does not see any possible irregularities in car purchase tenders in Jelgava City and Sigulda County Council. Latvian Radio reported on these competitions.
The Bureau states that this is not within their competence and responsibility. Because no laws restrict or prescribe specific requirements for what model, year of manufacture and assembly car can be purchased by municipal authorities.
On Monday, the production of Covid vaccines in Latvia will be discussed
European Commission Internal Market Commissioner Terry Bretton will arrive in Riga on Monday. He will discuss with the Ministry of Economics and representatives of pharmaceutical companies Latvia’s offer to get involved in the production of Covid vaccines.
At the end of February, all EU Member States received a letter from Bretton requesting information on vaccine production opportunities. In addition to Latvia’s initiative to get involved in the production of vaccines in our region, Finland has also shown.
A system for early detection of forest fires will be introduced
Latvia has started to introduce a remote fire detection and monitoring system in order to identify firing sites faster and more accurately. For the time being, the system has been implemented only in the Riga Regional Forestry.
In total, surveillance cameras have been installed on 12 fire observation towers. With their help, possible burning can be noticed even at a distance of 15 kilometers.
Currently, a total of 180 fire observation towers throughout Latvia are monitored by seasonal workers. But every year it is difficult to attract a sufficient number of attendants.
This remote operation of the system in the Riga region will be tested for five years and if it justifies its operation, it is planned to implement it throughout Latvia.
A war museum will be established in Daugavpils region
The Medum of the First World War heritage will be created in Medumi, Daugavpils region, and will be a joint project of the Latvian-Lithuanian cross-border program. The front line has been in the territories of both countries for several years.
There are similar museums in France and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, but we do not have them. Both the World War I heritage tourist route and the new museum in Medumi are planned to be opened in the beginning of 2023.
Europe lacks vaccines
The European Union is not currently in a position to donate vaccines to the poorest countries. This was stated by the President of the European Commission Urzula von der Leiena. Europe itself lacks the vaccine.
A year ago, she actively advocated the provision of vaccines to people around the world.
Poles are demanding compensation from Germany for the tests
People living in Poland and working in Germany have claimed compensation from Germany. This is to cover the additional costs caused by the German requirement to present a negative Covid test when crossing the border.
Germany said on Friday that neighboring Poland was considered a high-risk Covid zone. And asked everyone entering from Poland to report a negative test performed in the last 48 hours.
Several thousand Polish citizens work in Germany.
Rainfall in australia
Heavy rains continue in the state of New South Wales in eastern Australia. They have affected several cities. One of them is Sydney, which, according to meteorologists, could experience widespread floods in several decades.
Heavy rains and floods also threaten the vaccination process, which has already slowed down.
England protests against Covid
36 people have been detained in London in protest of Covid restrictions. Several thousand people took part in the protests. In England, the restrictions have been in place since January.
The US Secretary of Defense arrives in Afghanistan
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin paid an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Sunday. The situation in Afghanistan is devastated, as it is unclear whether the United States will be able to deliver on its promises to withdraw its troops from the country by 1 May.
A Hindu holiday threatens to cause a Covid outbreak
The Hindu festival in northern India could cause a major outbreak of the new coronavirus. Usually this celebration takes place for three months and attracts millions of believers from India and all over the world. However, due to the Covid pandemic, this time the festival will only take place for 30 days.
Concerns about the spread of the virus have not deterred pilgrims from attending the festivities, and most of these people are without face masks and do not respect social distancing.
Weather forecast
It will be partly cloudy at night, there will be more clouds in the east. Occasional snow. Northwest, west wind 5-10 meters per second, in coastal areas gusts up to 15-17 meters per second. Air temperature -1 .. -6 degrees, on the coast -1 .. + 2 degrees.
There will be a variable amount of clouds during the day. In places wet snow, rain. Northwest, west wind 4-9 meters per second, in the morning on the coast gusts up to 15 meters per second.
Maximum air temperature +1 .. +5 degrees.
Later next week, warmer weather is expected in Latvia, the air temperature will rise above +10 degrees in some places. The sky will often be covered by clouds, but there will be little rainfall.
The lowest air temperature is expected at night on Tuesday, when in some places in Vidzeme and Latgale the frost is likely to increase to -11 .. -14 degrees. On Tuesday afternoon, in some places in Kurzeme it is already possible to heat up to +10 degrees.
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News in light language on March 21Solveiga Leitlande00:00 / 04:49
—Everyone will be able to be vaccinated in the household
Off-site vaccination against Covid will soon begin. The Ministry of Health says it requires a lot of resources. Considerable time is spent on the road, and a different set of personal protective equipment is required for each vaccination.
Therefore, in order to save resources, all people in the household will also be able to be vaccinated against Covid in case of off-site vaccination.
Record 260 new cases of Covid; calls for vaccination against other diseases as well
Last day in Latvia, 260 new cases of Covid disease were registered and information on five deaths was received. Almost 5,000 tests have been performed. Of these, 5.3% were positive. 49 people were hospitalized and 17 people were discharged.
The Center for Disease Prevention and Control recalls that it is also important to be vaccinated against other diseases for which vaccines are intended during a Covid pandemic.
KNAB is not competent to assess the purchase of municipal cars
The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) does not see any possible irregularities in car purchase tenders in Jelgava City and Sigulda County Council. Latvian Radio reported on these competitions.
The Bureau states that this is not within their competence and responsibility. Because no laws restrict or prescribe specific requirements for what model, year of manufacture and assembly car can be purchased by municipal authorities.
On Monday, the production of Covid vaccines in Latvia will be discussed
European Commission Internal Market Commissioner Terry Bretton will arrive in Riga on Monday. He will discuss with the Ministry of Economics and representatives of pharmaceutical companies Latvia’s offer to get involved in the production of Covid vaccines.
At the end of February, all EU Member States received a letter from Bretton requesting information on vaccine production opportunities. In addition to Latvia’s initiative to get involved in the production of vaccines in our region, Finland has also shown.
A system for early detection of forest fires will be introduced
Latvia has started to introduce a remote fire detection and monitoring system in order to identify firing sites faster and more accurately. For the time being, the system has been implemented only in the Riga Regional Forestry.
In total, surveillance cameras have been installed on 12 fire observation towers. With their help, possible burning can be noticed even at a distance of 15 kilometers.
Currently, a total of 180 fire observation towers throughout Latvia are monitored by seasonal workers. But every year it is difficult to attract a sufficient number of attendants.
This remote operation of the system in the Riga region will be tested for five years and if it justifies its operation, it is planned to implement it throughout Latvia.
A war museum will be established in Daugavpils region
The Medum of the First World War heritage will be created in Medumi, Daugavpils region, and will be a joint project of the Latvian-Lithuanian cross-border program. The front line has been in the territories of both countries for several years.
There are similar museums in France and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, but we do not have them. Both the World War I heritage tourist route and the new museum in Medumi are planned to be opened in the beginning of 2023.
Europe lacks vaccines
The European Union is not currently in a position to donate vaccines to the poorest countries. This was stated by the President of the European Commission Urzula von der Leiena. Europe itself lacks the vaccine.
A year ago, she actively advocated the provision of vaccines to people around the world.
Poles are demanding compensation from Germany for the tests
People living in Poland and working in Germany have claimed compensation from Germany. This is to cover the additional costs caused by the German requirement to present a negative Covid test when crossing the border.
Germany said on Friday that neighboring Poland was considered a high-risk Covid zone. And asked everyone entering from Poland to report a negative test performed in the last 48 hours.
Several thousand Polish citizens work in Germany.
Rainfall in australia
Heavy rains continue in the state of New South Wales in eastern Australia. They have affected several cities. One of them is Sydney, which, according to meteorologists, could experience widespread floods in several decades.
Heavy rains and floods also threaten the vaccination process, which has already slowed down.
England protests against Covid
36 people have been detained in London in protest of Covid restrictions. Several thousand people took part in the protests. In England, the restrictions have been in place since January.
The US Secretary of Defense arrives in Afghanistan
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin paid an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Sunday. The situation in Afghanistan is devastated, as it is unclear whether the United States will be able to deliver on its promises to withdraw its troops from the country by 1 May.
A Hindu holiday threatens to cause a Covid outbreak
The Hindu festival in northern India could cause a major outbreak of the new coronavirus. Usually this celebration takes place for three months and attracts millions of believers from India and all over the world. However, due to the Covid pandemic, this time the festival will only take place for 30 days.
Concerns about the spread of the virus have not deterred pilgrims from attending the festivities, and most of these people are without face masks and do not respect social distancing.
Weather forecast
It will be partly cloudy at night, there will be more clouds in the east. Occasional snow. Northwest, west wind 5-10 meters per second, in coastal areas gusts up to 15-17 meters per second. Air temperature -1 .. -6 degrees, on the coast -1 .. + 2 degrees.
There will be a variable amount of clouds during the day. In places wet snow, rain. Northwest, west wind 4-9 meters per second, in the morning on the coast gusts up to 15 meters per second.
Maximum air temperature +1 .. +5 degrees.
Later next week, warmer weather is expected in Latvia, the air temperature will rise above +10 degrees in some places. The sky will often be covered by clouds, but there will be little rainfall.
The lowest air temperature is expected at night on Tuesday, when in some places in Vidzeme and Latgale the frost is likely to increase to -11 .. -14 degrees. On Tuesday afternoon, in some places in Kurzeme it is already possible to heat up to +10 degrees.
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