In order to keep the economy open even in worse epidemiological conditions, restrictions should be decentralized, according to the government’s social and cooperation partners at the Covid-19 Strategic Steering Group meeting on Thursday.
Representatives from the Latvian Employers’ Confederation (LDDK), the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS), the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Latvian Free Trade Union Confederation (LBAS) and the Latvian Association of Local Governments (LPS) presented a common position at the meeting.
The social and cooperation partners expressed the need to provide a legal framework for entrepreneurs to decide on the continuation of work, which, according to government representatives, is intended for educational institutions, ie the temporary closure of schools or certain classes could be decided by the director or municipality. According to the partners, decentralization and devolution would also allow entrepreneurs to make more flexible and targeted decisions.
The government partners also emphasized at the meeting that overcoming the crisis requires an active dialogue in order to assess the needs of society, the individual and the economy and to make joint and balanced decisions.
At the same time, the meeting also emphasized the need for active communication on daily Covid-19 information, showing every day how many Covid-19 patients have been without interoperable Covid-19 certificates, how many people have been hospitalized without certificates and how many have died. In response to this call, the Minister of Health Daniels Pavļuts (AP) stated that information about the infected in this form is provided every day, however, data on inpatients are more difficult to collect, however, active work is underway on this type of communication.
At the meeting, government partners and Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (JV), who chaired the meeting, agreed that the introduction of further restrictions should also take into account the number of people hospitalized with Covid-19, which would objectively show the current situation in hospitals, thus reducing the risk of overloading the hospital system. at the same time keeping the economy as open as possible.
Representatives of the government and its cooperation partners also agreed on increasing the capacity of the health system, which, according to the Minister of Health, has been taking place since the first half of this year. Both sides also agreed on the greater involvement of GPs in the vaccination process.
As Zane Berķe, Deputy Head of the Communication Department of the State Chancellery, informed LETA, Kariņš acknowledged that the polarization of society is an important consideration that threatens the achievement of the common goal, therefore the task of the government, social partners and non-governmental organizations is to continue discussions and reduce tensions.
At the same time, the social partners and the non-governmental sector, together with line ministries and experts, need to assess in detail the proposals presented at the Covid-19 Strategic Steering Group meeting.
Kariņš called on anyone who has not yet taken the opportunity to receive a free vaccine against Covid-19, and thanked those who have already taken the opportunity.
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