People who decide to take the Covid-19 test should be aware of queuing for testing, as labs complain about staff shortages, especially on holidays, in an interview this morning. Latvian Radio said the health minister Ilze Ņķele (AP).
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The Minister added that the situation in Latvia has not yet developed as in other European countries, where you have to wait several days for testing. “There is no situation in Latvia where long queues would be formed for testing, but I urge all residents to be patient, because laboratories complain about the insufficient number of people, especially on weekends,” said Heķele.
She called for tests not to be carried out close to where she lives, but to choose more remote testing sites where there may be less workload. The Minister also expressed hope that the laboratories would be able to extend their working hours on holidays, thus providing more testing opportunities.
It has already been reported that on Saturday, October 3, a crowd testing method will be implemented in Daugavpils, using a less unpleasant procedure for patients – performing Covid-19 saliva tests, Hänķele told reporters yesterday.
She said that it would be a method that was previously used in Kuldiga as well. This will be done with the support of E. Gulbis laboratory.
The Minister emphasized that it is planned to start implementing it in Daugavpils on Saturday, while more extensive applications of the method will be expected at the Children’s Clinical University Hospital, where this test method is being tested, as well as in schools. However, the first list of where to test this method is Daugavpils.
The Minister mentioned that in this way the amount of testing will be significantly increased, and the development of the situation will be further assessed.
It has already been reported that due to the spread of Covid-19 in Daugavpils and Kuldiga, restrictions will be introduced by mid-October, including no more than 500 people in indoor events at the same time, but no more than eight visitors at one table in public catering establishments. Cabinet of Ministers.
Ministers supported amendments to the regulations “Epidemiological safety measures to control the spread of Covid-19 infection”. The amendments stipulate that in the city of Daugavpils and Kuldiga a number of security measures must be provided in the city by 14 October.
In particular, there will be no face-to-face training in amateur arts and hobbies (including training, competitions and rehearsals). Persons will have to use mouth and nose pads when using public transport in the city, as well as in public spaces where it is not possible to ensure a distance of two meters.
Also, in public catering places in Kuldiga and Daugavpils it will be possible to start work no earlier than 6 o’clock and end no later than 24 o’clock.
Last day, 95 cases of Covid-19 cases were registered in Latvia, which is the largest number of cases detected per day so far, according to the data compiled by the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC).
According to the information available to the SPKC, 63 patients have been infected from previously known sources of infection, four have been infected abroad – in Ukraine, Russia and Austria, but the conditions of infection are being clarified for 28 persons and the epidemiological investigation is ongoing.
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