Ministry of Health (VM) at the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Friday determined that no more than 500 people may gather indoors at the places of events or economic services, and 1000 at the same time, according to the amendments to the law submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.
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It is also prohibited to organize amateur art, artistic groups and amateur sports events and to acquire interest and professional education in Aizpute, Daugavpils and its region, Dundaga, Kuldīga, Olaine, Talsi and Krāslava counties.
The restrictions will apply from Saturday, October 10, until December 31.
When organizing indoor public events, including entertainment venues, visitors should be in fixed, personalized seating.
In turn, adult continuing vocational education, professional development and non-formal adult education programs stipulate that the maximum number of persons allowed in such activities is 30 people.
Also, persons who are not directly involved in its organization and conduct will not be allowed to participate in sports training. Organizers of sports training and events will also be required to ensure that measures are taken to control the spread of Covid-19 infection and to monitor the compliance of athletes, sports staff and others with their responsibilities.
Sports events for children under the age of 18 will take place without spectators, according to the prepared amendments to the law.
Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (JV) expressed concern that “events are rushing faster than the government can react”, saying that the government should react proactively, given that the number of local sites where new cases of Covid-19 infection appear every day, is growing.
He said that it was necessary to set stricter preventive requirements in work teams in order to be able to act proactively. “We might regret that we have done too little than if we have done too much,” said Kariņš.
He also expressed that he was deeply concerned about the idea that a marathon with several thousand people would take place in Riga, and suggested postponing the marathon to a later time.
The Minister of the Interior Sandis Ģirģens (KPV LV) pointed out that organizing a marathon is currently a big risk and said that it will be difficult for the municipal police to control the two-meter distance between runners. “If the figures are such, then the marathon should be abandoned,” said Girgen.
Minister of Health Ilze Hänķele (AP) said that one should be aware that greater restrictions mean affecting economic activity – either stopping education in the state or restricting catering working hours for institutions or greater restrictions on gatherings, returning to canceled measures, smaller flows of people to be compensated. She suggested preparing an additional package, where people would be immediately informed about compensatory mechanisms if the government decides on the need to strengthen these restrictions.
Masks in workplaces where flow, separation and distance cannot be ensured are already prescribed by law, Hänķele reminded. She said that the infection took place in companies, work teams, “coffee together, when sick people come to work”, and reminded that the SPKC has prepared recommendations for employers, which they are called to follow.
“The marathon is organized within the framework of the existing regulations and there are no violations. The marathon has now become a topic where people can safely express the stress of Covid-19, but the marathon is now safer than a teacher’s tour,” said Nike.
She rejected the speculation that October 12 was set as the start time for the new restrictions to allow for various measures, but to give the people time to prepare, and agreed with Kariņš’s recommendation that the new restrictions take effect on Saturday, October 10.
Observing the dynamics of Daugavpils and Kuldīga, it can be concluded that local restrictions give their results and the results of infection in specific regions are decreasing, Ņķele said.
She recalled that the restrictions in the counties affected by Covid-19 differ from those in the rest of the country in that there is limited catering time until midnight in these counties and no interest education, choir and amateur theater rehearsals.
The Ministry of Justice proposed that the end date of the restrictions be set as the end of the year in order to avoid misunderstandings that many people would be able to gather during the public holidays and New Year. The proposal was supported.
It has already been reported that in response to the high incidence of Covid-19, on Friday, October 9, the government will decide on the strengthening of security measures, informed Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš.
It has already been reported that 4551 Covid-19 tests were performed in the last day, 137 new cases were registered, according to information compiled by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC).
A total of 353,788 examinations were performed in Latvia, 2,507 persons became ill and 1,322 recovered, and 40 died.
Also, according to the information compiled by the National Health Service (NSS), 10 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized in Latvia for the second day in a row.
As a result, a total of 47 patients are treated in hospitals: 42 with moderate disease and five with severe disease.
A total of 244 patients were discharged from the hospital.
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