“Not to close the economy and schools, but to get vaccinated,” Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš described the government’s approach.
Photo: State Chancellery
Today, at an extraordinary meeting of the government at 11 a.m., an extraordinary extension will be decided, according to information on the Joint Portal Development and Coordination (TAP) portal.
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As Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (JV) pointed out on Tuesday, January 4, after the ruling coalition party meeting, the state of emergency declared in the country is planned to be extended until February 28. The current order declaring a state of emergency stipulates that it is valid until 11 January.
The Prime Minister explained that the current restrictions will remain in force in the country, however, the requirements regarding the wearing of masks, the term of validity of vaccination certificates will be strengthened, as well as testing will be expanded.
Kariņš promised that as long as the restrictions remain in force, financial support mechanisms will be available to entrepreneurs.
The government plans to make the use of medical face masks or respirators mandatory in public places. At present, residents can also use reusable cloth face masks.
At a press conference on Monday, Health Minister Daniel Pavluts (AP) explained that the coalition supported the Ministry of Health’s (VM) offer to decide on the use of medical masks and FFP-2 respirators instead of cloth masks where masks are needed. This requirement is intended to be in place when masks and respirators are provided and there is a clear mechanism for making these masks accessible to the poor.
The use of a respirator will then be required in areas with a particularly high risk of infection, such as public transport, personalized health care, beauty care and elsewhere.
Changes are also planned regarding the validity of vaccinations against Covid-19 certificates for services and travel, but the changes will not affect the performance of work duties. Vaccination certificates are expected to be valid for nine months, while those who have received Johnson & Johnsnon vaccine will have a shorter period of five months.
Pavluts noted that on Monday, the coalition supported the proposal initiated by the Ministry of the Interior a month ago – on February 15, to “launch” a new system of certificate validity periods. Those who are five months old after receiving the Johnson & Johnsnon vaccine on February 15 will have to receive a booster dose, otherwise their certificates will no longer be valid. Recipients of doses from other vaccine manufacturers will be given nine months from the initial vaccination, Pavluts said.
Covid-19 testing is planned to be expanded, especially in the private sector.
The agency LETA has already reported that the Ministry of Environment has previously called for the emergency to be extended by at least three or four weeks in the format of the Operational Steering Group. The MoD expressed the view that a reduction in epidemiological safety requirements is currently not possible.
The ministry called for additional safety conditions, such as the use of medical masks or FFP2 respirators, mandatory testing of employees in critical industries, maximum remote work, additional self-testing for services such as amateur sports, choirs and dance groups.
The Ministry was entrusted with updating the recommendations for a safe working environment.
An entry in the minutes of the meeting showed that upon hearing the report on the prevalence of the Covid-19 omicron strain in Latvia, the representatives of the ministries and the social partners did not support the introduction of significant additional security measures.
During an emergency, an emergency situation and a series of epidemiological precautions are in place. Private gatherings are allowed up to 10 people indoors and up to 20 people outdoors. Most services are available in ‘green mode’, which means that they can only be obtained with a vaccination or Covid-19 disease certificate.
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