The government will decide to extend the emergency until January 11 / Article / LSM.lv

The government will decide to extend the state of emergency until January 11, said Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (“New Unity”), who met with President Egils Levits and Speaker of the Saeima Ināra Mūrniece (National Union) on Monday, November 30. Officials discussed a plan to impose tougher restrictions on Covid-19.

IN SHORT:

The extension of the emergency until 11 January is planned with the hope of reducing the spread of Covid-19.

“The basic principle we are going for is two people, two meters. No visits, no visits, “said Kariņš.

It is also planned to require face masks to be worn everywhere indoors, including in the workplace except at home.

It is planned to introduce active border control. The Prime Minister stated that it must be ensured that the flow of goods is not disrupted, but that the flow of passengers at the land borders is controlled.

“At the airport, by rail, we can ensure that all passengers arriving in Latvia fill in the relevant questionnaires and are registered that they comply with the quarantine period set by our country. We have to ensure the same on the land border, “said Kariņš.

The politician pointed to the World Health Organization’s statement that “the big engine for the spread is the large number of unknown, asymptomatic patients”. Therefore, more testing is needed to find vectors.

With regard to the operation of schools, the Prime Minister intends to spend two weeks longer winter holidays for the youngest classes – from next week’s holidays until Christmas. This will mean the need to extend the school year.

“In this way, face-to-face training would no longer take place until January, which would give schools time to prepare how they could organize the flow of children, provide distance, provide smaller classes, ensure ventilation of the premises,” said Kariņš.

Contrary to the Minister of Economics Jānis Vitenbergs (“KPV LV”) offer to allow supermarket shops to operate on weekends and holidays, the prime minister said they should remain closed on these days.

In addition, the same rules could apply to all shops, regardless of the area of ​​the point of sale, except for basic necessities.

There is a great misunderstanding in the society about the different rules for hairdressers and manicure masters. That is why the Prime Minister proposes to create a unified regulation – either both are working or both are closed. He himself tends to be safer if he was allowed to work for both, but under strict conditions, because at the moment this activity is underground. The main thing is equal regulation, Kariņš emphasized.

At the same time, Kariņš pointed to the already developed support, which is planned to be introduced at the end of this week: subsidized jobs, subsidized working capital and downtime benefits. The government could think of more support.

Levits also considered the plan to impose stricter restrictions to stop the spread of Covid-19 necessary. “This is a challenge for us generation,” the president said after a meeting with officials, noting that the course so far has proved insufficient. Therefore, new action is needed. That means there will be less physical contact, but there must be support now and now. ”

“I expect that there will be unity in the government on this issue tomorrow, because this is a time when people’s lives, health and future cannot be played with,” the president stressed.

Speaker of the Saeima Ināra Mūrniece also expressed support for Kariņš’s proposals for stricter restrictive measures, saying that the existing ones do not improve the situation. There is also a need for a support system for people who are unable to receive their current income due to this crisis. “All restrictions must go hand in hand with support and benefit measures.

I understand that people are tired at this time, but we need solidarity so that we can return to normal life as soon as possible, ”said Mūrniece.

CONTEXT:

On November 29, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, addressing the public about the situation of Covid-19 distribution in Latvia, announced that will encourage the extension of the emergency. The state of emergency is currently declared from 9 November to 6 December, new stricter restrictions have been introduced.

Latvian entrepreneurs during the current emergency situation There are three types of support – downtime allowances, subsidized jobs and a one-off working capital subsidy.

During the Covid-19 outbreak in the spring in Latvia, an emergency situation was declared to control the new coronavirus, and the situation was stable in the summer, but at the end of September the morbidity fast increased. The government tightened security measures, but the incidence of Covid-19 continued to rise.

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