Currently, people arriving in Latvia from countries where the cumulative incidence of Covid-19 is 16 cases and more per 100,000 population have to go to self-isolation, but the MoE will offer to increase this indicator to 25 cases.
The MoE intended that the offer would primarily apply to Lithuania and Estonia, however, in consultation with the Ministry of Justice, it was indicated that it would not be legally correct to apply the changes only to the Baltic States, thus the MoE’s offer would not only apply to the Baltic States.
The Minister of Health Ilze Hänķele (AP) emphasized that “unfortunately, the Ministry of Health will not be able or will not support raising this threshold so quickly”, as Covid-19 cases imported from Estonia are being detected.
She pointed out that a flexibility mechanism was already in place, ie if the number of Covid-19 cases per week did not increase by more than 10%, the self-isolation requirement could not be extended to Lithuania and Estonia. However, the incidence of Covid-19 in Estonia has already exceeded this limit, while Lithuania is still within the 10%.
Both ministers acknowledged that the situation affects the tourism industry and the activities of border companies. “But the primary thing is for the kids to go to school. […] If the parents have to be at home with young children, the blow will be much more painful than the restrictions on the flow of tourists, “the minister argued against the change.
The agency LETA has already reported that the Cabinet of Ministers at an extraordinary meeting on Friday considered amendments to the regulations “Epidemiological safety measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 infection” to decide on action in the event of travel restrictions in the Baltic States.
As the incidence of Covid-19 increases in the Baltic States and travel restrictions come into force, some people living on the Latvian border will not be subject to the 14-day self-isolation requirement. The amendments to the regulations also stipulate that after the number of Covid-19 patients in Lithuania and Estonia has significantly increased, those who have entered Latvia from Lithuania and Estonia will have to observe 14 days of self-isolation.
At the same time, the regulations also stipulate that when Estonia and Lithuania are included in the Covid-19 list of dangerous countries, those who have entered these countries when staying in public places in Latvia will be obliged to use mouth and nose masks.
Also, in view of the close integration between those living near the Latvian-Lithuanian and Latvian-Estonian borders and in order not to unduly restrict the rights of persons who cross the Lithuanian-Estonian land border on a daily basis to work or study in another country, the government decided to exempt certain categories from 14 days. self-insulation requirements. Lithuania and Estonia have also made such a request to Latvia.
It follows from the amendments to the regulations that travel restrictions and self-isolation requirements will not be applied to citizens of the European Union (EU) member states and permanent residents who cross the Latvian state border in connection with performance of work duties, education, provision of kinship care, funeral arrangements (including for the funeral).
The amendments to the regulations also stipulate that the self-isolation regulations do not apply to persons who cross the territory of Latvia in transit, which means crossing the territory of Latvia within 12 hours without spending the night in the territory of Latvia.
