To hire a hotel, Covid-19 patients need 700,000 euros / Article / LSM.lv

Covid-19 patients need 700,000 euros to rent a hotelEdgars Kupčs00:00 / 03:28

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Realizing that the usual business has essentially stopped, some hotels already in the spring offered their rooms to those who have to spend two weeks in self-isolation after returning from abroad, as well as to Covid-19 patients. Such was the case with the hotel “Zemgale” in Jelgava, for which the municipality provided up to 12,000 euros in budget money for the provision of this service.

In the autumn, the city council hired the hotel for another service – babysitting, if the parents have been hospitalized due to Covid-19 and have no one to look after him. Hotel manager Aivars Zeltins admitted that at present such situations have not been created.

Jelgava municipality speaks reluctantly about cooperation with a private hotel and the principles of its choice, only revealing that a contract has been concluded with the hotel and that the municipality will cover all expenses for the child’s stay in the center. News of the hotel owners goes back to the time when they came to valuable city properties with the care of the council “for a sandwich”.

In turn, the Ministry of Economics plans to support hoteliers with clearer principles in wintering. It found in the price survey accommodation that ready to accommodate Covid-19 patients with milder symptoms with public support.

Minister Jānis Vitenbergs from KPV LV ”admitted that there is great interest in it, entrepreneurs are ready to help the health care system, moreover, there are not only patients with mild symptoms, but also contacts who want to protect families and relatives from infection, and they will be able to live hotels, it will help curb the virus and warm the economy at the same time.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that 1,100 people may need such a service, each staying an average of 15 days. It requires 700,000 euros or 42 euros a day from the state.

Santa Greece, the executive director of the Latvian Hotel and Restaurant Association, said that the industry had previously offered such a service to the state, and now hearing ears have been found.

At present, about 30 accommodations, of different sizes and types, have expressed readiness to help, and not only the standard costs but also the additional costs of disinfection and cleaning after these dresses have to be taken into account, Greece said.

The hotel industry has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic and restrictions caused by Covid-19, and the turnover of many accommodation establishments has fallen by as much as 90%.

CONTEXT:

With rapid spread of Covid-19 In Latvia, an increase in the number of Covid-19 inpatients is forecast.

That’s why destined time to limit scheduled inpatient and inpatient services in all hospitals.

Also in the autumn, the government re-established the state of emergency, during which there is stricter restrictions. Despite this, the incidence of Covid-19 did not stop increasing. And the government in December decided to extend emergency by 11 January.

Restrictions are as strict as in spring – the “2 + 2” principle must be followed. This means that only two people from different households can meet, within a distance of two meters.

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