From today, self-isolation will have to be observed even after returning to Latvia from Lithuania, according to the information of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC).
Therefore, at present, self-isolation must be observed when returning or arriving from all neighboring countries of Latvia.
In view of the increase in Covid-19 cases, regular passenger services to the Czech Republic are also banned.
The Latvian government has decided to allow air travel to countries with twice the average 14-day cumulative morbidity rate in the European Union (EU), while stipulating that self-isolation will be mandatory upon return from these countries. According to data published by the European SPC, the 14-day cumulative morbidity rate in the EU is currently 76, bringing the threshold for a ban on transport from Monday to 152 per 100,000 inhabitants. According to the SPCK, the 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 population in the Czech Republic on Friday was 166.2.
The ban on passenger transport is currently being extended to Spain, France and Andorra.
In the future, self-isolation in Latvia will have to be observed when returning or traveling in transit through a total of 28 EU or European Economic Area (EEA) countries, as well as through Monaco, Andorra and San Marino, or a total of 31 countries.
These 28 EU or EEA countries include Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Italy, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Germany, Romania, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Malta, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Portugal, Iceland, France, Poland, Croatia, Austria, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, as well as Norway and Hungary.
For countries outside the EU and the EEA or the United Kingdom, self-isolation will henceforth be required when traveling from Tunisia, Canada and Georgia. Meanwhile, among these countries, the requirement for self-isolation is no longer extended to Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand and Uruguay.
The government has previously decided that people who live on the Latvian border, except in Valka, and go to work or an educational institution in Lithuania or Estonia on a daily basis will be able to continue to do so. At the same time, when these persons are in Latvia, for example, when returning from work, the principles of self-isolation should be observed.
This means that on a daily basis, these persons will be able to travel freely to Estonia and Lithuania, as well as back to Latvia in cases when it is necessary for the performance of work duties in Lithuania or Estonia. In such situations, the person will have to be able to present a document certifying the fact of employment.
The exception also applies to cases when it is necessary to receive childcare services or to attend a pre-school educational institution or to visit educational institutions, as well as interest education groups, if a person can present a certificate issued by an educational institution.
An exception is also allowed to accompany persons with special needs to an educational institution, such as schools and kindergartens, as well as interest education or to receive doctor-prescribed health care services that are not available in the territory of Latvia.
Persons will also be able to cross the state border if it is necessary to organize or attend a funeral.
On the other hand, when returning to Latvia, for example in the evening after working in Lithuania or Estonia, these people should avoid exposing others to the risk of infection, which means not hosting guests, organizing and attending private meetings, public and public places.
These persons must also observe the prescribed precautions when performing their duties or providing a service, and must wear a mouth and nose mask when staying in public places. At the same time, if there are any signs of respiratory infection, the person should immediately provide self-isolation and contact a doctor.
The government’s decision also stipulates that self-isolation will not have to be observed by persons who will cross Latvia in transit. This means that persons traveling in transit will have to cross the territory of Latvia within a maximum of 12 hours, without providing accommodation in the territory of Latvia.
Special regulation is also applied to the residents of the border towns of Valka and Valga. In order not to significantly disturb the daily life of Valka and Valga residents by receiving daily services, as well as not to restrict business in the territory of these cities, the Cabinet of Ministers has determined that Valka and Valga municipalities will not be able to ignore self-isolation
This applies to persons declared in this territory. On the other hand, if people come to Valka from another region of Estonia, such as Tallinn, self-isolation will have to be respected.
–
