On Tuesday, August 11, the Cabinet decided, based on advice from epidemiologists, to slightly reduce certain measures limiting the distribution of Covid-19, taking into account that the increase in the number of infections in Latvia is significantly lower than in the other Member States of the European Union. . At the same time, careful monitoring of morbidity rates will be continued, so that it can be decided operationally on the need to return to stricter limits if the situation deteriorates.
Amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 360 "epidemiological security measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 infection" approved by the Government at its meeting on 11 August will enter into force on 17 August. The changes will affect assembly restrictions for organised events, economic services and catering.
As of August 17, up to 1,000 people will be able to gather indoors instead of the current 500. The limit on the number of visitors will no longer depend on the size of the rooms. . Event organisers and service providers will have to develop a Covid-19 distribution control plan. This applies to both indoor and outdoor measures. The existing rule on the limit of 3,000 people will remain in force for outdoor measures.
The amendments adopted by the Cabinet also reduce the minimum area to be provided to each visitor or recipient of the measure, including at public catering sites. As of August 17, they will be three square meters instead of the current four square meters. There will remain a condition that the number of people at the site of the measure must not exceed 50% of the capacity of the room.
The exception to room capacity and separation will apply to cultural events in which people sit in fixed, personalized seats – concerts, theater, cinema, etc. . A one-metre distance must be observed between the seats. Activities with a large number of visitors will have to ensure that groups up to 300 do not overlap with each other, e.g. through multiple entrances, exit and seating in sectors.
From 17 August, cultural, sports, religious activities and catering sites will be allowed to work for longer hours – until .2 .00 at night. The beginning of working time will remain unchanged –. 6.30. But the limit on working time for entertainment sites like nightclubs and disco until at .24 .00 will also remain in after 17 August, given that there is a higher risk of Covid-19 distribution.
As of 17 August, there will be no more than eight people at the same table at the public catering sites, while the number of people outside the table will no longer be limited. . However, there will be a two-metre gap between the tables, both indoors and outside.
The government has also supplemented the rules by providing that educational institutions will be able to attract a registered medical practitioner who will be able to identify cases of illness and to rapidly prevent the further spread of infection in the educational establishment.
In order to simplify the understanding of the conduct and suspension of international passenger services between Latvia and countries with a high prevalence of Covid-19, as well as the requirements for arrivals to comply with 14-day self-isolation, the rules are specified by stipulating that the list of countries published on the website of the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control shall take effect on the day following publication. Since it is published Friday, the change takes effect on Saturday.
It should be noted that the risk of infection abroad is significantly higher than in Latvia. In Europe, the incidence of Covid-19 has increased in recent weeks by around 19%, while in Latvia at least every third case has been associated with findings abroad. . Therefore, everyone should carefully assess the need for a foreign trip, taking into account both the prevalence of Covid-19 infection in the country of destination and the risk of infection and the fact that two weeks of self-isolation may have to be observed when returning to Latvia.
Reinis Grāvītis
Cabinet press secretary
Telephone: 67082919
E-mail: Reinis.Gravitis@mk.gov.lv