In the future, carriers will be able to carry out international passenger services to and from countries where the cumulative 14-day morbidity rate per 100,000 inhabitants is not twice the average in the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The ban on passenger transport to countries with a morbidity rate more than twice the European average will take effect on the third day after the publication of the current list of national cumulative indicators on the website of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
In order to control the spread of the disease while expanding international passenger services, 14 days of self-isolation will be required when returning from countries subject to special precautionary and restrictive measures, with a cumulative 14-day morbidity of more than 16 per 100 000. Passengers will also have the obligation to reach the place of self-isolation as soon as possible and to comply with other epidemiological safety measures in force.
The Covid-19 restriction requirements set in Latvia are significantly stricter than in other EU countries, they significantly affect the competitiveness and financial sustainability of Latvian carriers and service providers.
"Observing the current transportation ban, Latvia is actually approaching the restrictions in force during the emergency and is isolated from the rest of the world. In order not to slow down the economy, we need to move from a general ban to more targeted restrictions. Passengers find various detours to arrive in Latvia from high-risk countries, transferring to other airports or using land transport, and in this case contact with other travelers is much greater, while control and supervision are difficult, ”explained Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits at the government meeting.
According to the data on 26 August, the average morbidity rate in Europe is 46. This means that in the current situation, international shipments would not take place to countries with a 14-day cumulative morbidity rate above 92 (rounded to 90) per 100,000 inhabitants, with countries with a cumulative morbidity rate of above 90 are countries that can pose a serious threat to public health.
The government's decision to expand the possibilities for international passenger transport is also in line with the solution included in the information report of the Ministry of Economics "On the critical situation in the aviation and tourism sector related to international passenger transport", which is also supported by the Ministry of Health.
Ilze Salna
Adviser to the Minister on Communication
Phone: 29404124, 67028255
Ilze.Salna@sam.gov.lv