Once the morbidity rate has changed, it will not be necessary to isolate when you return from these countries

Following the increase in the list of countries considered affected, neighboring Poland and Estonia, as well as Germany, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Bulgaria, should be excluded from it, according to the latest data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

This list is expected to go into effect on Monday. Neighboring Latvia, Cyprus, Finland and Liechtenstein, where the incidence is particularly low, should also be excluded from the list.

Canada, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Ethiopia, Gambia, Bangladesh, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Faroe Islands were also excluded from the list of affected countries updated on Friday.

From September 14. The affected countries will be those in which the incidence of COVID-19 in the last 14 days no longer exceeds 16 cases as before, but 25 cases per 100,000. population.

Lithuania’s morbidity rate is currently 15.6 cases per 100,000. population.

The incidence rate has increased to 25

On Friday, Health Minister Aurelius Veryga, head of emergency operations at the state level, announced plans to change the indicator that approves the list of affected countries. Until now, the affected countries were those whose morbidity exceeded 16 cases per 100,000 in the last 14 days. population. Starting next week, countries affected by the coronavirus will be considered those where the incidence in two weeks exceeds 25 cases per 100,000. population.

“We are still talking with our Baltic colleagues. We know that Estonia has already adopted an increase from this figure to 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. We also have support for such a decision. We will apply this indicator from Monday,” promised A. Veryga At the press conference. According to the minister, negotiations with Latvia on the matter are still ongoing.

It is true that the minister warned that 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants will not apply to some third countries.

“There are countries in which we cannot trust the testing strategy or the data we provide, because either there are very few studies or they are not published at all. For such countries, that indicator would obviously not be valid,” clarified A. Veryga .

The highest incidence is in Spain

So far, the Ministry of Health has not published the latest list of affected countries, but according to the latest ECDC data, there are currently quite a few European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries with a lower morbidity rate to 25,000.

Furthermore, the latest data shows that Lithuania no longer exceeds 16 cases per 100,000 inhabitants of the cartel. In the past two weeks, the incidence of 100 thousand. the population of our country was reduced to 15.6. The lowest incidence on the list of EU and EEA countries is found only in Cyprus (here the indicator is 4.1), Latvia (the incidence here is 4.3), Finland (the incidence here is 8.2), Liechtenstein (where the incidence is 7.8).

The incidence rate is currently 20.8 in Estonia, 20.9 in Germany, 24.7 in Sweden, and 23.3 in Norway.

The highest incidence of coronavirus among the countries of the EU and the EEA is in Spain. Here it comes to 265.5 per hundred thousand. population. It also has the highest coronavirus death rate in Europe. In the last 14 days it is 1.5. France also stands out with a particularly high morbidity rate, with a morbidity rate of 140.6 per 100,000 population. In third place is Croatia. Here, the morbidity rate is 91.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.

What to do when returning from the affected countries?

It should be noted that people who have been exposed are considered returnees or arrivals from countries included in the list of countries affected by coronavirus infection or who have traveled through the affected countries. Isolation is mandatory for them. However, isolation is not required when people travel by plane without leaving the airport transit area or from a country not affected by a coronavirus infection via Poland, where only necessary stops are provided, such as refueling, hygiene, etc.

Furthermore, if a person has traveled by air or sea from the affected country, they must complete and send to the specialists of the National Center for Public Health (NVSC) an NVSC registration confirmation or a paper questionnaire completed at the airport or port maritime. And if a person has traveled by land, they must register with the NVSC no later than 12 hours after the time of return or arrival in Lithuania.

Foreigners from countries included in the list of countries affected by coronavirus infection, if the morbidity in the country of origin or transit has exceeded 25 in the last 14 calendar days, should not have more than 72 hours. a coronavirus test carried out in the period prior to arrival in Lithuania and a negative response received, except for the exceptions provided in the order of the Minister of Health

Lithuanian citizens and people legally residing in Lithuania who come from countries included in the list of countries affected by coronavirus infection, if the morbidity in the country of origin or transit exceeded 25 in the last 14 calendar days, it should not be earlier than 72 hours. a coronavirus test performed prior to arrival in Lithuania and a negative response received, or within 24 hours after arrival in Lithuania, contact the 1808 Hotline or other coronavirus infection testing institution, except for exceptions provided for in the order of the Minister of Health.

The list of most affected countries is updated weekly, taking into account epidemiological indicators in foreign countries.

It should be noted that exposed persons are considered returnees or arrivals from countries included in the list of countries affected by coronavirus or who travel through affected countries. Isolation is mandatory for them. However, isolation is not required when people travel by plane without leaving the airport transit area.

In addition, all travelers returning to or arriving in Lithuania on regular, special or charter flights by air, sea or land will have to send their personal data to the specialists of the National Public Health Center (NVSC) electronically as of Tuesday, September 15. This means that before boarding a plane, ferry, bus or train, a person will have to fill out a form on the NVSC website and present the confirmation received, the so-called QR code, at the time of boarding the vehicle.

In cases where a person has traveled independently by land, they must register with the NVSC electronically no later than 12 hours after their return or arrival in Lithuania.

All foreigners arriving from affected countries should not have before 72 hours. a coronavirus test performed during the period prior to arrival in Lithuania and a negative response received, except for the exceptions provided in the decision of the COO. A negative test result does not relieve the obligation to isolate for 14 days.

For Lithuanian citizens and people legally residing in Lithuania, such a study is not mandatory when returning or arriving in Lithuania, but 14 days of isolation is still mandatory.