Fight COVID-19 in Lithuania and Latvia: quarantine regimes are different and deaths are similar

“In evaluating specific measures to manage the pandemic, Latvia can be said to have adopted a much more liberal regime than Lithuania, although it should be noted that Latvia, unlike Lithuania, declared a state of emergency by naming the Ministry of Health as COVID -19 Although places such as sports clubs, theaters and museums have been closed, quarantine regimes have deferred in terms of border controls, regulation of restaurants and bars, convenience stores, “said COVID of EU member states in the Research Division of the Seimas Information and Communication Department. -19 pandemics in the analysis of strategies and measures, which was carried out at the request of Laurynas Kasčiūnas, a member of the Seimas of the Lithuanian Christian Democrats Homeland Union (TS-LKD) party.

The document draws attention to the fact that in Lithuania on March 16. After the quarantine announcement, with certain exceptions, not only foreigners are prohibited from entering the Republic of Lithuania, but also citizens of the Republic of Lithuania from Lithuania. Meanwhile, in Latvia, since March 14, although all organized trips by bus, train, air and water transport have been closed and the borders with Russia and Belarus have been closed, private car travel to other countries in the EU and, by analogy, entry from other EU countries has not been prohibited.

Unlike in Lithuania, Latvia has not been ordered to close bars, restaurants and catering establishments if they can provide stricter sanitation services and ensure that the necessary distance is maintained between customers.

Bars, restaurants and shops can sell alcohol online from 08:00 to 22:00.

Unlike Lithuania, outlets for non-essential products and services were allowed to work, but only on business days and after ensuring the implementation of government procedures (distance between customers, restriction of flows).

In Latvia, unlike Lithuania, beauty salons, hairdressers and tattoo parlors can receive clients, but only with prior registration, collecting personal data from all visitors and ensuring compliance with other government instructions.

However, compared to Latvia, in Lithuania until May 12. more than double the COVID-19 tests were performed, 200,264, more than half a thousand more infections were found, 1,491, and approximately one and a half times as many deaths were 50. Estimate of the number of deaths in millions. population, Lithuania is almost twice as fast as Latvia. Consequently, on May 12. The countries registered 18.37 and 9.54 deaths in the million. population, the document reads.

However, the researchers noted that Lithuania conducted almost 2 times more tests during the same period as Latvia. Consequently, before May 12. the countries carried out 70.67 and 41.91 tests per thousand. population.

“When evaluating the mortality of people infected with COVID-19, the differences are insignificant, Lithuania is ahead of Latvia by about one and a half percent, but, in the context of the EU, the death rates of both countries They are low. As a result, on May 12. According to the data, 3.37% of and 1.90 percent. mortality of all COVID-19 diagnoses, compared to 11.88% in the EU, “the document said.

The researchers compared the proportion of positive tests performed with negative tests (1 million inhabitants) and 1 million cases of COVID-19 detected. the population sees that:

1. In Lithuania, 1 in 131 people examined was COVID-19, while in Latvia this number is 1 in 85;
2. In Lithuania, 546 out of a million. the population was identified in COVID-19, while in Latvia the figure is 502 out of 1 million. population.

The researchers draw the following conclusions from these data:

1. COVID-19 deaths during the first two months of the pandemic There are many more in Lithuania than in Latvia.
2. Lithuania tested COVID-19 for a large part of its population.
3. Overall mortality from COVID-19 differs slightly in both countries, with Latvia showing slightly better numbers, but in both countries mortality is low compared to the EU average.
4. In Latvia, the ratio of positive to negative tests is significantly higher than in Lithuania. Simply put, positive tests for COVID-19 are relatively more common in Latvia than in Lithuania. Therefore, it can be assumed that when testing on a scale similar to Lithuania, Latvia is likely to have more cases of COVID-19 per million population than Lithuania.

Scientists will have to evaluate the tactics in the future.

Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga is convinced that the tactics and strategies used by countries to control the spread of the virus will be a very serious object of study for scientists (epidemiologists and infectologists) in the future.

“There are many factors that can distort, change, affect the situation in one way or another. We also have many questions about why neighboring countries have such different situations, “said A. Veryga.

Speaking specifically about the situation in Latvia, the minister said he had heard from colleagues that in this country, children’s vacations, when people often go skiing, is a little later.

“We fully understand that the disease did not come to us in the first place. She was brought in. In Europe, it was brought mainly from northern Italy, where skiing is generally practiced.

There may also have been a period that was more favorable for the neighboring country, when there were not many emigrants in those regions. Fewer diseases were brought in, “said A. Veryga.

The Minister also urged to keep in mind that Latvians and border closures were no longer necessary when everyone closed and everyone introduced border controls.

“There are many things that must be considered. However, I would not like to speculate, because it is very difficult to predict, knowing that people behave differently, react differently to warnings, follow them differently. There are many components that need to be comprehensively evaluated, and this will be a challenge for researchers in the future, ”said A. Veryga.

Kasčiūnas: each state must find a middle ground

Seimas member L. Kasčiūnas, a member of the TS-LKD faction, agreed that it is natural for each state to find a middle ground in this situation: how to protect people, but not shut down the economy entirely.

“Countries that have found a better middle ground will find it easier to get out of the economic crisis. It is possible that the path chosen by the Latvians is more successful, it has been hit in the top ten. We were close, perhaps around eight, but not a dozen. The future will show how much the exit from the quarantine will benefit, and not as strict a control as we had, to the Latvians, “said L. Kasčiūnas.

At the same time, the parliamentarian emphasized that the final solution will depend on many things: public awareness, whether people will maintain a social distance or wear masks.

Request a plan for quarantine release

At the same time, the MP asks Prime Minister Saul Skvernel and the Minister of Health to present a concrete plan for the release of the quarantine.

“It is worth recalling here the discussions that took place in March on the introduction of a state of emergency. Then, TS-LKD President Gabrielius Landsbergis proposed to consider the introduction of a state of emergency by the Seimas. This proposal to discuss such an idea has received much criticism and attack. Completely unfounded and unsubstantiated. And at this time, with the delay in presenting the quarantine exit plan, it is worth remembering what would have been different if the Seimas had not been removed from the process, ”wrote L. Kasčiūnas on Facebook.

According to the politician, hypothetically, even if one or another variant of the regime applied measures to combat a pandemic that are essentially identical, there is a fundamental difference: the state of emergency can be declared and revoked by parliament. and. Seimas Second, the Seimas could establish restrictions on individual rights and freedoms, the scope of the emergency measures necessary to combat a pandemic.

“Of course, the state of emergency allows parliament to restrict people’s privacy, control correspondence and telephone conversations, not guarantee the inviolability of housing, restrict the right to freedom of expression, disseminate and receive information, move freely , restricting the right of citizens to the party and association, peaceful assembly … But this does not mean that all those constitutional rights and freedoms are restricted, much less such restrictions are not necessary in this case.

The Seimas could have clearly described what restrictive measures would have been taken and temporarily revoked if the Seimas decided. The Seimas could also form a special emergency control commission: observers of Seimas and determine their powers. Therefore, it means that parliament would play an important role in fighting this health crisis and its social and economic consequences, ”said L. Kasčiūnas.

Meanwhile, now, during the quarantine, according to the parliamentarian, it can be said that the Seimas has been taken to the margin, which means a small contribution from parliament in response to the constantly changing situation in the context of COVID-19 and possibilities limited democratic or parliamentary control.

“Today, Lithuania has become a government state governed by resolutions. It is also necessary to see the political factors that, in view of the electoral cycle, that is, and. The next Seimas elections are undoubtedly important. The government can continue the quarantine insofar as it is also politically beneficial, since the decision-making necessary to manage the pandemic and its constant communication with the government and the rulers, guarantees greater visibility.

The emergency regime and especially the work of the Emergency Control Commission to communicate the management of the pandemic, the political discussions in the establishment of emergency measures would guarantee greater visibility for scientists and experts. Diversity of views would also be guaranteed. And most importantly, the extension or revocation of the quarantine is not used in the interest of the ruling political force and the decision to continue or revoke it will not be up to one or two people, ”said L. Kasčiūnas.

Latvia is also easing the quarantine regime

May 12 According to the data, 81,246 COVID-19 tests were performed in Latvia, 951 infections were detected and 19 deaths were recorded.

Although, on the one hand, a state of emergency was imposed in the country on March 12, on the other hand, the government approved relatively liberal measures of isolation and other social restrictions. The following principles have been established:

• State and local authorities will ensure that teleworking is carried out as much as possible after evaluating the possibilities.
• To bring their children to preschool, parents must submit a written statement to the institution stating that the child and family have not visited any country affected by COVID-19 and that they have not been in contact with people affected by COVID -19, and that the parents themselves do not have access to child care.
• Learning is provided at a distance in all educational institutions except centralized state tests. Education must be suspended in all cultural, sports, and vocational education institutions and clubs (training, competitions, and rehearsals).
  All public events, meetings, demonstrations, and pickets involving more than 200 people are prohibited and canceled.
• Citizens are urged to refrain from traveling abroad. Tourism service providers will have to offer to postpone and not plan tourist trips to the countries and territories affected by COVID-19. Business trips and missions to countries and territories affected by COVID-19 should be canceled, delayed and, as far as possible, not planned.
• It should be ensured that people with symptoms of an acute respiratory infection are not employed in places where the health of others may be at risk (in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 477 “Regulations on work related to potential health risks to others”); procedures for conducting inspections ”(July 24, 2018).
• Health care facilities, social care facilities and detention centers restrict third party visits unless the facility manager is authorized to perform key functions. The rights of prisoners under the law may be restricted by decision of the head of the prison administration.
• Persons and their contact persons who have returned from a country or territory affected by COVID-19 should take special precautions, including 14 days. self-isolation, etc.
• Doctors at the State Ambulance Station and Hospitals, as well as epidemiologists working at the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, may work overtime that exceeds the maximum time established by the Labor Law, but does not exceed 60 hours per person per week. The Ministry of Health requests additional financial resources from the state budget program “Contingency Funds” to pay for overtime work.

March 29 The government supplemented the March 12 law on the state of emergency with stricter requirements. As of that date, all individuals had to maintain a distance of 2 meters and maintain epidemiological safety in public and outdoor areas. The exception was for meetings of 2 people and people living in the same home, or parents and their minor children if they do not live in the same home.

The new restrictions also banned any private events (other than funerals), public events, gatherings, marches, pickets, indoor sports, and religious gatherings. Larger meetings of people are still allowed in commercial and catering establishments, at a distance of 2 meters and subject to security measures. Procedures have also been adopted to give responsible authorities the right to request information from electronic communications operators about specific individuals for the purpose of an epidemiological investigation. Individuals should provide the employer with information about their health status to the extent relevant to the job.

May 7 The Latvian government has decided to extend the state of emergency until June 9, but to relax or lift some restrictions. From May 12. The following measures will be applied:

• Meetings of up to 25 people are allowed, provided they are at least two meters away and, in the case of internal events, up to 3 hours. Proper disinfectants are also required for organizing events.
• The first cultural institutions may gradually open: museums, libraries, archives and private cultural institutions, such as cinemas and concert halls. In order to minimize risk, the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, has developed a “health protocol” that will be binding on the state, local government, and private cultural institutions. The establishments mentioned may gradually open to visitors only when each of them meets the requirements established in the “health protocol”.
• Kindergartens are open to children ages five and six.
• Leisure and entertainment options, including restaurants, are open from 07:00 to midnight.
• Non-contact sports training is also allowed according to the rules.
• Within the three Baltic States, renewal of travel and tourism services is permitted.

In Lithuania, quarantine is relaxed, but runs until May 31. It is not ruled out that it continues.