Proposed Quarantine Changes: It will no longer be possible to swarm in five

Acting Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga, head of state emergency operations, and Daiva, chief specialist, Communicable Disease Management Division, National Center for Public Health (NVSC), spoke at a news conference Monday about how It could affect the incidence of COVID-19 and ways to control the coronavirus. Razmuvienė.

You want to reduce the number of people who can meet

The acting minister announced new possible measures to manage the pandemic.

“We see that the number of cases is still high, we see, like last week, some stabilization trends, but we don’t really see a decrease yet. We consider that the situation continues to be very difficult.

The COVID-19 committee today discussed new potential pandemic management tools. It was proposed to reduce the number of people authorized to meet and meet in public places from 5 to 2 people, ”said A. Veryga at the press conference.

One of the reasons he is proposing to do so, according to the acting minister, is that various celebrations or events that are not officially called events attract a lot of people. For example, lighting a Christmas tree in Vilnius or Kaunas.

“It seems that it could have very similar consequences for the popular movement from November 1 to 2. It is very unfortunate that despite all the information, people are not willing to act responsibly and choose to stay, watch the lighting of the tree of Christmas, ”said A. Veryga.

Call for more electronic purchases

Another proposal, made in the COVID-19 committee, is to prohibit the advertising of various promotions or sales.

“We hear announcements and invitations, and only at the end is it said that it can be purchased and sent by email. in the shop. It doesn’t really help to manage the situation in the supermarkets, ”said the acting minister.

According to him, the goal is to reduce the flow of people in supermarkets, in the hope that people are less encouraged to go to supermarkets.

Mr. Veryga requested that all possible purchases be made electronically and that gifts be delivered by mail rather than to guests.

There may be an excess of vaccines

The interim minister also announced that a proposal to buy the Moderna vaccine would be presented to the government. This will be decided on Wednesday. Lithuania could receive around 500 thousand doses of such vaccines.

As in other countries of the European Union, there may be a surplus of vaccines in Lithuania. According to A. Veryga, Lithuanian diplomats are currently working with those countries that cannot join the joint procurement of the European Union.

“One of the first countries that responded and welcomed Lithuania’s proposal is Sakartvelas. The suggestion was that in case of a surplus of vaccines, they could buy them. If it was and if it was,” said A. Veryga.

Most die at home

A. Veryga also drew attention to the increase in mortality from coronavirus in Lithuania.

“We see that the total number of deaths increases. In the spring, it did not exceed the statistical average, now we see that mortality, unfortunately, is increasing.

The largest increase in deaths occurs in the age group 80 to 89 years. So far, all we can say is that most of those deaths are related to cardiovascular disease, although not heart attacks or strokes, but the causes of the deaths are not related to those sudden deaths.

We also see that the growth is largely due to deaths that occur at home, not in a medical facility, ”said A. Veryga.

One of the biggest outbreaks is in Marijampolė

Epidemiologist Daiva Razmuvienó briefly reviewed the latest outbreaks. According to D. Razmuvienė, one of the largest is in Marijampolė. 27 new cases of coronavirus were registered, which are related to previously registered cases in the Marijampolė penitentiary center.

Cases are also registered in medical, nursing and social care institutions.

“Yesterday, there were 3 new outbreaks: in Lazdijai district and in the Kaunas Perloja nursing home,” said D. Razmuvienė.

Outbreaks spread to families

A representative from the NVSC also spoke about the results of the quarantine. According to her, in September and October there were several outbreaks in leisure facilities, which is no longer the case.

However, the outbreaks have now spread to families. According to the epidemiologist, family outbreaks currently account for about 30 percent. in all cases, so this trend is only growing.

D. Razmuvienė said that only about 2,000 cases were registered in September, and in November up to 38,000 new cases of COVID-19.

“Nursing and care facilities are currently a cause for concern. Outbreaks are registered in all 10 counties. There is probably no nursing home where at least some cases are not registered,” said the epidemiologist.

November saw an exponential increase in deaths compared to the entire pandemic period. By November 1, 165 deaths from COVID-19 had been recorded since the start of the pandemic. In November alone, there were 340 new deaths.

November, according to the epidemiologist, was also distinguished by an increase in the number of deaths of people who did not belong to risk groups. The youngest person to die was 30 years old.