We are unlikely to completely break free from quarantine even in late spring.

Of course, the government still promises to improve this plan and approve it only early next week.

We remind you that the quarantine scenario B will be reached when 100 thousand. the population will have between 25 and 100 cases in 14 days, and scenario A with less than 25 cases.

In a data review conducted on February 2, Aistis Šimaitis, a data analyst at the Government Chancellery, predicted that maintaining the current rate of decline in cases, we would reach the national average of 200 cases per day, which would reach the threshold of the scenario. B, late March-early April.

Household contacts and work

The ministries propose that after reaching 100 cases, 100 thousand. Within the 14-day population threshold, with a proportion of positive surveys of less than 4 percent, regular meetings of three households would be allowed. Experts in this situation recommend allowing only 2 meetings in the home.

There are also more divisions due to domestic contacts. For example, the ministries propose that when the limit of 50 cases is reached, 100 thousand. population meetings within 14 days would no longer be restricted.

And the experts’ proposal is a bit stricter: in the limit of 100 cases, it is proposed to allow 3 meetings in the home. And unlimited offers are offered only after entering quarantine scenario A, when the number of diseases per 100 thousand. population in 14 days is less than 25.

In the quarantine scenario B, when the number of cases reaches the indicator of 50 cases per 100,000. population in 14 days, telework or mixed work is offered in both the public and private sectors.

Unless it is necessary to perform work in the workplace, employee testing is required.

Meetings of people, cultural activities, sports and leisure events, with masks

It seems that protective face masks will not disappear quickly from everyday life.

In the quarantine mitigation strategy, the ministries propose eliminating the need to wear masks in open spaces in quarantine scenario B, when the threshold of 50 cases is reached.

The position of the experts on this subject is stricter. They propose to allow this only after reaching the threshold of 25 cases and entering quarantine scenario A.

In the proposals of the ministries for this 25 cases 100 thousand. population in the last 14 days the indicator suggests the need to leave masks only when attending events indoors.

Even in quarantine scenario C (after reaching the incidence rate of 200 cases), visits to galleries, museums, other exhibition spaces would be allowed, ensuring the requirements of groups (2 people or family), Operations Managers and tests of employees. Events where you don’t get out of the car are also allowed.

If the total number of cases falls to 150, activities in the library’s reading rooms would also be allowed.

In the more flexible B quarantine scenario, reaching a rate of 100 cases across the country, individual training with a trainer would be allowed in open spaces for leisure activities, ensuring the requirements of the Operations Manual. In public places, divination would be limited to 5 people.

When the number of cases reaches the 50 limit, events will be allowed indoors for up to 50 people and outdoors for up to 100. Event organizers must comply with all requirements of the Operations Manual and test personnel. Divination would no longer be restricted.

As the situation continues to improve, in quarantine scenario A, when the number of cases per 100 thousand. The population would be less than 25 in 14 days, up to 100 people could participate in events indoors and up to 200 people outdoors.

Education

Higher education and professional training in the quarantine C scenario, reaching 150 cases per 100,000. the population within the 14-day limit should continue to apply remotely, but with the possibility of certain exceptions. The exemptions are likely to apply to health, veterinary and life sciences, as identified in the Quarantine Scenario Plan.

After reaching quarantine stage B and the number of cases became 50 100 thousand. population within 14 days, blended learning would be allowed. Not only teachers, but also students should be evaluated, experts say.

As previously announced, primary school pupils must first return to educational institutions and contact or co-educational education must be guaranteed.

This should happen in quarantine scenario C, for 100,000 cases. population within 200 days after reaching the threshold of 200.

When the number of cases reaches the limit of 150, gymnastics students must return to educational institutions according to the ministry plan. However, the training could continue to be organized on a mixed basis and the contact personnel would be tested in accordance with the requirements of the Operations Manual.

In quarantine scenario B, the number of cases is 100,000. Once the population reaches the threshold of 100 in 14 days, a blended approach could be applied to fifth through eighth grade students, ensuring all necessary safety requirements.

Absolute return of all students to contact-only education is not anticipated in this quarantine mitigation strategy.

Delphi It has already announced that children will be able to return to preschool and preschool education institutions in the quarantine scenario C, reaching 200 cases in 100,000 cases. population for 14 days.

Services

The activities of health services centers that provide recreational services would resume only after reaching 50 cases out of 100,000. population within the 14-day limit. Such bodies could only operate in accordance with the rules established by the Operations Manual and through personnel tests.

The positions of ministries and experts in the work of catering establishments also differ.

The ministries offer catering establishments to operate in accordance with the requirements of the Operations Manual and to test in the quarantine scenario B, when 100 thousand. the population reaches 100 in 14 days.

Still, the position of the experts is quite different. They propose a quarantine scenario A and allow catering establishments to operate only outdoors, in accordance with the decisions of the Operations Manual and the tests when the number of cases throughout the country reaches 25.

On Wednesday, the government promised to release some quarantine for non-essential goods stores with separate entry and for the service sector.

However, experts have recommended that the quarantine conditions not be relaxed yet.

The Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė stated that she did not deviate from her plan to quarantine in these areas, and promised to find a compromise between the Ministry’s proposals and the expert evaluation. They are expected next week.

Movement of people within the country

In quarantine scenario B, local movement restrictions are promised. In the quarantine mitigation strategy, the MoI and SAM plan that after reaching 100 cases, 100 thousand. population within 14 days, the movement of people is restricted only from municipalities with a morbidity of more than 100 cases.

Reaching the threshold of 50 cases of the previous indicator would eliminate the restriction on movement in the country’s municipalities. Subsequently, a complete lifting of traffic restrictions between municipalities is also planned.

Summer should be similar to last year

Professor Mindaugas Stankūnas from the Department of Health Management at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) said he expected next summer to be similar to the previous one: free, but with certain restrictions.

“It just came to our knowledge then. Now it’s very difficult to say how much of this my hope is destined to come true. But there are many unknowns. Personally, as Mindaugas Stankūnas, I think we will have a summer similar to the one we had in 2020.” Delphi said M. Stankūnas, a member of the Council of Independent Experts attached to the Government.

However, he said the pandemic will not be completely forgotten.

“From what I remember last summer, it was quite normal. And events happened, people sat in cafes, we were able to travel around Lithuania. I think it will be like last summer, I think. But to be able to live as it was in the summer of 2019 “I don’t think so. Because we don’t know what varieties will reach us, how with the vaccine, what the situation will be. But I think it may be similar to last year, it wasn’t bad then,” said the expert.

The interlocutor said that certain restrictions and quarantine in scenario A are not only for themselves, but to ensure that the virus does not spread at a “crazy rate”.

Delfi recalls that so far the quarantine in Lithuania has been extended until February 28. The restrictions on movement between the country’s municipalities have been extended until the same date.