The business plan is clear: small shops, beauty salons, open-air commerce promise to open on Monday

It turns out that for merchants, liberalization will start with ultra-small convenience stores with an area not exceeding 300 square meters. It will also be possible to provide beauty services by ensuring that there is at least 20 square meters available per client and serving only one person. Other requirements for testing will also need to be ensured.

“The government will decide on Wednesday on individual contact services, where there is a service provider and its relationship with a recipient of the service, as well as sales in smaller stores, in both cases complying with the minimum area requirement per customer. The government is determined to make such decisions. We are taking some risks because, as you know, experts have not yet recommended the release of certain activities, “says Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

He explained that companies whose employees will be evaluated through rapid PCR tests will be able to start operations. The government promises to reimburse small and medium-sized companies 12 euros each for the test.

After the releases, I. Šimonytė promises to monitor the situation closely and, if the situation worsens, reverse solutions are possible.

Stores and salons will be open on Monday.

At the government meeting, A. Armonaitė assures that there will be a movement towards the release of restrictions.

“We have also had a preliminary discussion with the WEU so that we can discuss and make decisions on the liberalization of services and commercial activities on Wednesday. (…) Regarding the provision of services, we could liberalize beauty services by ensuring that by less than 20 m2. meter. area and the service is provided to one person at a time ”, said A. Armonaitė.

He also suggests that the government decide on field training when there is a client and a trainer: “It is also a service, it only works in even safer conditions, it works outdoors.”

Speaking of trade, he proposed to the government to open stores of up to 300 square meters. meters.

“In terms of trade, we will propose to the Government on Wednesday to decide on the possibility of opening points of sale, which have entry from abroad, when a client has 20 m2. meters. This is also the size discussed with the Ministry of Health, taking into account the practice of other countries. The possible size of the tent could be up to 300 m2. meters, but the government will still have to make the final decision, ”says A. Armonaitė.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė confirmed that we should start with the smaller stores and then “move up”.

“Apparently we can try to carefully agree on certain decisions, start making them this Wednesday and start some activities next week,” says I. Šimonytė.

He also suggested wording on outdoor trading to allow market traders or other traders to operate.

And it should also be seen that a wording should be made for the outdoor trade, which on the one hand should also be included in that order, but it should be the outdoor trade, that is, the trade that does not present a greater risk, a increased collection in some closed spaces. That wording could be considered on Wednesday so that we can start open trade in the field, “said the Prime Minister.

The government approved a quarantine release plan, but final approval is scheduled for a government meeting on Wednesday. He explained that it would not be logical to restrict outdoor sales by allowing in-store sales.

“We seem to be at a lower point than we were a few weeks ago. The trend may look good, but there is still room for further progress, especially in terms of decreasing positive tests. Here, tools and tests are being prepared. broader could allow it and achieve it. Naturally, there is an expectation that there will be several launches of those activities here, naturally people are already tired and want to go back to their usual activities or to their beloved hairdressers or other good life companions, “said I Šimonytė.

He assured that the plan “cannot have very specific dates”: “Those dates will have to be decided discreetly every time the government makes decisions.”

Business restrictions will be relaxed only at the national level, so as not to create centers of attraction in individual municipalities that increase the mobility of the population.

Will refund the tests – 12 euros for a quick test

A. Armonaitė reported that 30 million. € 1 million for compensation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for employee testing.

“We want the return to business to be smooth, people returning to work safe, and employers staying in business. As a result, we plan to reimburse research costs. We allocate 30 million for the measure. We support small and medium-sized companies whose activities are included in the list of restricted economic activities. We compensate the universal amount, which is 12 euros, which means that the employer will have to contribute on their own, “explained A. Armonaitė.

He explained that compensation will be paid for the rapid PCR tests.

300 EUR each for market traders

An additional € 2 million is allocated to market traders who have to pay a market fee even though they cannot trade. The amount of compensation will be 300 EUR.

A. Armonaitė explained that during the first quarantine, this measure will not need to be notified to the European Commission due to both measures.

The government approved both measures at the meeting.

“On Wednesday we will return to the final composition of this plan,” said I. Šimonytė.

The Ministry of Health will prepare a decree defining quarantine restrictions in accordance with harmonized guidelines, including open-air trade.

Last week, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation made a proposal to resume beauty services and the operation of non-grocery stores from February 8, and individual ministers last Monday promised that layoffs are possible in the next few days.

On Wednesday, the government received negative conclusions from a panel of experts and therefore announced that a plan to release the quarantine restrictions would be thoroughly examined this week.

Currently, the morbidity rate reaches 350 new cases per 100,000. population in 14 days, according to the Department of Statistics.

The lowest morbidity is recorded in the municipalities of Rietavas, Šilalė, Jurbarkas, Kalvarija, Birštonas, Skuodas, Pasvalys, where the case rate is less than 150. And the highest morbidity is recorded in Visaginas, Rokiškis, Biržai, where the case rate is over 700 In Vilnius 416 cases were detected per 100 thousand. population.

The quarantine in Lithuania is valid from November 7. From December 16. Tighter restrictions have been introduced.