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Initially, incoming passenger data will be recorded on paper, but a digital incoming passenger registration system will soon be available. People arriving by private plane and yacht must also register.
Janis Muudkovskis, Director of the State Chancellery and Head of the Intersectoral Coordination Management Group, briefed ministers on how all incoming travelers to Latvia will be controlled during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Citkovski informed the government about controlling arrivals in Latvia from the countries with the highest number of COVID-19 cases, noting that Latvian officials were already monitoring large numbers of arrivals and fining several for failing to meet the requirement. 14-day quarantine.
The government supported the task force’s proposal to establish a digital system to register travelers arriving within two to three weeks, but until then it is planned to register all passengers arriving in the country by plane, ferry or bus.
“Preparing the survey forms will create additional administrative difficulties, but we can launch a mechanism to monitor arrivals tomorrow,” said Kitskovski.
All arrivals must complete an appropriate questionnaire, the details of which will be processed according to the passenger’s country of arrival. The data received will be sent to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control and to the State Police. The ministers agreed that the data provided by the passengers would be destroyed 14 days after its presentation.
Transport and Communications Minister Talis Linkaitis stated that the electronic registration system will be prepared by Riga airport. The Minister drew attention to the need to strengthen the resources of the port border guard, as there are currently no border guards at the airport who can register incoming foreigners.
According to T. Linkaitis, there are currently about 2,000 tourists arriving in the country per day, but their number may increase to 5,000 in the coming weeks.
Mr Citovskis noted that paper passenger registration would not solve the problem, as many non-EU citizens arrive in Latvia in private vehicles, for example from Estonia. But electronic registration of all arrivals will solve the problem, the minister said.
A spokesperson for the State Data Inspectorate warned that the government could make a political decision to monitor arrivals, but the introduction of this measure could constitute a violation of human rights and EU data laws.
Latvian Prime Minister Krišjanis Karinis emphasized that although the task of the State Data Inspectorate is to protect private personal data, the government must protect people’s lives.
The government also decided that temporary residence permits in Latvia will be granted only to citizens of countries where there are few cases of COVID-19.
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