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Virus outbreaks. 10 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the country per day, no new deaths were recorded. The greatest concern is the spread of the virus in nursing homes, with at least one case identified in fourteen such institutions. At the Antaviliai pension, on the outskirts of Vilnius, a coronavirus was confirmed for a fourth employee. At this facility, the infection was previously detected in eleven residents. In the newest fireplace, a nursing home in Kartena, Kretinga district, there were no new cases per day, staff from Salantai Nursing Hospital were sent to the institution, and more than 20 people with infections were separated from the rest of the population. . The government rejected the local government’s proposals to close the city.
Economic crisis. Statistics released for the first quarter did not scare analysts much: compared to the previous quarter, gross domestic product fell 0.2% and annual growth reached 2.5%. The Bank of Lithuania called the indicators “the last rays of the sun before the storm” because the coronavirus pandemic will cause a much larger decline in the second quarter. Economists say easing the quarantine will help recover domestic demand, but the industry will face long-term problems due to worse-than-expected results in key export markets. In the euro area, the economy contracted 3.8% in the first quarter compared to the previous period. The European Central Bank forecasts that the eurozone economy will shrink by 5 to 12 percent this year.
The circle of grant recipients is expanding. The Seimas has decided to assign a monthly subsidy of 257 euros to those independent workers who do not receive more than the minimum wage in addition to their employment contract. This may be relevant to more than 70,000. people
Support for event organizers. Parliament has ruled that a consumer may not reject a coupon offered by an event organizer in lieu of an event canceled during quarantine. The government has proposed allowing the consumer to choose whether to take a coupon or request a refund for a lost event. The initiators of the new law believe that the amendments to the law will help protect organizers from the event of bankruptcy. The law will go into effect if signed by the president.
A weekend of one and a half days. Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has publicly raised the idea of introducing a two and a half day weekend to increase consumption and reduce the workload of workers under psychological pressure. The idea of a union was supported, but the employers propose to postpone the discussion to the post-crisis period.
Long weekend plans. Police have announced that during the long weekend, officers will intensify patrols at resorts and cemeteries; They will be monitored to prevent people from gathering and wearing masks. Minister Aurelius Veryga urged people not to visit elderly relatives, for whom the infection can be very dangerous. At that time, in the ten main cities of Lithuania, from May 1 to 3, people will be invited to supermarkets to undergo the COVID-19 test; everyone who wants to get tested, even if they don’t feel any symptoms.
Preparations for the elections. President Gitanas Nausėda discussed with the president of the Central Electoral Commission and non-governmental organizations how to organize the Seimas elections in October if the risk of the virus has not disappeared. Following the interview, Laura Matjošaitytė, CCA director, announced that proposals had been made to extend voting time at home and on Election Day and to provide additional security measures at polling stations.
Disputes of more than a billion divisions. The opposition said the government’s plan to provide one-time payments of € 200 to pensioners in August was equivalent to buying votes before the October parliamentary elections. Skvernel reiterated that the support was justified for the most vulnerable groups in society, since quarantine restrictions made their situation difficult and there was no technical possibility of paying money earlier.
Abroad Finland has decided to open schools since May 14. In Russia, the spread of the virus is accelerating, the total number of cases exceeded 100,000. In Spain, the situation is improving, with the lowest number of deaths per day since March 20.
Other important news that is not from coronavir: Bronislovas Burgis, a mathematician and former director of the Kaunas University of Technology Gymnasium, died at the age of 71 after the illness.
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