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No quarantine releases are planned in the coming weeks, but a tightening is being considered, says Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
“The epidemiological situation is, unfortunately, such that we see no reason to talk about more releases in the near future,” he told a news conference on Wednesday.
According to her, the epidemiological situation is deteriorating rapidly in Vilnius County and Marijampol condado, so it will probably not be possible to consider releases in the coming weeks.
“We will be able to discuss discussions on these issues after Easter and only on the condition that the epidemiological situation at least stabilizes during that time,” the prime minister said.
He said that currently the biggest challenges are the dynamics of the epidemiological situation in municipalities and the risk posed by Easter due to the increased movement of people, the second problem is the South African virus strain identified in Lithuania this week.
We will be able to discuss these issues after Easter and only on condition that the epidemiological situation at least stabilizes during that time.
“Some more cases or a dozen more are being tested and then we will have to harmonize those measures to be able to locate the spread of this variety. It is very possible that if we spread that spread in some municipalities to those municipalities, despite the fact that the epidemiological situation now looks technically better than ‘black’, we will still want to take additional measures to destroy that strain of virus where we are. I have fixed it if it is still possible, “said the Prime Minister.
I. Šimonytė said she was disappointed that the municipalities where the situation is better maintained the current situation, but stressed that this would require “a very great additional effort”, because the number of contacts increased when the children returned from primary school.
“Active testing and active monitoring in those municipalities would allow them to remain ‘yellow’ and not be infected with the color deterioration of eastern Lithuania,” he said.
Decide to squeeze, mandatory tests
He also said the government would decide later this week whether further adjustment was necessary.
“If there will be additional restrictions on the activities of those currently in force, that is, a tightening of the quarantine, the Government will continue to consult and, if necessary, decisions will be taken tomorrow or Friday morning,” said I. Šimonytė .
He also said that the change in the quarantine regime will involve the introduction of mandatory tests for workers in certain areas.
“In my opinion, the two issues are related, both the issue of a possible quarantine change and the issue of mandatory testing of people involved in certain jobs and activities.” We would like both decisions to be made together, “he said. .
Photo by V. Liaudanskis
To the Prime Minister’s knowledge, the amendments to the Communicable Diseases Act establishing mandatory testing have yet to be signed, so a statute will be passed later this week for the specific specialties to which it would apply.
“I could mention some examples: they would be health institutions, nursing and care institutions, and educational institutions and preschool education. Although some of the personnel who work there are vaccinated, there is also a part that did not agree to be vaccinated and also, Unfortunately, we continue to find cases in those institutions that already appeared to be the most protected in that periodic order of priority. Evidence is being considered, said I. Šimonytė.
“The basic principle would be that people going back to work shouldn’t really take that test the way I stood here a few weeks ago and asked everyone to take that test with public funds, but just turn it into a mandatory requirement, “he said. .she said.
In Lithuania, there has been a recent increase in the number of cases per day, and according to experts, in the pessimistic case, morbidity in December is threatened in mid-April, when 3,000 cases were diagnosed. cases.
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