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The government supported the proposal of the Ministry of Health to stop classifying these panels as personal protective equipment for the nose and mouth.
The Ministry of Health explained that the effectiveness of reusable medical and non-medical masks has already been tested and the effectiveness of the panels has not.
According to the ministry, the mask, which fits close to the mouth and nose, prevents the spread of the coronavirus in public spaces, and the shield can only protect the face from contact with dirty hands.
Representatives from the Health Ministry told the BNS news agency that the new requirement also applies to media employees. The authorities promise to verify compliance with this requirement, leaving sellers the right not to serve only buyers with face protection.
The state of emergency is extended until April
The Latvian government and the crisis management council agreed in a joint meeting on Tuesday to extend the state of emergency in the country until April 6, Prime Minister Krišjanis Karinis told the media.
An emergency was declared on November 9, involving measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
According to the prime minister, the government agreed on Tuesday in principle to change security measures to make them more effective and understandable. Limitations in three areas were discussed: commerce, travel, and education.
Mr. Karinis noted that it was planned to move to a secure commerce model by tightening control over the number of shoppers in stores. If violations are detected, the police will be able to make decisions about closing the stores. In addition, it is planned to phase out the special product lists.
As reported, starting next week it will be possible to sell all products in some stores, the bookstore will resume work.
The Ministry of Economy has indicated that the government has agreed in principle to its proposal for a safe trade model and that the transition to this model will begin on February 8, expanding the list of goods that can be marketed in stores. Stores must manage customer flows more efficiently, ensure compliance with social distance, as well as in the entry and exit areas. Marketing activities that encourage people to visit stores will be prohibited.
According to the Prime Minister, the government will decide later on whether further action can be taken.
The restrictions could be revised in about three weeks, said K. Karinis. According to him, the Ministry of Health proposes to evaluate the epidemiological situation every three weeks.
It was also decided to restrict entry to Latvia from Great Britain, Portugal and Ireland, where a much more contagious strain of coronavirus is spreading.
In the field of education, it is planned to return to the formation of safe contacts. It will initially be updated for 1st and 2nd grade students, subject to comprehensive epidemiological safety measures.
During the meeting, the report of the Ministry of Health on the incidence of COVID-19 in Latvia and the necessary security measures was heard. The ministry proposed a new risk management strategy based on the “traffic light” principle and four sets of epidemiological indicators to establish limits.
At present, Latvia belongs to the first category, “dark red”, which is characterized by 561.26 cases per 100 thousand. morbidity of the population in the last 14 days.
The state of emergency in Latvia can last as long as this category is in effect, but it can be lifted once the country can be classified in the second “red” category. This would happen if the two-week morbidity were reduced to 100-200 cases per 100,000 cases. population. Restrictions on meetings, commerce, individual indoor sports training, contact training, catering could then be relaxed.
Third, the “orange” category is advertised when morbidity at two weeks is 20 to 100 cases per 100,000. population. At this stage, the restrictions could be further relaxed: meetings, commerce, visits to cultural institutions, indoor sports training would be allowed.
The fourth category, “green,” is associated with 20 cases per 100,000. population with a morbidity of two weeks. Then it would be possible to return to a normal life with little moderation.
The Ministry of Health has indicated that in the future it is necessary to strengthen measures against the introduction of COVID-19 from abroad and the spread of the virus in the country, prohibiting non-essential trips and demanding the declaration of the purpose of the trip. It is also proposed to reduce the number of groups of people exempted from COVID-19 testing and self-isolation upon arrival in Latvia and to strengthen surveillance of epidemiological security measures.
On Tuesday, 12,949 tests per day in Latvia revealed 775 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus infection, and 17 previously infected people died, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control reported Tuesday.
The day before, 411 new cases of COVID-19 and the death of seven patients were reported.
The most recent victims of the coronavirus pandemic are people between the ages of 45 and 95.
Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 67,427 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Latvia, killing 1,219 people living with coronavirus. The incidence of COVID-19 in the last two weeks in Latvia is 561.26 cases per 100 thousand. population.
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