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The Baltic States have agreed that if the COVID-19 morbidity rate exceeds 16 cases, 100,000. population, the state is included in the list of affected countries, and self-isolation is mandatory for those arriving from it.
On Friday, the Lithuanian total on the 14th. Indicator – 16.1 case 100 thousand. population. During the day, it fell from 16.5, but still exceeded the agreed limit by a hair.
Latvia’s morbidity rate from COVID-19, according to Friday’s data, is barely 4.3, Estonia – 16.4. Therefore, Estonia should also be included in the list of countries affected by Latvia, which will come into effect next midnight.
The Latvian authorities have strongly opposed any exemption for other states. However, she herself admits that after Lithuania is put on the yellow travel list, there are a number of challenges ahead.
A.Veryga warned the Lithuanians
Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga warned at a press conference on Friday that Lithuanians will have to follow the rules announced by Latvia, which should be made clear by Friday afternoon. As far as is known, the Latvian authorities have no intention of resuming border controls, but officials will take care of the order.
“As far as we know, how Latvians plan to guarantee control, there are many powers given to police officers,” Veryga said.
– Keep in mind that when you cross a border and enter the territory of another country, another regime takes effect there, and the conditions established there must be met. Police officers in your country can impose penalties for non-compliance. I can’t really say what they are, I don’t know. “
Will make exceptions
Latvian Health Minister Ilze Hänķele admitted to Latvian radio on Friday morning that travel restrictions for those coming from Lithuania and Estonia will be much more complicated and nuanced compared to other European countries.
Latvian Cabinet of Ministers 3:00 pm meets in an extraordinary meeting in which it must be agreed under what conditions travel to Latvia will be restricted. Until then, the minister did not want to talk about future rules, only hinting that existing provisions would likely be changed depending on the business sector.
The Minister confirmed that the exemptions apply to those traveling to the Baltic States for study and work reasons.
I.Viņķele stated that the stricter travel restrictions allow Latvia not to introduce extremely strict measures in the country. “We can decide freer relationships with our neighbors, but this increases the risk that we will have to impose stricter restrictions at the national level as morbidity rates increase, which I don’t think our society really wants, because we now live lives almost normal with very few restrictions. ” the Minister explained.
Latvia should remain open to transit travel, both by air and by land. Latvian Center for Disease Prevention and Control on Monday 15 minutes stated that “even if the total of Lithuania 14 d. the indicator will exceed 16 cases per 100,000. Lithuanian citizens will still be able to use Latvia as a transit country, if they do not stay in Latvia longer than necessary. If they want to stay longer than transit, they will have 14 days to isolate themselves. “All the rules should be clear on Friday afternoon.
Criticisms of Lithuania and Estonia
I. Vinkelė stated that the higher morbidity in Lithuania and Estonia could be due to the fact that these countries allowed international travel too freely.
By opening their borders a few months ago, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia agreed to strict rules for their residents traveling outside the Baltic states, but Estonia and Lithuania began “unilaterally, without even informing Latvia” of not following these rules, Vinkelė said. .
“They have started to fly much more freely, … they have introduced many more control formalities that seem strict, angry and political, but not very useful in terms of epidemiological safety, and here we are seeing results,” said the minister.
In his opinion, in Lithuania and Estonia, the political arguments outweighed the opinion of the specialists.
Latvian Prime Minister Krišjanis Karinis declared on Wednesday that as the number of diseases increases in Lithuania and Estonia, the so-called Baltic travel bubble will end on Friday and Lithuanians traveling to the neighboring country will have to isolate themselves.
Latvian Prime Minister K. Karinis and other members of the government have spoken in favor of Latvia sending a clear message: no exceptions can be made to any state, he writes delfi.lv.
Photo by Josvydas Elinskas / 15min / Saulius Skvernelis and Krišjanis Military
Both the prime minister and the ministers pointed out that the Baltic travel bubble was created in May, but neighboring countries did not apply the same strict self-isolation requirements as Latvia and also allowed entry from “red” countries. As a result, the ministers agreed not to make concessions to Lithuania and Estonia.
The Prime Minister expressed his opposition to the proposal not to demand the isolation of people coming from Lithuania. “As head of government, I don’t support that. How can the exemption of a country’s territory from the isolation rule be justified when it represents a threat to our health? ”Asked K. Karinis.
He did not hide his disappointment because “neighboring countries did not take the same restrictions as Latvia, so they found themselves in a worse situation and now they expect concessions from Latvia.”
As Latvia takes stronger measures in the fight against COVID-19, also showed an analysis by researchers from the University of Oxford.
K. Karinis did not hide his disappointment because “the neighboring countries did not take the same restrictions as Latvia, so they found themselves in a worse situation and now they expect concessions from Latvia.”
“Unfortunately, we have to accept the fact that self-isolation will be necessary for those who have returned from the Baltic countries, if such figures exist,” said the Latvian prime minister. “We will not close the borders, but there will be self-isolation.”
Restrictions are growing in Europe
With the resurgence of infections in Europe, several countries are introducing new restrictions. For example, Ukraine and Hungary have already closed their borders to foreigners. Kiev unexpectedly advanced its decision one day, so now On Friday, some passengers were denied boarding at Vilnius airport.
Due to ever-changing rules, low-cost airlines cancel some flights and offer to some countries ridiculously low priced tickets – but those in which the morbidity rate is high enough. Read more here: Do times of uncertainty go back? Ryanair offers ridiculously cheap tickets and cancellations.
“Scanpix” / “SIPA”
Experience has already shown that countries issue travel bans very hastily, so travel planning must be done very responsibly. It can become an obstacle for Lithuanians to freely enter other countries and our country has exceeded 16 cases per 100 thousand. population threshold.
Travel restrictions in a specific country can be verified in Lithuania On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the consular offices of that State.
Latvian tourism asked Lithuania to make an exception
The inclusion of Lithuania in the so-called yellow or even red list of countries affected by COVID-19 would significantly harm Latvia’s tourism sector, said Santa Kreste, director of the Latvian Hotel and Restaurant Association.
S. Graikste, director of the Latvian Hotel and Restaurant Association, told BNS that most of the tourists who visited Latvia this summer came from Lithuania, so adding this country to the list of countries from which visitors should Isolating yourself for 14 days would significantly reduce the flow of tourists into Latvia.
“Urgent decisions are needed at the state level to mitigate the financial consequences of the loss of tourists,” the head of the association told the BNS news agency, adding the need to sit at a negotiating table with specialists from the Ministry of Health and the Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Due to the unity of the Baltic countries, we need to find a solution, as Finland and Estonia did, with the exception of her, said the director of the rural tourism association.
Asnāte Ziemele from the Latvian Rural Tourism Association Lauku ceļotājs, who presented the example of Finland and Estonia, also supported the exceptions of Lithuania.
“We need to find a solution for the unity and cooperation of the Baltic states, as Finland and Estonia have done. Finland has made an exception for Estonia, even if it should be included in the list of ‘dangerous’ countries according to Finnish criteria. We must also appreciate the unity of the Baltic countries and make exceptions, “he said.
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