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Latvia decided this week to suspend all flights from the UK, Ireland and Portugal to prevent a more dangerous strain of coronavirus from entering the country. You can come to Latvia from other countries only for one very important reason.
Mr. Skuodis said that the Lithuanian government had decided not to follow Latvia’s decision, considering the number of travelers and the fact that it would be possible to circumvent the ban on connecting flights.
“In Lithuania, we have chosen an alternative solution: not to prohibit, but to further strengthen control by tightening travel requirements and involving officials from the State Border Guard Service,” M. Skuodis wrote on Facebook.
According to him, the main goal is to do everything possible to stop the spread of COVID-19 strains entering Lithuania as soon as possible.
“Why not flight insurance? My arguments are two. Flights and the number of people who travel on them have been drastically reduced. Our daily statistics show that some planes just fly almost empty. By banning an address when only one country does, it is possible to return to the same Latvia on connecting flights, ”he said.
“I know that even with such regulation, many opinions will differ … It is difficult to find a balance. However, I believe that in this case we have chosen the best option (of the worst among those we choose),” said the minister.
M. Skuodis also announced that within a week at Vilnius airport, all departures and arrivals will finally receive a commercial trial service, and for how long such service will be available in Kaunas.
Starting from Monday, the control of passengers arriving in Lithuania from abroad at the airports and the port of Klaipeda will be strengthened.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications announced this Saturday that the checkpoints filled by the National Center for Public Health will be reviewed at the checkpoints, and the results of the COVID-19 tests available to passengers and their time will be evaluated.
Specialists from the State Border Guard Service, the National Center for Public Health and the airport and port passenger terminals will work together at the checkpoints.
In preparation for further enhanced controls, the flow of arrivals to Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga airports will be reorganized. Documents of all arriving passengers and COVID-19 test results will be verified in the airport arrival areas after baggage has been collected.
Improved checkpoints will be installed at Klaipeda Seaport at the Klaipeda Central Terminal and at the Klaipeda Container Terminal.
Health experts worry that coronavirus strains spreading in Britain and elsewhere could be more contagious and more resistant to vaccines.
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