Neringa has become a red zone: only 7 cases were jailed at the end of the month

The mayor of Neringa does not hide the fact that tourism is the only source of livelihood. Last year at that time, according to D. Jasaitis, Neringa was full of vacationers. Today, Neringa is completely empty, and there is already a gap in the budget filled by the ecological tax.

“The calculation methodology is applied everywhere like megacities. It does not take into account that more than 50 percent of the population registered in Neringa live elsewhere. When the quarantine restrictions were announced before the end of this month, we had 7 cases, three of which do not live in Neringa. In addition, we do not have all the information. I have seen before that a sick person claimed to be living in Jurbarkas, Neringa Street, and was assigned to us. Who can deny that such errors do not yet exist? In addition, Neringa has a much larger area per capita than Vilnius, so it must be taken into account ”, says the mayor of Neringa.

Residents of the municipality of Neringa can travel outside the island only if necessary. This quarantine situation takes many months, because the red zone is also Klaipeda, the closest neighbor of the municipality of Neringa. According to the mayor, most of the people living in Nida, Preila and Juodkrante do not leave their places of residence without serious reason. People follow the requirements in good faith, but instead of being able to work and earn an income, they are forced to live by the grace of the state and some are in debt. The mayor of Neringa says that if the situation does not improve, he is considering asking municipal employees to take leave without pay. And city dwellers who make a living from tourism no longer have to save like this. The head of the municipality, which has become a red zone, does not hide that last year should be an example: there were tourists and the virus did not spread.

“Last year, when the municipalities were allowed to choose whether to open up to tourism, Neringa decided to take a risk and was not wrong. The number of viruses did not increase and people had jobs in Palanga and several other resorts had decided otherwise. It was then up to the municipalities to choose how to behave and take responsibility. If the Government does not change its mind now, all the tourists will go on vacation abroad, it will be difficult for them to return to the Lithuanian tourist centers also in summer ”, considers the mayor of Neringa.

D. Jasaitis does not hide that companies are already considering the sale of buildings, which only the wealthiest will be able to buy. The income of the local population is taxed, but the support received now is only a small help, because it is still necessary to pay for heating, other services, property taxes. Nobody shot anything at them.

“I asked for the intercession of the ministers, perhaps it is taken into account that the situation in Neringa is really different, but it has already announced that by the end of the month the residents of the municipality of Neringa will be imprisoned on the island,” he added. says D. Jasaitis.

After the government extended movement restrictions in 16 municipalities until March 31, only Palanga and Šventoji will open on the coast. According to the calculation methodology, when 100 thousand. There are more than 200 cases per capita in 14 days, Klaipeda and Neringa fall behind the red line, so companies are still unable to carry out tourist activities here.