New restrictions go into effect on Monday: in cafes – two at the table, elsewhere – 2 meters between customers

The new restrictions will apply without the announcement of a new quarantine, but based on the decisions of the Emergency Operations Manager at the state level.

Institutions may choose to admit only vaccinated, immunosuppressed, or PCR-negative individuals that they can corroborate. Not only the passport of opportunities is valid, but also other documents issued by hospitals or other institutions.

The transition period will end on September 13, when even stricter restrictions will take effect and contact activities “without an opportunity passport” will be possible only according to the approved list of exceptions.

Earlier, when introducing the future restrictions, Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys emphasized: “Message: let’s get vaccinated.”

New conditions for cafes, bars, restaurants: 2 people at the table

The decision of the director of operations, which will define the activities of the catering establishments, will take effect on Monday, they must comply with the new requirements as of Monday.

Institutions will be required to ensure that visitors consume food and beverages only at tables, allowing no more than 2 people to be served indoors at a table. Outside, in open spaces, there will be no more than 5 people at the table. The exception applies to members of the same family or a household.

Institutions must limit the flow of visitors: queues must be separated by at least 2 meters.

The distance between the tables would be such that visitors to different tables would be separated by at least 2 meters. If partitions between the tables are installed between at least 90 cm wide and 140 cm high, the distance between the visitors of the different tables must be at least 1 meter.

Institutions will need to ensure that workers wear medical masks or respirators indoors, and visitors over the age of 6 use nasal and oral protective equipment such as masks, respirators, or other devices that fit comfortably and completely cover the nose and mouth .

The requirement to wear masks does not apply while sitting at a table. The masks cannot be used by people with disabilities who, due to their medical condition, cannot use the masks or whose use may be harmful to their personal health (it is recommended to use a face shield).

It will not be possible to provide self-service meals when the food is provided by the visitors themselves. Do not supply sugar, salt, sauces or the like. products in shared containers or packaging.
Blankets cannot be offered to visitors. It is also not possible to use reusable menus that visitors touch. If they are used, they must be disinfected after each use, according to a decision that will take effect on Monday.

Reusable and handicapped tablecloths or coasters that cannot be cleaned (washed) and disinfected after each visit.

Institutions may elect to serve only vaccinated, relapsed, or PCR-negative subjects, in which case such restrictions would not apply. The institutions will notify the authorities of this decision and inform the clients of it, at least in A4 format.

The comparison of requirements with and without the possibility of a passport is possible in the infographic of the Ministry of Health.

Even when working only with a passport or other documents, it will be necessary to ensure safety at work. In both cases, other requirements are described, among which are disinfection, work organization, health control of workers and visitors, ventilation of the premises, etc.

It will be necessary to control distances in shops and entertainment venues.

Contact services, shops, markets, places of leisure and entertainment, casinos, slot machines or bingo halls, etc. they will have to ensure a distance of at least 2 meters from each other, or they will have to separate service users with partitions.
When queues occur, the required distances between queued recipients should be noted and this requirement should be ensured.

Suppliers are required to ensure that workers wear medical masks or respirators indoors and that visitors and recipients over the age of 6 use nasal and oral protective equipment (masks, respirators, or other devices) that fit well and fully. Cover your nose and mouth. The mask is not necessary for the disabled, sports recipients or in cases where it is not possible to provide the service without removing the mask.

Distances between traders (eg cashiers, market traders) must be at least 2 meters, unless they are trading from vehicles or partitions are installed.
Clients with signs of infection should not be admitted.

Service providers must provide information on personal hygiene, provide opportunities for hand sanitization at the entrance, and constantly monitor the health of employees.

In events, in the theater: masks and without drinks, meals

In cinemas, theaters or other non-commercial or commercial events, the organizers, if they operate without a passport, must ensure that the tickets are distributed electronically and that food or beverages are not consumed from the seats; can only be used in designated areas. (buffet, bar).

Visitor flows should be limited: distances of at least 2 meters in the queues. The number of spectators or participants must be up to 500 – exceeding this number, participants or spectators must be divided into sectors, flows from different sectors or high spectators at an event cannot cross.

The use of masks is mandatory and the event organizers must ensure that the use of masks is controlled throughout the event indoors.

Participants must be able to disinfect or wash their hands. Sick staff and bystanders cannot work or visit.

Frequently touched surfaces and equipment should be cleaned after each event, in accordance with disinfection recommendations, organizers should ensure maximum ventilation of the event spaces, taking into account the technical capabilities of the building.

Event organizers process visitor data: name, surname, phone number and store it for 21 days from the date of the event, then immediately destroy it. The data is provided free of charge by the organizers for the epidemiological diagnosis of COVID-19 focal disease at NVSC, upon request.

It is recommended that the seat be provided by at least one free chair, with the possibility of planting chess during handling. When organizing large-scale events, it is recommended to install thermal imaging cameras at the main entrances of the event venue in closed spaces to measure the temperature of the spectators, to apply other security measures.

Again, the restrictions would not apply to those events whose organizers choose to serve only vaccinated, sick or negative people.

You will need a document proving vaccination, relapse, negative test

In addition, to have unrestricted access to contact services, it will be possible to present not only the Passport of Opportunity, but also other documents that demonstrate the possibility of using the exemptions.

A vaccination statement, a protocol for a positive antibody laboratory test (SARS-CoV-2 PCR test or antigen test or quantitative or semi-quantitative serological immunoassay) will be considered appropriate documentation.

A negative COVID-19 test result, a protocol for negative laboratory test results (SARS-CoV-2 PCR test), can also be provided. It can be both printed and digital.

Eligible documents issued by a personal health care institution: confirmation that the person has a history of COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) according to the criteria specified in the Order, or a response to a negative laboratory PCR test, or a document stating that the person has been vaccinated.

Persons under the age of 16 must provide proof of the child’s age.

Also suitable is the EU digital COVID-19 certificate, drawn up in accordance with the requirements of the European Commission, confirming the fact of vaccination or relapse.

Evidence may be required to be accompanied by an identity document

According to these documents, the control must be ensured by the service providers: “The specified documents and the personal data contained in them will be reviewed in order to determine their compliance with other activities.”

Documents can only be viewed, collected, stored or otherwise manipulated.

Even with documents, COVID-19 patients with or suspected of having the disease cannot be cared for.

As of September 13, stricter restrictions will come into force, allowing access to services without a passport or other document only under the exceptions list – all contact services, activities or events that are not included in the list will be closed: sports clubs, cinemas, beauty salons, etc.