Quarantine may never return: after changed laws, restrictions can be introduced without it

The situation is reminiscent of last November.

The entire country has been immersed in the COVID-19 black zone for some time. The number of new coronavirus cases is increasing: 2,000. the limit of new diseases daily.

This situation is reminiscent of November last year. Then the number of new cases exceeded around 1500. Here, on November 4, 1419 cases were registered, on November 12, 1879, on November 19, 2244 cases and on the last day of November, 1489 cases.

The second global quarantine began on November 7 of last year and lasted until June of this year.

In November last year, the government of former Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis introduced the second quarantine and, in mid-December, when cases reached unprecedented levels, it was reinforced by the new government of Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

As of November 7, all people were required to be in public places in groups of no more than 5 people, except family members, to maintain a distance of at least 2 meters between people or groups of people, to avoid contact direct physical, to observe personal hygiene requirements.

People over 6 years of age should wear protective masks in all public places.

Then there were also recommendations to restrict movement for unnecessary reasons: leaving the place of residence only on the way to work, a place of commerce, for medical care and other services.

All events and gatherings of people in public places in open and closed spaces at a predetermined time were also banned.

Beauty salons and non-grocery stores will still be able to operate, but they had to limit the flow of visitors.

The public sector had to switch to telecommuting and private companies were advised to do the same.

The education of preschool-age children, preschool-age children and primary school children will continue to be provided in educational institutions. To this end, separate security conditions will be established, which have yet to be clarified.

For seniors, lessons will be taken remotely or in combination with distance learning every day.

The cafes could only offer take away food. And patients were banned from treatment facilities.

Immunization is insufficient

Of course, last fall and this one differ between the essential factor: the coronavirus vaccine is available to everyone. In Lithuania, 68.6 percent of the population has already received it.

The government relied on a letter from the Interior Ministry (MoI) stating that “the number of immunized people is still insufficient to control the spread of the virus,” the government said on Wednesday, which tightened the requirements for wearing masks.

At the time, it was 67.7 percent.

The line between quarantine and emergency is very thin

A well-informed person who did not want to reveal his name. Delphi explained the difference between quarantine and emergency. According to the interlocutor, almost all previously used pandemic restrictions now fit the emergency.

“It just came to our attention then. (…) Realistically, because too many changes to the Civil Protection Law are practically equated with quarantine. I tried to see what cannot be done under the Civil Protection Law, what can be done under quarantine This is the only place you really can’t do in an emergency: put on masks outside, “said a well-informed interlocutor.

Delphi The interlocutor explained that the Civil Protection Law, which regulates the emergency situation, allows rescue work, search, liquidation of certain events, restriction of the free movement of people, restrictions on economic activities, restrictions on public and administrative services .

“And when it comes to quarantine, just write in more detail, but anyway. The difference always between these two regimes was that an emergency situation allows an already direct person to meet those requirements. The extreme situation says that Such restrictions can be imposed on the population. It cannot be said that a person should wear a mask, as was the case during quarantine. (…) You can do this during quarantine, but you do it differently during an emergency. So It must be said that the masks should be used indoors ”, explained the thinness of the two regimes.

An extreme situation allows punishing those who do not follow instructions.

“There were two different articles in the Code of Administrative Offenses: article 45 applied in the case of quarantine and 526 in the case of Civil Protection. They are completely unified, which can be included for both quarantine and emergency. Here that limit has disappeared, there are only different subjects that can sanction ”, he said. Delphi interlocutor.

During both emergencies and quarantine, doctors receive and will receive supplements for working in dangerous conditions. Only the path is a little longer than during the quarantine.

“The Communicable Diseases Act, where we can see a slight difference here, says very clearly in Article 32 that both doctors and resident doctors who work with coronavirus are clearly included in 60 to 100 percent of their salary. It already exists. A mandatory provision here: the state must pay and it is paid with PSDF funds.

Va is not currently in quarantine, but there’s no way they won’t get that money. They can receive that money in the same way under the Civil Protection Law, but there is a different regulation there. In this case, the request for such money is no longer automatic, a letter is sent to the Ministry of Health, a letter is prepared to the Ministry of Finance, justifying that they worked. And then the Ministry of Finance approves or not, has the money or not, already from the state budget, or it is borrowed slowly, it goes to the government. And there they name them ”, said the interlocutor.

“Meeting an emergency is enough”

He recalled that local quarantines were launched last summer without wanting to publish quarantines across the country. The first in the municipality where this was done: Raseiniai.

The interlocutor said that quarantine as a word has become a deterrent for people, so the government solves the problem differently: during an emergency.

“Quarantine gives you more freedom. Its legitimacy, especially in the case of a contagious disease, is a much safer solution for the State,” said the interlocutor.

He agreed that the introduction of quarantine is already a political decision.

“It just came to our attention then. And the introduction of quarantine is a more political decision. All the more so since quarantine has become an object of fear to this day. But, can’t we close deals in case of emergency? Can we “- Delphi said the interlocutor.

“I don’t think we have to do such a stupid thing.”

Infectious Diseases professor Professor Saulius Čaplinskas marveled at the opposition’s criticism of the current rulers, without even trying to see their mistakes.

“It just came to our attention then. If they admit they made mistakes, they built a weak and broken foundation for the house, on which the house is still being built, so it is naive to expect the result.” Delphi S. Čaplinskas said.

“They left a poor base, they destroyed the public health infrastructure. Why aren’t there some heads of subordinate institutions so far? “Asked the infectious disease specialist.

He explained that the simplest manager could not work as the head of an institution under the Ministry of Health (SAM) because he “had no understanding” of the medical content.

“It is not only the vaccines, it is the diagnoses. But there is no medical content on what methods, how and when to apply rapid tests when performing PCR. (…) There is talk of some processes there, but there is no medical content,” said the Professor S. Čaplinskas.

When asked to assess the situation in the fall of last year and this, S. Čaplinskas emphasized the most important aspect: vaccination.

“We have a completely different pandemic now. Not only has it been estimated that if there are 70 percent uninhabited people in society, the virus will not spread. The talk here was about the first variety. But this delta variety will not spread. if 90 percent are uninhibited people. (…) Our current figures are too small for this delta variant to affect its spread, ”said S. Čaplinskas.

As of Friday, the order to wear protective masks in all enclosed spaces came into force, even with immunity to the coronavirus, in case of illness or vaccination. S. Čaplinskas, an infectious disease specialist, said covering the nose also reduces the likelihood of the virus spreading.

“Now there are restrictions in a closed space so that everyone understands that there is no need to open the door to a virus. Whether he was vaccinated or not. And those doors are noses in a figurative sense. If the nose is under the mask, then those doors are tightly closed. Here is the elementary logic. When it was said that if a person has an Opportunity Passport and can no longer be safe, I did not understand. This is contrary to legal logic. (…) If a person does not understand and does not have the motivation, the inner need to cover his nose, then he will not act ”, said the infectious disease specialist visually about the current limitations.

S. Čaplinskas Delfi said he could not believe that another closure would be introduced. Because the first were needed to prepare for the situation to come. And where else is everyone available to get vaccinated?

“I can not believe that lokdaun it could be reintroduced by the government. I don’t think I’m going to do that, sorry, stupid because it’s no longer necessary. Toks lokdaunas It was necessary, of course, not as it was with us, but much shorter and more rational. From the beginning, it was necessary until there were not enough instruments, there were no safeguards, there were no diagnoses. I’m not even talking about vaccines. (…) Now there should be no medical logic to do it again ”, said Professor S. Čaplinskas.

He recalled that the objective of such a strict closure was one: to buy time.

“It just came to our attention then. Because there are tools and instruments for that. Even more than could have been expected in such a short time,” said a communicable disease specialist about the coronavirus vaccine.

He agreed that people were already tired of bullying.

“The restrictions must first be understood by the person himself, collectively. I have driven through many Lithuanian companies, those restrictions apply in companies. Because people look responsibly, companies must be trustworthy and receive the tools. . Because people understand the need to work, “he said about current limitations. Delphi S. Čaplinskas intervenes.