Resolved: Proposes the prohibition of congregating more than two and not allowing commerce in temporary places

Acting Minister of Health Aurelijus Veryga, Head of State Emergency Operations, Danas Bakša, Director of the National Public Health Laboratory (NVSPL) and Daiva Razmuvienė, Representative of the National Center for Public Health (NVSC), reviewed the prevalence measures and coronavirus control at a remote press conference on Tuesday. .

Will propose to tighten the quarantine

The minister recalled that several proposals on the tightening of quarantine conditions will be presented to the Government on Wednesday.

One of them is the prohibition of gathering more than two people. So far, 5 people have been allowed to gather.

It is also intended to include a recommendation to prohibit the use of purchase incentives, that is, not to advertise sales and other sales promotions.

“Taking into account the unfavorable epidemiological situation of the coronavirus infection in Lithuania (…), it is proposed to reduce the number of people gathered in public places and others from 5 to 2 people,” states the draft resolution.

The Ministry also emphasizes that at the beginning of the festive period, many points of sale hold Christmas fairs, where several merchants do not trade in physical stores, but in temporary points of sale, where large flows of customers are concentrated and it is difficult to ensure compliance.

“It is proposed to prohibit all stores, supermarkets and service points from selling at temporary points of sale (except food, pyrotechnics and commercial islands), that is, when they are not in physically segregated stores, but, for example, in premises of common supermarkets, aisles and the like. ” , – to be specified by the Ministry.

The Ministry also recommends recommending the use of short-term sales promotions in stores, supermarkets, marketplaces and other public outlets and service points, that is, sales, discount hours, tastings and other measures that increase the flow of buyers. and visitors at a specific time. This would not apply to online trading.

The third wave is threatening

During the press conference, A. Veryga also responded to comments from some members of society that the quarantine will not be observed during the Christmas period and will be celebrated as usual.

“If that is the case, it is certainly not inconceivable that after the Christmas holidays, approximately 2 weeks later, we will have neither the second wave, but the third wave, which can become uncontrollable phenomena. I would like to remind you that medical institutions are already experiencing great tension and I invite you to think about the time and not to organize such celebrations, ”said the acting minister.

You also need to isolate yourself from family members

The interim recalled that those who have to isolate themselves at home due to the coronavirus should be as isolated as possible from family members, not in contact with them.

At the same time, A. Veryga spoke about highly criticized mobile medical teams.

“We hear a lot of skepticism about these teams, fears. But I want to welcome that […] Mobile teams are already operating in 11 municipalities of the country, ”said A. Veryga and urged other municipalities to also organize mobile teams.

“No funds should have been provided”

Veryga cut back on those who said the budget had lost money for COVID-19 vaccines.

“I would like to reassure everyone and ask my colleagues at Seimas not to spread panic in society, not to intimidate them, because the funds for the PSDF budget for vaccines should not have been provided. The government has made all the necessary decisions on how to acquire these vaccines, ”said the acting minister.

Acquisitions must be diversified and vaccination will go to 70%. Lithuanian populations.

“When it is clear how much will be needed for the vaccines, when it is clear how much Lithuania will be able to receive, the government will have to make a decision at that time and it has already been agreed that the vaccines will be purchased with borrowed funds.”

No new outbreaks have been recorded.

According to D. Razmuvienė, it is gratifying that no new outbreaks were registered on Monday. Thus, it can be said that outbreaks are localized and new cases are found in those individuals who have already been isolated.

“15 percent of family outbreaks are registered in one day,” said the epidemiologist, adding that this percentage could still increase, explaining still unknown cases.

“I do not want to rejoice in advance, but I believe that the society that listened to it adopted the rules and helped achieve the results that we have yesterday,” said D. Razmuvienė.

Also, according to the epidemiologist, there has been a report that a baby infected with coronavirus was infected by a sick mother.

Research 80 percent. cases

The epidemiologist also responded to criticism previously voiced in the Presidency on Tuesday that 50 percent of coronavirus cases are not investigated by the NVSC.

“I would like to respond to the opinion expressed today. Certainly, it is absolutely false that the NVSC does not investigate 50% of all cases. It is false and very unfortunate that professionals with other skills can evaluate the work of epidemiologists.

Epidemiology is a separate science and it takes many years to understand it. […] The tests are done every day, they take more than a day. Throughout November, there were about 14 percent of the cases not investigated. The highest percentage was more than 17 percent. The lowest percentage was around 7 percent. And as all organizations claim, if epidemiologists investigate 80 percent, the situation is manageable, “said the epidemiologist.

The purchase has been made

At a press conference, Dan Bakša announced that the purchase of the necessary equipment for the laboratory to carry out coronavirus tests had been completed on Monday, which sparked a lot of passion.

“We got much better results than in most cases, no matter how the purchase was announced. Again, I think this confirms that we did the right thing by making the enhanced purchase. Offers were sent to 23 or 24 companies, but then 11 companies submitted offers, ”said D. Bakša about the highly criticized purchases, adding that a lot of money had been saved.