The carriers explained what is changing for drivers due to the new procedure: remind them not to forget the questionnaire

The isolation requirements for carriers that went into effect on Monday are relevant to 5,000 logistics companies and more than 70,000. drivers.

Zenon Buivydas, general secretary of the Linava association, assures that there have not been very important changes, but this has caused confusion among drivers.

“There have been no major changes, just everyone is under stress during this pandemic. Such a period and any movement is annoying, you cannot imagine how many people called during this weekend, “said Z. Buivydas at the press conference.

Linava assures thousands of drivers that the changes will not substantially affect the drivers’ work; only those who are not in a hurry for the next trip will have 10 days to isolate themselves.

“This information has been heard in the public sphere, as if the carriers and the drivers of the transport companies have never been isolated before, or if it was not mandatory to do so, and now it is supposedly mandatory and stricter as of this day. Drivers have always been isolated and isolated to this day, the order has simply changed, ”says Vytas Bučinskas, vice president of the Linava Association.

He explained that the main change is that all drivers must register on the website of the National Public Health Center (NVSC) and receive a confirmation code before entering the territory of the Republic of Lithuania. In addition, the stricter the rules for self-isolation of certain “red” states with higher mutations or morbidity from coronavirus.

“Another tightening is that the employer is obliged to control that employees who work in transport companies register with the NVSC. And the message has been heard through all media that it is hardening and will have to be isolated, although it has been happening before. As a result, the trucking community is alarmed by what happened here, ”explained V. Bučinskas.

Until now, crew and crew members working in companies engaged in international commercial transport or engaged in international commercial transport did not need testing or isolation, but carriers arriving in Lithuania from Monday will need to isolate themselves.

Isolation was made mandatory from the day of arrival in Lithuania until the day of departure from its territory, but no more than 10 days from the day of return or arrival in Lithuania. The exception applies in cases where carriers deliver cargo or come to collect it without staying in Lithuania or in transit through the country.

The isolation period for carriers cannot be shortened earlier than 7 days after the isolation test for COVID-19 and a negative result.

Carrier managers are obliged to verify whether the crew and crew members returning or arriving from international flights have filled out the electronic questionnaire on the website of the National Center for Public Health, to provide data for the control procedures of the NVSC, BNS reported.

The association of carriers Linava assures that it has received a large number of calls and messages from sector employees requesting to present the changes, to explain why the isolation procedure is being tightened now, when the number of people with coronavirus is decreasing. According to traders, this could create chaos because there is very little time to prepare for the change.

Kiūdytė: mutations are spreading, the movement of goods will not be affected

Rasa Kiūdytė, the senior adviser to the Health Ministry, warned that the requirements have tightened even after the number of new coronavirus cases started to rise again.

“Until this Monday, there was no mandatory isolation for carriers, only as of this Monday there was an obligation if they did not leave for the flight, it is necessary to isolate for 10 days,” says R. Kiūdytė.

He explained that so far isolation has only been applied to travelers.

“Today, the figures, although for some time they have been decreasing, in Lithuania, unfortunately, from a certain day we again have a morbidity of increasing figures. By comparison, on February 18, there were 238 cases in 14 days for every 100,000. population. Now sadly, looking at today’s data, we have 242.9, “says R. Kiudytė.

A spokeswoman for the ministry said she was unhappy with information coming from countries around the world about the spread of mutations.

“February 17th. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 83 countries, including all EU countries, already have a mutation in the UK, 40 countries have reported a South African mutation and up to 17 countries have reported a mutation in Brazil. What makes them special is that they spread much more quickly, have a much shorter duration of infection, and are 40 to 80 percent more contagious. faster, ”said R. Kiūdytė.

Explain that the isolation rules chosen for carriers still allow more than for other people and will not affect the movement of goods.

“If he came only to unload or pick up the load, the isolation does not apply to that person,” says R. Kiūdytė.

He reported that there is no difference in which country the next trip is: if the returning driver transports the cargo in Lithuania, no isolation is required: “The duty of the carrier is to transport, it is exactly the same job. Until the next commute, this provision should be treated as such. “

R. Kiūdytė adds that previously the NVSC form could be completed within 12 hours of arrival, but now it is not possible to complete the form after returning; It must be sent before crossing the border.

“Isolation does not apply to people who are vaccinated, who have had a disease and that the disease is confirmed by a certificate and confirmed by a test,” says R. Kiūdytė and points out that it must be less than 90 days old.

The 10-day isolation can be shortened to 7 days by performing a PCR test at your expense and terminating the isolation if a negative result is obtained.

“If you have arrived and need to leave for the trip before 7 days, and you do not plan to stay in Lithuania, you leave the place of isolation and go to work, there is an exception, the isolation can be ended when you leave for work,” he explained ministry to drivers.

Returning drivers may be isolated from other family members, but this requires a separate room that is well ventilated, avoiding common areas, gatherings, and restricting movement. If it is not possible to provide a separate room, it is possible to contact the municipality with a request for the premises to be properly isolated.

“If a person is from a state classified as high risk for mutation and morbidity, unfortunately those people cannot go out for a walk during isolation, they must be at home at all times,” said a spokeswoman for the ministry.

According to her, this restriction does not apply to family members, so they can care for a person in isolation.

Border guards: crossing borders must have completed a form

Giedrius Mišutis, Head of the Prevention Division of the State Border Guard Service (SBGS), assures that the problems of the carriers do not cause much, and their control is simple, they know what documents must be completed.

However, passengers crossing the borders now have more problems: they do not complete the NVSC questionnaires, which are mandatory.

“We check if we have completed these questionnaires and we have to say that many travelers have not completed them. Last day 1,600 cars arrived in Poland, which were more than 700 people without QR codes. The opposite is the case of airports, where only it estimates about 5 percent. Perhaps the Polish leadership is a bit innovative, and we hope that there will be fewer people who do not complete, “warns G. Mišutis.

It assures that the border guards have not renewed the border controls that were in force during the first quarantine when the internal borders were closed.

“During the quarantine control carried out by the border guards, the selective inspection method is maintained, everything at 100%. There are still no possibilities or legal bases to verify”, reported G. Mišutis.