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Delfi recalls that due to the difficult situation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the quarantine was introduced in Lithuania on November 7, setting its deadline until midnight on November 29. The government normally discusses preliminary decisions on handling the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday in the COVID-19 committee, and formal decisions are made at a government meeting on Wednesday.
“The main decision that will need to be negotiated and agreed upon in COVID-19 is the quarantine extension. We will definitely offer to continue the quarantine for at least a few weeks. Even if the three-week extension were announced, we would find ourselves somewhere in mid-December. .
In my opinion, it might be more logical to offer an even longer term. So, if the situation were good, it would be possible to shorten the time, to alleviate the quarantine conditions. It would probably be more logical to announce it at least until the end of the big parties, “said A. Veryga.
Whatever decision was made, the interim minister called for vacations this year to be different than usual.
“It may not be the same as Easter, when we don’t move anywhere, but Christmas will definitely not be the same as it used to be, with people full of squares. We see that cities are also preparing for completely different scenarios. . We must refrain from any important celebration, “said A. Veryga.
The acting minister doesn’t think testing opportunities need to be liberalized in any way before the big vacation so that anyone planning to go with loved ones can still get tested for the coronavirus.
“Testing with us is already quite free. We do a lot of research. On peak days, we also get to 15,000 surveys. This is a huge burden for both the labs and those who work there. When other faster testing methodologies emerge, I may be able to talk about it. But first you have to have them, “said A. Veryga.
He also noted that the tests do not change the quarantine principle itself.
“People can test negative even though they are already infected. Driving allows the disease to spread faster, especially when now, unlike in summer, communication takes place indoors. And family spread is still now one of the biggest challenges, ”said A. Veryga.
Store closings are not considered
The minister assured that the option of closing non-food establishments is currently not being considered.
“It just came to our attention then. There was such a question for doctors, experts. There was no approval. Our team interacted with the Association of Business Enterprises. Examples have been given of how difficult it is to secure even those conditions that already exist. It was secured. that additional measures will be taken to prevent people from surfing, “said A. Veryga.
According to the minister, the situation in supermarkets largely depends on the conscience of the people themselves.
“If the numbers do not fall, there may be a return to such considerations, but this measure will not be discussed today,” Veryga said.
Despite the records, the situation is stabilizing
The word ‘record’ rang twice last week to record the number of people infected with coronavirus. On Friday, the National Center for Public Health announced that 2,272 new cases of COVID-19 had been identified. On Sunday it was announced that the day before, 2307 cases had been detected. However, according to the acting minister, the global incidence of the coronavirus incidence is similar to that of the previous week, and a stabilization can be observed.
“It just came to our attention then. After the weekend, when there was less investigation, there were fewer cases. Then the records were recorded, which did not exist before. However, if we look at the overall weekly average, it will be similar to that of the week. We can also see that the situation in hospitals has not deteriorated as it has deteriorated before, “said A. Veryga.
He does not share the promises that we will be able to get vaccinated already this year.
The great wait for vaccines has begun in the world. It is announced that its first doses may arrive in Europe in mid-December and countries are preparing to adopt them. However, the question remains who will receive and how many doses of vaccines this year. The demand is much greater than the promises to bring them to market.
According to the French website Le Figaro, Europe has reserved 1.3 billion euros for major laboratories. doses of vaccines and another 660 million. additional dose option. However, not all of this amount can be produced at once.
Pfizer-BioNTech has committed to delivering $ 50 million to the US and Europe by December. dose, Modern – 20 mln. dose.
2021 Moderna has committed to producing from 500 million. up to 1 billion doses, Pfizer-BioNTech – 1.3 billion. dose.
“Those billions (which are mentioned as a European need) are probably counted in every vaccine that has been developed. Pfizer and Moderna are just two of the seven companies mentioned above.
It is not yet the case that they have already been manufactured, stored and are waiting to be confirmed for import. They still need to be done, it takes time. Airplanes are the least problem. So we need to carry them, there are few in terms of volume. For us, it would be the least problem for them to fly. Once the vaccine is available, it will not be difficult to get it. It will be more difficult to deliver one that needs a cold regime to the site. But the specialists are also preparing for that, “said A. Veryga about the logistical challenges.
The minister did not waste his promises that we will start vaccinating against the coronavirus in Lithuania as early as this year.
“I would really like that, but I really can’t give an answer to this question. I don’t know,” said A. Veryga.
Does not change the position of the Seimas
Following the spread of the coronavirus in the Seimas, the interim health minister continues to maintain his position that it should be closed in a couple of weeks.
“In a real epidemiological sense, it would be much better to shut down than to think now about all the mechanisms that you are thinking about, both partitions and other things. It would work if they were short contacts, but in that case maybe even masks would suffice. It can also be placed with a panel if you already want to protect yourself.
But it would be better if people wait two weeks. Of course, I understand that now is a difficult time, both for the formation of the Government and for the approval of the budget. This is probably the most thankless moment. But this is not the first time we have faced an thankless moment. The election was a thankless time, now the formation of power is a thankless time. It is our duty to advise, the Seimas authorities will decide how they see how to organize the work ”, said A. Veryga.
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