Tomorrow new restrictions come into force: without the possibility of a passport, it is not allowed in cafes, sports clubs, beauty salons, large and specialized stores

As of September 13, people who do not have access to an opportunity passport or equivalent document will be able to use only those services that are included in the list of approved exceptions. The list includes essential services and activities, as well as those activities where the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 is low.

The passport of opportunity is a document valid for 2 months, confirming that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has a history of the disease, is immune to the disease or is a child under 16 years of age. The 2-day opportunity passport can be obtained by passing the COVID-19 test and in case of a negative result, these tests are not reimbursed by the state.

Non-compliance with the Government Resolution and other requirements is subject to severe fines – non-compliance is subject to the administrative responsibility of the service provider and amounts to between 1,500 and 6,000 euros.

However, clients are also at risk: violations of the population, which represent a risk of spreading dangerous or particularly dangerous communicable diseases, committed in an emergency, are subject to a fine of 500-1500 euros, the lawyers explained previously . If there is no significant risk, a warning or a lesser fine of € 60-140 may be imposed. A much stricter liability would threaten those who are prudent when falsifying the passport, which is already a crime.

It must be borne in mind that not only people have the freedom not to be vaccinated, but others have the freedom not to be infected, they have the right to medical care, which will soon have to be limited, because the number of resuscitation beds will soon arrive to 100. I think it’s a matter of days. Let’s ask ourselves if only a part of society here has rights, or if we all have certain rights and freedoms and we should reconcile in some way. The government is trying to do it in the best way it thinks it can, ”Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said on Friday.

The government has not yet issued a new quarantine; the new restrictions will come into effect under an emergency decree.

Tents: necessary, up to 1500 m2. meters

In addition to the passport, it is possible to visit only essential goods stores, markets, which are not large, a commercial area of ​​up to 1,500 square meters. meters. Stores must have a separate entrance from the outside, all people can visit the markets for food, veterinary, animal feed, pharmacy, optician and orthopedic technical devices, plants, seeds, fertilizers.

In such stores it is necessary to comply with safety requirements: wear masks, respect distances, merchants are obliged to provide information and the necessary means for disinfection.

Other stores, such as clothing, footwear, appliances, can only accept visitors without passport options.

It has already been announced that without the passport, it will not be possible to visit supermarkets and even stores of essential goods or services, such as pharmacies, post offices, banks.

However, without the possibility of a passport, it will be possible to buy products online and collect them.

At points of sale that will only serve customers with a passport for opportunities, masks will no longer be mandatory.

Traders ask for an understanding of inspections – required instructions are followed, which can lead to queues.

“Large grocery stores have a large flow of visitors, especially during peak hours, and inspections will be extremely difficult. Queues and conflict situations are expected, all kinds of things will happen. No one else applies this except in Cyprus. This, apparently, it is also because it is not easy to implement, other states have not taken this path. Nowhere in the EU, except in Cyprus, is the passport registered in any store “, said previously Rūta Vainienė, Director of the Association of Trade of Lithuania.

In cafes, cinemas, sports clubs, beauty salons – you will need a passport for opportunities

On Mondays, in addition to the passport, most contact services are closed: sports clubs, beauty salons, cafes or restaurants, bars and other entertainment establishments, such as casinos, casinos.

“We want to inform you that in compliance with the Government’s resolutions, as of September 13. We will be asked to apply for a passport for customer opportunities. We hope that the restrictions are only temporary and soon we will all be able to play sports freely again, ”Impuls sports clubs distributed to their clients.

Many establishments, including restaurants, cafes, bars, cinemas, entertainment establishments, hotels, beauty salons, began to require a passport of opportunity even before it became mandatory. On September 10, there were 882 companies that only served clients who could present an opportunity passport or equivalent document.

As of Monday, beauty salons, hairdressers, catering establishments, hotels must request a passport or a relevant document from customers; If they cannot present it, the provision of services will be prohibited.

However, on Friday, Arūnas Dulkys, the head of operations of public catering establishments, included an exception: leaving the possibility of sitting on outdoor terraces or at outdoor tables without the possibility of a passport, it will be allowed to attend 5 people.

Working hours will not be limited.

In addition to the passport, it is possible to order take-out food, but people who do not have this passport will need to pick up the food at a designated location, separate from the facilities where customers are served with passport facilities. This decision was criticized by representatives of catering establishments.

Repairs are no longer possible – the planned exception only covers minor repairs lasting up to 15 minutes.

Indoor events, including cinemas, theaters, concerts, sporting events, etc., also close without a passport of opportunity; Without the opportunity passport, you can participate in events in open spaces until the number of participants reaches 500.

The list of permitted activities includes transportation, necessary and risk-free activities.

In addition to the passport, you will be allowed to visit museums and exhibitions, attend funerals, visit libraries and use veterinary services.

Exceptions include public transportation services. In addition to the passport, it is possible to receive personal health care services, attend events, celebrations and meetings that take place in open spaces, when no more than 500 people participate in them.

The following infographic provides a more extensive list of exceptions.

When using services without a passport, it is necessary to comply with security requirements, wear masks, observe distances, etc. For passport holders, these measures are recommended but not mandatory.

Who can get a passport for opportunities and where?

A valid two-month passport is available for those who have been vaccinated with the full vaccination schedule or who have had COVID-19 and this diagnosis has been confirmed by a test with a positive result within 210 days. The Passport of Opportunity is also available to those who have been screened for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2; a serological test must be at least 60 days old. For a short period of 2 days, the passport of opportunity can be obtained by taking the COVID-19 test and obtaining a negative result. People under the age of 16 are not subject to the requirements: the passport of opportunity is valid.

The opportunity passport can be downloaded online by visiting the website www.gpasas.lt and confirming your identity by electronic means (electronic signature or electronic banking). You can also check the opportunity passports provided by clients on this website. The passport of opportunity can be used over the phone or printed.

Those who do not have access to the Internet or do not have Internet banking can also obtain a passport physically: they are issued in pharmacies, Lithuanian post offices and service points of the Payment Post, the Registration Center, customer service units of Sodra. Proof of identity is required.

Renewal of the opportunity passport is required every 60 days, after reconnection online or upon arrival at the physical place of issuance of the opportunity passport.

The validity of an opportunity passport may be shorter if the circumstances under which it was issued are shorter (for example, 2 days in the case of a negative COVID-19 test).

For children under 16 years old. a passport of opportunity is not required; just show a document confirming the child’s age.

Mandatory tests of production company employees go into effect

It has already been announced that the Government intends to further control employees. There is an approved list of activities in which work can only be performed by periodically checking the employee for COVID-19 (if he or she is not immune to the disease). These studies are reimbursed by the state.

Starting September 13, employees of production companies will also have to undergo tests. This would include around 80,000. workers, it is true, a large proportion of them may have been vaccinated or become ill.

Mandatory tests are done every 7-10 days.