Vilnius renews the action plan to combat the coronavirus: what should I know?

Vilnius is taking preventive measures to reduce the spread of the virus, in the near future public transport, its waiting stations, education, treatment and other institutions will also come to an updated information campaign on hygiene recommendations. The municipality will also ask the State Center for Emergency Operations (VESOC) for epidemiological monitoring and more responsible testing of visitors to Lithuania.

“We cannot ignore the persistent and growing threat of the virus, nor can we forget the important lessons learned. Summer has given us all a break, joy and confidence, but to avoid repeating the scenario of spring, we must learn living with the coronavirus for at least the next six months. So we are preparing for the fall period, which may be different in many areas. Just when we met the first wave in time six months ago, as well as restored After life calmed down, today we are ready to face the second wave even more effectively and not allow it to take lives or paralyze city life, “says Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius.

According to him, the municipal decisions related to COVID-19 will be organized in accordance with the resolutions adopted by VESOC.

How will we welcome the new school year?

Vilnius is currently preparing for the next new regular school year: important hygiene information and other important recommendations during this period are being updated in educational institutions for children and youth. If separate national decisions are made regarding the organization or cancellation of mass events, including those held at the beginning of the school year, these festivals may be postponed or canceled at urban educational institutions.

The possibility of distance learning is not ruled out, therefore, in preparation for this possible scenario, at the end of August, the Municipality of Vilnius will organize trainings for teachers on successful and effective distance learning.

It is important for parents to know that an exception has been made during this period: it is not necessary to go to health institutions to obtain children’s health certificates, because the validity of last year was extended until the New Year. Health certificates will only be necessary for those who change schools or kindergarten.

Health services are safe and affordable.

Changes are also planned in healthcare institutions. Remote and contact counseling will be provided, which will speed up service delivery, but with the necessary security requirements, which is important to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). To improve the availability of services, the municipality plans to offset the costs of the polyclinics incurred by temporarily increasing the number of specialists working in the reception areas. The goal is for Vilnius residents to register faster and easier for a doctor’s remote or contact consultation, extension of treatment (prescription).

As long as the risk of COVID-19 infection remains, remote consultation will remain and be encouraged, while focusing as much as possible on careful conversations between doctors and patients. The municipality, in turn, is in charge of the improvement and additional installation of the infrastructure of the mobile coronavirus control points, the formation of mobile brigades, which will be able to travel to possible locations of the virus outbreak if necessary. In order to ensure a smooth and operational examination of Vilnius residents, employees of Vilnius City personal health institutions are constantly used, but the aim is to attract medical staff from other municipalities as well. Currently, there is a mobile point in Vilnius serving the residents of Vilnius County. In the last 4 months, around 40,000 surveys have been carried out in Vilnius mobile points alone.

The municipality and health care institutions currently have a sufficient stock of personal protective equipment, which is expected to be sufficient for the remaining six months. Vilnius municipality has yet to receive government compensation for funds spent managing the first wave of COVID-19, as well as data on the state of the state reserve.

The municipality of Vilnius, considering that most of the positive cases of COVID-19 are imported, applies to VESOC for a more active inspection of arrivals and a more responsible control. To this end, ensuring that as many people as possible are screened as quickly and conveniently as possible, the municipality has planned to install a mobile station or organize the work of the mobile brigade at the entrances to Vilnius airport. Vilnius municipality is still looking for data from the National Center for Public Health (NVSC) on confirmed positive coronavirus cases returning and identified sites visited by individuals.

Telecommuting is encouraged

During the first wave of COVID-19, the municipality of the capital and its entire group of companies demonstrated by their example how easily it is possible to work and provide all the services provided by the municipality only remotely.

The municipality of Vilnius city already invites other organizations and companies, without waiting for the fall, to move office works to homes, cancel unnecessary meetings or move them to a virtual space, provide services remotely, provide information by phone.

How to travel around the city safely?

After the government approves the mandatory use of masks in public places, passengers on public transport in the capital remember the basic rules. From August 1. Protective face masks must be worn on buses and trolleybuses, as in other closed public spaces, and passengers will find hand sanitizer on each vehicle, both at stops and on public transportation are asked to keep a safe distance, to plan your trips on less crowded routes, travel times

Even after the end of the quarantine, almost all disinfection, cleaning, distance and other measures were left on public transport to ensure maximum safety for passengers and drivers. Vilnius constantly informed passengers about the use of protective masks through various channels, including on station billboards, on public transport screens and with sound recordings. Starting this week, public transport controllers will monitor the situation at the busiest passenger traffic stops, reminding passengers of the need to wear masks.

Since the beginning of the quarantine, the jobs of public transport drivers have been physically separated by strips. They do not sell single paper tickets, and passengers can enter and exit public transportation through the central and rear doors.

The epidemiological information that is still insufficient and not always accurate as tracked by the NVSC is worrying. Although there is no reliable information that Vilnius residents are infected on public transport, the requirements and various restrictions are some of the strictest.

What will Christmas be like in the capital?

This summer, to ensure the safety of Vilnius residents and guests, the Vilnius City Municipality is planning Christmas events evaluating the real possibility of a possible second quarantine. The coordinated program does not exclude Christmas events, most of which are expected to be held simply in compliance with security requirements. However, the grand Christmas tree lighting concert may not be available during this year’s holiday season.

However, specific decisions will be made in light of the epidemiological situation in the country and the decisions of the continuous VESOC.