What will change in Lithuania from Wednesday: the most important decisions

On Sunday night, the government circulated a shortened version of the decisions made at the meeting on handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effect of the quarantine tightening will be evaluated after three to four weeks.

The effect of the tightening of the quarantine will be evaluated in three to four weeks, says Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys.

“Apparently, after a good three or four weeks, we will be able to measure the situation we are in, see what we have achieved, if there is any change and then decide accordingly,” the minister told reporters on Sunday.

According to him, experts do not predict that the indicators can begin to improve sooner, because the consequences of the record of infections will be late.

Dulkys said she understood that the strict quarantine introduced until January 31 would not be easy, but asked the public to show solidarity.

The government decided on Sunday to toughen the quarantine in Lithuania from Wednesday: most stores will be closed, except for grocery stores and pharmacies, and people will leave their homes without good reason.

Residents of a house will be allowed to walk in open areas within the municipality without meeting other people.

Nausėda supports the tightening of quarantine

On Sunday, President Gitanas Nausėda voiced support for the government’s decision to tighten the quarantine by banning most stores and service providers.

The head of state said he discussed the new measures with Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte on Sunday and expressed his support.

“Before the government meeting, we discussed with the Prime Minister the new measures proposed by the experts to strengthen the quarantine. I agreed that they are needed at this time, “the president wrote on Facebook.

At the same time, he stressed that the duration of the quarantine measures should depend on the epidemiological situation.

“The government will have to review the quarantine measures taken today as we work together to reduce the spread of the virus,” he said.

The president urged people to “celebrate the big holidays this time without the usual shopping marathon” and to celebrate them “with modesty and comfort, only in the closest circle of your family.”

“In this way, we can all ease the burden on physicians. We can give a break to physicians, residents, and nurses fighting COVID-19,” he said.

The tightening of the quarantine will close stores starting Wednesday and restrict movement

The stricter quarantine will close most stores in Lithuania from Wednesday, except for groceries, will restrict people from leaving home without good reason, but will allow families to leave home to walk in open areas within the municipality. without knowing other people.

That decision was made by the government headed by Ingrida Šimonytė, which met in the first meeting on Sunday night.

In addition to grocery stores, pharmacy, veterinary, optical, and orthopedic stores may continue to operate. They must provide an area of ​​10 square meters per person.

E-commerce collection points will also be able to operate.

Educational institutions will work remotely, but kindergartens will have to accept children if their parents do not have the opportunity to work remotely.

As of Wednesday, it will be forbidden to go outside your municipality, unless you are going to work, to a funeral, for the necessary medical attention or to own a home in another municipality.

Also introduced is the ban on leaving home, unless it is related to work, shopping in a store, going to a funeral, a medical institution. Members of a family will be able to go for a walk outside.

Communicating with non-residents of your home is prohibited, except in emergencies.

Any contact service is prohibited and accommodation can only be provided in isolation.

No more individual physical activity classes will be allowed either, but high-skill sports will continue to be available.

These conditions are valid until January 31st.

According to I. Šimonytė, if the situation improved earlier, a review of the quarantine conditions could be considered by relaxing them.