On Thursday, 14 May, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted changes in the regulations on the procedure for movement of persons between the Baltic States, on the organisation of entertainment events for children, and on the control mechanism for persons who have tested positive for Covid-19 and their contact persons.
From 15 May, international passenger transport services by air, sea, and land will be allowed to resume between the Baltic States. Other international passenger transport will still require the permission of the Minister of Transport.
From now on, self-isolation will not be required for Latvian citizens, permanent residents, or citizens of other countries, as long as they have not visited countries other than Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia in the last 14 days, nor for Lithuanian or Estonian citizens crossing Latvia in transit. In addition, self-isolation will not be required for persons who transit through Latvia, if the person has a ticket for further international passenger transport or if they cross Latvia with their own personal vehicle or that of another person.
All persons who arrive from other countries, including on repatriation flights, are required to not expose others to the risk of infection and to reduce direct contact with other people - for example, by not receiving guests, not going on private visits, and not using public transport. The only exception to this is in traveling to the place of self-isolation after arriving in Latvia, during which the obligation to wear a mouth and nose covering on public transport must be complied with.
From now on, all persons crossing the Latvian border will receive a text message automatically sent by the relevant mobile operator with a notification prepared by the Ministry of Health on the health safety regulations that must be observed while in the territory of Latvia.
The Cabinet of Ministers has also adopted the decision to extend the working hours of places of cultural, religious, entertainment, sports, and other recreational activities, which may now be open from 6.30 to 24.00.
Today's decision temporarily bans indoor entertainment events for children, for example, parties for children in entertainment and amusement centres and trampoline parks, as well as the operation of children's playrooms and crèches, including those in shopping centres.
The Health Inspectorate has been appointed as the responsible institution for the control of persons identified as contact persons by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) and of persons diagnosed with Covid-19, and if necessary it has the right to involve the State Police and municipal police. SPKC will provide the necessary data to all parties involved.
The State Police, with the involvement of the municipal police, will have the right to search for and control persons who do not observe self-isolation, home quarantine, or strict isolation at the request of the SPKC or the Health Inspectorate. The State Police and the municipal police will also have the right to forcibly take said persons to the quarantine location or their actual place of residence.
For controlling the persons who must be in self-isolation, the State Police will from now on be allowed to involve the municipal police.
The Cabinet of Ministers reviewed the Informative Report of the Ministry of Economics on the production and technical specifications of hygienic face masks; the Cabinet decided to rapidly develop the production of hygienic face masks in Latvia and to procure hygienic masks in order to be able to provide them to vulnerable social groups free of charge.