Considering that education is a priority, the Cabinet of Ministers on Thursday, 18 February, decided to implement the so-called regional approach to the provision of the full-time study process in primary schools. Namely, students from grades 1-4 will be able to study full-time in municipalities where the spread of Covid-19 is up to 200 cases per 100,000 people. At the same time, staff testing will be provided.
The Government meeting discussed the offer of the Ministry of Economics for the provision of beauty care services in a safe manner. The Cabinet of Ministers has agreed that the proposed safety measures in the beauty care sector still need to be specified so that hairdressers and nail care specialists can resume work, possibly from 1 March. The situation will be closely monitored to return to more stringent safety measures and restrictions in the event of an increase in morbidity.
Full-time studies for the youngest and testing for educators
From 22 February, grades 1-4 will resume full-time studies in municipalities with a cumulative two-week morbidity of less than 200 new cases per 100,000 people. Further, local governments, together with educational institutions, will be able to make a decision on the course of full-time studies for each following week on Wednesdays, when the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has provided updated information on morbidity rates in local governments.
Given that teachers and nursery staff who work on-site are at high risk of developing and spreading Covid-19 infection, they will be tested at least once a week, depending on the selected testing method.
Strict provisions for resuming of the work of beauty care sector
The Cabinet of Ministers conceptually agreed that manicure, pedicure, and hairdressing service providers will be able to resume operations in frame of strict epidemiological safety measures. A binding decision is planned for an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on 23 February, but until then the Ministry of Economics and the Ministry of Health must specify additional safety and precautionary measures in the beauty care sector so that these service providers can resume work from 1 March.
Beauty care service providers will only be allowed to service clients upon prior appointment, they will be asked to store information about clients, provide a certain area of premises and non-contact between clients, as well as implement disinfection and other hygiene measures.
The Health Inspectorate and the Consumer Rights Protection Centre, together with the State Police and the municipal police, will monitor compliance with epidemiological safety requirements.
Support for Entrepreneurs
Providing various support to Latvian entrepreneurs and workers, the Cabinet of Ministers extended the possibility to apply for support funding until the end of the emergency situation and increased the resources allocated to it from contingencies by EUR 240 million. It also includes an increase in wage compensation.
The Cabinet of Ministers also approved EUR 6 million in funding for companies in the arts, entertainment, and leisure sectors to ensure their viability, promote employment and reduce losses due to Covid-19.