Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Riga, Latvia (November 25, 2020)

Location: Latvia

Event: Latvia Announces Additional Restrictions Starting from November 27

On Tuesday, November 24, the Cabinet of Ministers announced additional restrictions starting from November 27.

For the full announcement, please visit https://mk.gov.lv/en/aktualitates/extended-safety-measures-reduce-spread-covid-19.  Some details of the announcement are as follows:

From 27 November

  • Individual amateur art rehearsals may take place until 10:00 pm ensuring requirements on social distancing and face masks are met.
  • In sport gyms only individual trainings with an instructor are permitted ensuring 15 square meters space per person. Working hours for sport gyms are allowed from 6 am to 10 pm.

From 30 November

  • Schools in grades 1-6 must provide at least 3 square meters per student  of the classroom space per each child.  Teachers must wear mouth and nose coverings.
  • Higher educational vocational classes that cannot be held remotely are limited to ten people.

Additional Restrictions for Certain Municipalities

Additional safety measures apply to the residents of municipalities where the two-week total number of new Covid-19 cases per 10,000 inhabitants is twice the national average. The list of these municipalities will be published by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on its website, www.spkc.gov.lv, every Tuesday. Currently, the list includes the municipalities of Varakļāni, Aknīste, Baldone, Salacgrīva, Krāslava, Mārupe, Mālpils, Smiltene, Garkalne, Limba?i, Salaspils, and Daugavpils city.

From 27 November in Restricted Municipalities

  • These municipalities must return to the 2 + 2 principle applied in the first half of the year.
  • Only grades 1-4 will return to schools.  Grades 5-12 will be virtual.
  • Cultural and exhibition venues, including fairs, will be closed.
  • Libraries will offer take-away book service only.
  • Any private events, both indoors and outdoors, are prohibited except for emergency baptismal ceremonies and outdoor funeral ceremonies. At these events, epidemiological safety requirements must be observed, including wearing a face mask and maintaining a two-meter distance from others.
  • Sports trainings indoors are prohibited except for members the Latvian National adult teams, the Latvian Olympic team, or the Latvian Paralympic team.

Previous Measures Still in Force for All Municipalities in Latvia

  • Social distancing of two meters is required.
  • Face masks must be worn in all public places – public transportation, taxi, stores, pharmacies, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, post offices, museums, exhibition halls, libraries and churches as well as in places where two meters distance is not possible and presence exceeds 15 minutes
  • Private gatherings are allowed for up to 10 people (from no more than two households).
  • Public events are prohibited (concerts, theatre performances etc.).
  • No more than 10 people from two households can attend a funeral.
  • No more than 50 people can gather outside for meetings, processions, and demonstrations.
  • Dance clubs, gaming halls, and bars are closed.
  • Entertainment venues are closed including skating rinks, amusement parks, indoor playgrounds in shopping malls, waterparks, etc.
  • Spas and saunas are closed.
  • Hiking trails are open for individual hikes.
  • Museums, churches, libraries, exhibitions, and other cultural institutions remain open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. however, events there are prohibited.
  • Professional sports competitions are allowed without spectators.
  • Outdoor sport trainings are allowed for up to 10 people without changing rooms.
  • Grocery stores, optical stores, pet stores, pharmacies, bookstores, telecommunication stores, household goods stores, and newsstands in shopping malls can remain open on the weekends.
  • All stores must ensure space for 10 square meters per customer.
  • Restaurants and catering (outside of schools, workplaces, and at the airport) are closed except for delivery.
  • Kindergartens remain open and children in grades 1-6 can attend classes in person except in restricted municipalities.
  • Children in grades 7-12 and adult education will continue distance learning.
  • Extracurricular activities for children are cancelled.
  • Medical services remain available.
  • State borders remain open.

Travelers to Latvia

All travelers to Latvia are required to fill out and complete the electronic form at https://covidpass.lv/en/ at least 48 h before crossing the border. For minors, the form must be completed by the parent/legal representative.  The form requires personal information, contact details, and the previous 14 days travel history.  Travelers will receive a QR code that must be submitted to the border guard official (in case of border control or random inspection).  The data entered in the form will be forwarded to the competent Latvian authorities (Latvian police, border guard, and disease prevention and control center) and will be kept for 30 days.  More information is available at: https://mk.gov.lv/en/aktualitates/october-12-when-crossing-border-republic-latvia-electronic-questionnaire-will-have-be.

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