Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Riga, Latvia (May 28, 2021)
Location: Latvia
Event: Latvia Eases Restrictions for Vaccinated Individuals. U.S. Embassy Riga continues to monitor the rapidly changing conditions due to COVID-19 in Latvia and in other locations worldwide. The most current information regarding the impact of COVID-19 may be found on our COVID Information Page.
In May 2021, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers announced and implemented new regulations and eased some restrictions regarding the spread of COVID-19. See below for highlights. For the full announcements, please follow the links at the end of the Health Alert.
Beginning June 1:
Vaccination certificates for individuals who have been vaccinated in Latvia will be available for download at www.COVID19sertifikats.lv.
Individual services:
- Individual service providers whose operations are currently suspended (beauty service providers/sports equipment rentals/photography services, other types of services that are in the entertainment, etc.) may resume operations if they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have been recovered from the COVID-19.
– The service may be delivered to one client or one household.
– There is no requirement for the client or household to be vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19.
- Social Care Centers are open for visitors from one household who are vaccinated and/or recovered from COVID-19.
Beginning June 14:
Education:
- Youth camps will be allowed to resume with no more than 20 people in a group.
– Participants must present a negative COVID-19 test results within 48 hours before the beginning of the camp.
– If the Camp is longer than a week then participants must present a new negative COVID-19 test result weekly.
- Graduation ceremonies under two hours long will be allowed outdoors.
– Up to 40 people may attend including students and staff only.
– Parents or other guests are not allowed.
Beginning June 15:
With proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 in the past 6 months, people will be able to visit/participate in the following without wearing masks or keeping two meters apart:
- Cafes and restaurants, movies and theater performances, concerts, clubs.
- Educational trainings, gyms, individual or group sport exercises.
- Weddings and funerals.
- Indoor public events under 4 hours long for up to 300 people.
- Outdoor public events for up to 500 people.
- Indoor and outdoor private events up to 20 people from several households.
Currently in effect:
Travel:
- Non-essential travel from the EU/Schengen zone continues to be banned with limited exceptions including work, study, family reunification, medical treatment, transit, return to home country, funerals, or accompanying a minor.
- Travelers must include the purpose of travel when registering at COVIDpass.lv and be ready to present justification documents upon arrival to the State Police or Border Guards.
- Travelers must present a negative PCR test result done within the previous 72 hours.
- Travelers arriving from outside of the EU/Schengen zone will be required to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival at their own expense. If the result is positive, the traveler must pay for self-isolation at one of the tourist accommodations specified by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency.
- Travelers arriving from the EU/EEA countries, Switzerland and the UK who are fully vaccinated and received their last shot more than 15 days before arrival (for AstraZeneca, more than 30 days have passed since the first shot) are not required to self-isolate when entering Latvia. A certificate filed by the health institution that provided the traveler’s vaccination must be presented.
- Travelers arriving from the EU/EEA countries, Switzerland and the UK who have recovered from COVID-19 and 6 months have passed since recovery with a note from health care professional, are not required to self-isolate upon arrival.
- For more information on all travel restrictions/rules please visit https://COVID19.gov.lv/index.php/en/support-society/careful-travel/persons-who-wish-arrive-latvia.
Restaurants/Catering:
- Restaurants and caterers are permitted to serve clients at the outdoor terraces from 6am to 9pm daily.
- No more than 10 people from two households (max four adults) may sit at the same table.
- While not seated, clients and staff must wear masks.
Full Cabinet of Minister’s Announcements:
May 27, 2021 – https://www.mk.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/vakcinetiem-cilvekiem-junija-bus-plasakas-iespejas-pulceties and https://www.mk.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valdiba-atlauj-rikot-bernu-nometnes-un-izlaidumus
May 13, 2021 – https://www.mk.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/pienem-nakamos-papildu-atvieglojumus-vakcinetiem-cilvekiem
Actions to Take:
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Latvia.
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
- Follow travel.state.gov on Facebook and Twitter.
- Visit https://reopen.europa.eu/ for information on border openings and entry/exit requirements for countries within the European Union.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Riga, Latvia
Samnera Velsa iela 1
Riga LV-1510
+371 6710 7000
+371 6710 7000 (after hours)
askconsular-riga@state.gov - After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +371 2920 5708
- State Department – Consular Affairs 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
- Latvia Country Information
- Enroll in Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
