Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Riga, Latvia (November 15, 2021)
Location: Latvia
Event: Latvia Ends Lockdown and Eases Restrictions for Vaccinated or Recovered from COVID-19 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.
On November 9, 2021, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers announced the end of implemented lockdown and curfew and eased some restrictions for vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 individuals starting from November 15, 2021. See below for highlights. For the full announcements, please follow the link at the end of the Health Alert.
Individual services:
- All service providers may resume operations and provide services only for people with a digital certificate proving full vaccination or recent recovery from COVID-19.
- Only businesses offering basic necessities (grocery stores, hygiene stores, pharmacies, veterinarians, bookstores, flower shops, optical stores, gas stations, pet food, press outlets, and telecoms sales/service) may provide their service to all clients regardless of their vaccination or recovery status.
- Individual service providers whose operations are currently suspended (beauty service providers/sports equipment rentals/photography services etc.) may resume operations if they have been vaccinated or have been recovered from the COVID-19.
- Businesses may operate from 6 AM to 9 PM.
- During the weekends and state holidays shopping malls with area larger than 1500 square meters have to remain closed until January 11, 2022, except for the basic necessity businesses – grocery stores, hygiene stores, pharmacies, bookstores, flower shops, optics stores, pet food, press outlets and telecoms sales/service.
Education:
- Education for all pupils may resume on-site regardless of their vaccination/recovery status. However regular testing applies for those who are unvaccinated/ not recovered from COVID-19.
Events:
- Indoor public events will be accessible only for individuals with vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 certificates.
- Indoor public events may gather up to 500 people, providing assigned seating.
Restaurants/Catering:
- Restaurants and caterers are permitted to serve clients indoors only with vaccination or recovery certificates
- Working hours from 6am to 9pm daily.
- No more than 4 people may sit at the same table.
- While not seated, clients and staff must wear masks.
- Take away is available for all clients.
Currently in effect:
Travel:
On September 1, new regulations for travelers entering Latvia went into effect. The new regulations permit vaccinated travelers who can present either a U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) paper vaccine certificate, an interoperable digital EU certificate (either in an electronic smart device or printed out) or a vaccination certificate issued in specific other countries including the EU, the EEA countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom to enter Latvia for nonessential purposes without a negative COVID test or requiring self-isolation.
Please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for the full announcement.
All travelers to Latvia are still 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. 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.
Full Cabinet of Minister’s Announcements: November 9, 2021 – https://www.mk.gov.lv/en/article/epidemiological-safety-measures-15-november
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.
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.
