Lithuania's epidemiological situation stabilizing, at least for now – official

VILNIUS – Epidemiological situation in Lithuania is stabilizing, but it is not yet clear if the country is already past the peak of infections, Deputy Health Minister Ausra Bilotiene Motiejuniene has said.

"We are in the third week of stable or not increasing numbers," she told the public broadcaster LRT on Monday evening. "No doubt, the situation with ICU patients is more complicated, but there is stability there, too." 

The vice-minister added, however, that it was too early to say that the situation had stabilized completely, because it depends on many factors.  

She noted that the immunity of people vaccinated with two doses was weakening. 

When asked if Lithuania could make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for everyone if the situation kept worsening, the vice-minister said she hoped that the country "will not have to follow Austria's example". 

"Hopefully, there will be no need for a universal compulsory vaccination," she said.

Lithuania's 14-day infection rate has been on the decline for more than two weeks, at 996.1 per 100,000 people as of Monday. The seven-day percentage of positive tests has fallen to 10 percent. 

The country on Monday reported 851 new coronavirus infections and 17 deaths from COVID-19 for the past 24 hours. 

The total number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals stood at 1,558, including 136 ICU cases.