PM says society should not be ''rattled'' anymore in regards to Covid-19 restrictions

RIGA - Society cannot be ''rattled'' anymore in regards to Covid-19 restrictions, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) told Latvian Television this morning.

He acknowledged that Covid-19 restrictions are still being discussed in the government. "I am in favor of moving as quickly as possible so that we can lift the remaining restrictions," he said.

According to him, restrictions are no longer the main aspect that impacts or does not impact the course of the pandemic and hospitalization. The main thing is whether the person has been vaccinated and whether he or she is using a face mask. Therefore, all energy, including by the Ministry of Health (VM), should be devoted to primary and booster vaccination against Covid-19.

"The VM only needs to talk about one thing - to get vaccinated and wear masks. The main thing we need to do is stop ''rattling'' the public, and we must continuing telling the public one simple message - get vaccinated, wear masks and test," the PM emphasized.

It seems to him that in the third year of the pandemic, society has already learned that the main responsibility lies with each individual.

As reported, the introduction of very strict restrictions would not be effective at the moment, Nikita Trojanskis, an epidemiologist and specialist in the Vaccination Project Division of the National Health Service, told Latvian Television last night.

According to him, the introduction of strict restrictions or a lockdown would result in another Covid-19 wave in the spring. Trojanskis believes that the restrictions should be moderate in order to avoid a rapid overburden of hospitals.

Trojanskis also called for residents to be more active in getting their booster shots, which will provide better protection against Covid-19.

Family physician Ainis Dzalbs also agreed with him, noting that very strict restrictions would not be effective at the moment. "The restrictions must be such so that everyone does not get sick at once and the increase in the infection rate is modest," Dzalbs said.

He informed that the situation in family physicians practices is currently tense, the demand for the service is higher than family physicians can handle.