Chair of New Unity parliamentary group believes Covid-19 emergency should be extended by a month

RIGA - Based on the experience of the countries most affected by the spread of the omicron coronavirus strain, the state of emergency in Latvia should be extended by another month, Ainars Latkovskis, chairman of the New Unity group in the Saeima, believes. 

The MP told LETA that the fast spread of omicron in the world and other countries' experience suggests that Latvia should extended the state emergency that was introduced last year to curb the spread of Covid-19. Latkovskis believes it is necessary to keep the situation under control, particularly in hospitals. 

Latkovskis said that it is better to be prepared than not, adding that it would be premature to lift the Covid-19 emergency, especially seeing the situation in those countries where omicron has already gained foothold.

As reported, the Health Ministry recommends extending the state of emergency, which ends January 11, for another three to four weeks, according to the minutes of the Operative Management Group's meeting. 

The Health Ministry's representatives said at the meeting that easing safety restrictions is not possible for the moment. 

The ministry also proposed introducing additional safety rules, including the use of medical facemasks or FFP2 standard respirators, mandatory testing of employees in critical sectors, work from home wherever possible, self-testing before receiving certain services, etc.

The minutes of the meeting also show that upon hearing the Health Ministry's report on the spread of omicron in Latvia, representatives of line ministries and social partners did not support imposing significant additional safety measures. 

The current state of emergency is in force in Latvia until January 11, 2022.