Children will no longer need Covid-19 certificates to receive services

RIGA - Children will no longer need Covid-19 certificates to receive services and attend events, according to an amended regulation approved by the government on Tuesday. 

In certain situations, children will not be required to quarantine at home following a contact with an infected person.

Since the spread of Covid-19 in children has started slowing down, epidemiological safety measures affecting children's participation in the education process, attendance of events and receipt of services are being lifted. Children that do not have a certificate of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 will also be able to receive services and attend events without restrictions.

Covid-19 screenings in schools will be the only safety measures that will remain in place for children to ensure an early detection of possible Covid-19 case and isolation of the infected persons.

Children over the age of seven years will still be required to wear facemasks at school and on public transport. While at school and on public transport kids will be able to wear hygienic cloth masks, at public events children over 12 years of age will be required to wear medical facemasks or respirators. Younger kids will still be allowed to wear cloth masks also at public events and while receiving services. 

The new regulation also does not requires children to quarantine after a contact with an infected person, but they will be tested for Covid-19 on a regular basis at school. 

In case of a Covid-19 infection in a student's household, the school will have to be informed about the contact person's status so that the school's administration can decide on the epidemiological safety measures. 

As for preschool institutions, quarantining at home is not required only in cases where the contact  with an infected person has occurred outside the household, because contacts with a Covid-19 positive person at home involves a very high risk of infection.