Coalition aims to agree on common position regarding Covid-19 restrictions

RIGA - Latvia's government coalition will try to agree on a common position regarding Covid-19 restrictions, although each partner has their own proposals on how to improve the situation. 

Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) said following the coalition meeting on Monday that he understands people's general tiredness. "Nobody likes the situation where the pandemic persists and nobody is happy about the necessity to introduce restrictions," the premier said.

However, Latvia's high Covid-19 incidence means that larger gatherings cannot be allowed for now. "We will look how to make the existing restrictions more reasonable and strengthen control. Discussions are yet to be held" at Tuesday's joint meeting of the government and the Crisis Management Center, Karins said.

Health Minister Daniels Pavluts (For Development/For) informed that the government plans to consider a conceptual proposal for curbing the spread of Covid-19. He revealed that much time has been devoted in recent days to talk to all coalition partners and find a common ground on how to move ahead. 

"We will be able to inform about conceptual decisions tomorrow. We aim at reaching unanimous decisions, given that the situation with Covid-19 incidence is very bad. We need to try to find understanding in Latvia's society, calling for patience and understanding," Pavluts said. 

He also revealed that the proposal provides for introducing restrictions for longer time periods than two weeks in order to make them easier to manage.