Government to decide on new Covid-19 regulations Tuesday

RIGA - The government is going to decide on a new Covid-19 management regulation this Tuesday, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) revealed following the weekly coalition meeting. 

The prime minister said that amendments to Cabinet Regulation No 360 will make the Covid-19 rules tougher in three particular areas. 

The new rules are expected to make vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory for particular professions. The plan has been debated at length, and we are going to approve it at tomorrow's government meeting, Karins said. 

As reported, the requirement for all employees in the health, education and social care sector to get vaccinated against Covid-19 is expected to become effective on November 1. The vaccine requirement might also be applied to other professions if the government decides so.

It is also planned to shift the costs of testing from the government to people who take the tests, Karins said. 

As reported, during the transition period from October 11 to November 1 employees in said sectors will be able to keep working with negative Covid-19 tests, valid for 72 hours and paid by the employees themselves, except in cases where the immunization process has been started.

The government also plans a more extensive use of the interoperable digital Covid-19 certificates, Karins said, adding that more detailed information on these plans would be provided at the government meeting when the Operative Management Group present the draft regulations to the ministers.