In case of high Covid-19 wave, not only hospitals, but also other critical infrastructure would be oversaturated - Cipule

RIGA - In case of a new high Covid-19 wave, not only hospitals, but also other critical infrastructure would be oversaturated, said Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) head Liene Cipule.

Cipule said that Latvia will face another Covid-19 spread with the new omicron variant. If a person who has omicron variant enters the room, other people in the room cannot avoid contracting it, she said.

Cipule said that she is worried about the epidemiological situation in early January. She said that hospitals may be overloaded again, and in case of a very high incidence, other critical infrastructure may be affected, for example, if a large number of police officers, firemen or preschool teachers contract the infection.

Cipule is not satisfied with the government's decision to ease some of the Covid-19 restrictions for New Year holidays, which opens gathering opportunities for people in stores, entertainment places and churches. She said that these decisions give a signal to the society that they may relax, but it is not right.

She said that the New Year holidays are dangerous from the point of view of epidemiological safety. Testing will not be as broad as necessary, and the actual picture with the Covid-19 infection will be hidden. People will meet more with their relatives, including those who have arrived from abroad.