Karins not happy with government's inconsistent decisions

RIGA - Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) said during the government's meeting on Tuesday that he was not happy with the Cabinet of Ministers' inconsistent decisions.

As reported, the government decided earlier today that hosts of TV and radio shows and their guests would no longer be required to wear face masks while on air. Mouth and nose covers will no longer be mandatory if guests appearing on a program have taken Covid-19 tests in the past 72 hours and they have come back negative, if they have recovered from Covid-19 or have been immunized against the coronavirus with a vaccine.

Justice Minister Janis Bordans (New Conservative Party) told the ministers that the initiative had come from journalist Janis Domburs, adding that this could be called "lobbying, albeit in a good way".

Karins said that this decision once again showed the government's inconsistency as earlier during the day, the government decided that up to 20 people would be allowed to gather in a workplace or the same room without wearing facemasks and distancing provided that they all are either vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19.

The Health Ministry's State Secretary Indra Dreika said that the ministry had considered the matter of no facemasks at TV and radio shows several times and eventually approved the initiative.

Responding to Karins' concerns, Dreika said that the Health Ministry was trying to protect the entire society, but in this matter "the issue of democracy and the perception of the audiovisual image prevails".