Pavluts calls on coalition to discuss tougher Covid-19 restrictions

RIGA - Health Minister Daniels Pavluts (For Development/For) has called on the coalition to discuss much tougher Covid-19 restrictions during its meeting today, the minister said in a Twitter post.

He said that the Covid-19 situation in Latvia continues to deteriorate. On Monday, the number of Covid-19 patients treated at hospitals exceeded 500, while today it has reached 585.

"I contacted the prime minister and asked to include the matter of tougher restrictions in today's coalition meeting agenda," said Pavluts.

He underscored that the virus should be stopped among non-vaccinated people, while experts, the Crisis Management Council should prepare the set of measures. Also, the necessity of the state of emergency should be considered.

"We should toughen safety requirements in education and other areas while hospitals are preparing for the gloomiest scenarios. Restrictions may not be postponed any more, they already have been delayed due to political indecisiveness, fearing protests," the politician said.

The Health Ministry did not further comment on the planned safety measures.

Interior Minister Marija Golubeva, representing the health minister's party, said that the interior sector will support the necessary measures in order to contain Covid-19 outbreak in Latvia.

As reported, the Latvian Association of Medics and the Latvian Association of Young Medics demand the government to act urgently and introduce harsher restrictions for curbing Covid-19 infection. The organizations are concerned that the state health care system has been overloaded and is to face a collapse.