As the incidence declines, more visitors will be able to gather at events

As Covid-19 incidence indicators decline*, the opportunities for gatherings in the country are being expanded, including at public and private events, as provided for by amendments to the regulatory framework** adopted at the Cabinet of Ministers (CM) meeting today, 22 June.

Changes to the general conditions for gatherings provide that all members of the public may meet in groups of up to 20 people indoors and up to 50 people outdoors, both at private and public events, while continuing to observe a distance of 2 metres (except for members of the same household) and wearing face masks indoors. Vaccinated persons or persons who have recovered from Covid-19 may, as before, meet without a limit on numbers, without observing the 2-metre distance and without wearing face masks.

At organised events for mixed audiences, attended by vaccinated persons, persons who have recovered from Covid-19 and visitors who have taken a Covid-19 test before the event, upon presentation of an appropriate digital certificate, the permitted number of visitors has been increased to 500 people indoors and 1,000 people outdoors. The previously established safety requirements will still apply at such events: the event must have personalised seating (adjacent seats may be occupied by no more than 2 people who are not from the same household, and no more than 4 people from the same household); indoor events may not last longer than 4 hours (there must be a 15-minute break after 2 hours to ventilate the premises), and crowding of visitors or staff must not be allowed. However, the requirement concerning the use of face masks has been changed: visitors will still be required to wear them at events held indoors, but will not be required to wear them at outdoor events if visitors are seated in fixed, personalised seats. The permitted time for events of this type for mixed audiences has also been changed, extending it until 24:00.

Organised events attended only by vaccinated spectators or spectators and participants who have recovered from Covid-19, upon presentation of an appropriate digital certificate, may take place without restrictions on the time of day.  The previously established provision also remains in force: event visitors are not required to observe a 2-metre distance or wear face masks. Amendments to the CM regulations provide that if artists who have not been vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 participate in such an event and are on stage, that is, in an area inaccessible to spectators, they must take a Covid-19 test no earlier than 96 hours before the event and obtain an appropriate digital certificate.

The conditions for the operation of amateur groups have also been changed, providing that 30 participants may take part in indoor classes, with at least 3m2 of space per person, while groups of up to 50 participants may take part outdoors, provided that the groups do not come into contact with one another. As before, a mutual distance of 2 metres must be observed during such classes. In amateur groups where all participants have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19, participants may, as before, meet for classes without a limit on the number of participants and without observing the 2-metre distance.    

Up to 30 people may stay indoors in libraries, archives and reading rooms, with at least 10m2 provided per person. In museums, exhibition venues and other cultural venues, the number of visitors must also be planned on the basis of 10m2 of the area intended for the provision of the service per visitor or household.

At the same time, the procedure provides that, if a rapid increase in Covid-19 incidence is observed—by 20%, but not exceeding 120 cases per 100,000 inhabitants—additional precautionary and safety measures may be introduced. If incidence increases even more rapidly, the precautionary and safety measures currently in force would be reinstated. 

* If the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases over 14 days per 100,000 inhabitants falls below 100, and until it exceeds 120. The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) publishes 14-day Covid-19 incidence indicators on its website, www.spkc.gov.lv. If a decrease in incidence is established, the relevant precautionary and restrictive measures are applied on the day following publication. If an increase in incidence is established and it is necessary to strengthen epidemiological safety measures, the SPKC publishes information in the official publication "Latvijas Vēstnesis" on an epidemiological safety situation in which it is necessary to strengthen epidemiological safety measures, and the measures are applied on the third working day after the publication of that information.

** Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 360 of 9 June 2020, "Epidemiological Safety Measures to Limit the Spread of Covid-19 Infection".

More information - https://www.km.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/mazinoties-saslimstibai-pasakumos-vares-pulceties-vairak-apmekletaju

Author:

Public relations specialist, Public Relations Division

Ministry of Culture

km.gov.lv