In the event of a positive COVID-19 test or refusal to undergo testing, arrivals must observe mandatory self-isolation

To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its new Delta variant in Latvia, people entering the country by crossing an external land border whose COVID-19 test result is positive or who refuse to take the test will be transported to a place where mandatory self-isolation must be observed—their place of residence or accommodation, or tourist accommodation administered by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, according to amendments approved today by the 14th Government.

As previously reported, starting on 12 July, at four land border crossing points—“Grebņeva”, “Terehova”, “Pāternieki” and “Silene”—people arriving in Latvia who cannot present a valid interoperable vaccination, testing or recovery certificate or, until 1 September 2021, another valid confirmation of COVID-19 vaccination, recovery or a completed COVID-19 test issued in another EU or EEA country, the Swiss Confederation or the United Kingdom must take a COVID-19 test. The test must be paid for by the individuals themselves.

The regulations stipulate that if the COVID-19 test is positive or a person refuses to take the test, they will be transported to their place of residence or accommodation, or to one of the tourist accommodations administered by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, where mandatory self-isolation must be observed. The Government also allocated more than 200,000 euros in funding from contingency funds to ensure transportation, which will be carried out by the Emergency Medical Service.

The regulations also stipulate that, in the event of a positive COVID-19 test, the state will cover the costs of confirmatory testing, while compliance with mandatory self-isolation will be supervised by the Health Inspectorate and the State Police.

Self-isolation must be observed for 10 days. The period of self-isolation may be shortened if a repeat test is taken on the seventh day and its result is negative.

Author:

Ministry of Health

vm.gov.lv