As the epidemiological situation improves, larger gatherings are possible again

As the epidemiological situation improves, on 22 June the government decided to ease the safety measures in place, expanding the possibilities for gatherings at both private and public events, as well as reviewing the requirements for the safe provision of services by businesses.

The regulations stipulate that once the incidence rate falls below 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a 14-day period, gatherings will be possible in accordance with the safety levels established previously – the safest (green level), medium (yellow level) and unsafe (red level).

At the safest level – all participants/visitors at the event are vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from it and can prove this with a Covid certificate:

• there are no restrictions on the number of participants/visitors at either private or public events.

At the medium level  – event participants/visitors are vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from it and can prove this with a Covid certificate, or have taken a Covid test before the event and received a negative result:

• at both private and public events, gatherings of up to 500 people indoors and up to 1,000 people outdoors are permitted. Children under 12 may also participate in events without taking a test.

At the unsafe level – private gatherings attended also by people who are not vaccinated against Covid-19, have not recovered from it and have not been tested:

• gatherings of up to 20 people indoors and up to 50 people outdoors are permitted, without observing the household principle.

At the same time, the procedure stipulates 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 the incidence increases even more rapidly, the precautionary and safety measures currently in force would be reinstated.  

Amendments to the Cabinet regulations also provide for changes to the requirements for the safe provision of services, depending on the degree of risk. Henceforth:

• at sports facilities and locations providing commercial services where there is a high risk of Covid-19 transmission (intense breathing,  speaking, singing or physical activity, close contact between visitors, use of changing rooms, or where it is difficult to ensure distancing due to the nature of the service), an area of 15 m2 per visitor must be provided;
• in venues where there is a medium risk of infection transmission (where distancing is possible in designated areas, or where there is an active flow of people and contact between them is brief, for example, at exhibitions, museums, places of religious activity, etc.), an area of 10 m2 must be ensured. At locations providing beauty and wellness services, the area must be 10 m2 per person. As the risk of Covid-19 transmission decreases, more people may be seated at a table in public catering establishments, in proportion to the opportunities for people to gather;
• in retail premises, 15 m2 per person must be ensured.

It is planned that the aforementioned amendments to the Cabinet regulations will enter into force on 23 June.

Author:

Ministry of Health

vm.gov.lv