BDAR

06 May, 2020

The Cabinet has agreed to extend the lockdown until 31 May while continuing to ease the current restrictions. Nurseries and pre-school groups will soon reopen, events will resume. It has been decided to lift the ban of the dentist services and beauty parlours.

According to Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, it is still a way to go till all the restrictions are lifted. Slowly but surely, as they say.

‘I know that people can’t wait till all the restrictions are over. I understand the expectations, but please understand us too: we make our decisions on the recommendations of medical professionals, scientists and in consideration of the current epidemiological situation, i.e. with due regard to the potential threats and risks. This is done gradually so as to avoid going back to the tight restrictions across all the sectors’, - said the Prime Minister.

According to the State Commander of National Emergency Operations, Minister of Health Aurelijus Veryga, the epidemiological situation is regarded now as good in the country. However, this does not mean that it is time to return to full normality.

‘We have to understand that the relaxed restrictions do not mean that the virus has been contained. Most definitely not. The virus is still around, but the fact that we have been able to stop it from spreading is the result of our mobilisation and the sense of responsibility. But please mind you that we have to continue our resolve for quite a while in the future, as the virus is hardly to leave us tomorrow. I urge each and everyone––particularly the vulnerable ones–– to continue the self-discipline that we have been by now so good at’, says Minister Veryga.

Health Care Services

As of 18 May, the ban will be lifted of the dental services that were not allowed during the lockdown. Not only will the patients have access to emergency dental services but also to routine procedures such as, for example, preventive check up, oral hygiene procedures, aesthetic procedures and others. This of course will require strict compliance with all the requirements to ensure the safety of both the patient as well as the medical professional.

It has also been decided to allow visiting patients in hospitals as of 18 May. What is important is that the heads of hospitals will have to set up visitation procedure. Until now, from the beginning of the quarantine, we were allowed to visit only terminally ill patients suffering from incurable and a progressive disease, as well as children under 14 years of age, all this being subject to doctor’s permission. This means that once medical facilities are ready, men at birth will be allowed.

Please remember that all other routine healthcare services were allowed to reopen last week given certain requirements are met.

Education

The Ministers agreed to allow reopening of nurseries and preschool groups as of 18 May. As regards schools (primary, pre-secondary, secondary and VETs) they will remain closed until the Government decides otherwise. As a matter of fact, the restrictions have been lifted of foreign language proficiency assessment examinations (credits) for persons applying to foreign higher education establishments, provided that there are no more than 10 participants in the examination (credit), while also ensuring at least 10 sq. m. of space per person and the distance of at least 2 m between the persons.

Day care centres for children and persons with disabilities will reopen, while day care centres for the elderly will continue as closed.

Events

As of 18 May, the Government has enabled events involving up to 30 participants, provided at least 10 sq. m. of space per participant and the distance of at least 2 m between people is ensured. The organisers are required to ensure a safe social distancing, i.e. 10 square metres per participant and at least 2 meters distance between the people.

As of 30 May, indoor events will fall subject to the same requirements as the outdoor events.

Cross-border movement

Since 11 May, Lithuania will allow entry of Polish nationals arriving for the purpose of work, business or studies. The entry of Estonian and Latvian nationals will be allowed as of 15 May. 14 days’ isolation will not apply to them.

Nor will the 14 days’  isolation be mandatory for the Lithuanian nationals returning from Poland (when travelling for the purpose of business, work or studies), and Latvia or Estonia.

As of 11 May, transportation of passengers will be allowed by the ferries running on the routes between Kiel - Rostock - Travemünde and Klaipėda, where passengers are not picked up at intermediate ports and where the minimum contact with bystanders is ensured at the intermediate ports during the change of ferries.

Other restrictions that have been eased

The Government has agreed that as of 18 May, state and municipal institutions and bodies and state and municipal enterprises will organise their work and provide customer services in such a way as to ensure the required conditions laid down by the State Commander of National Emergency Operations for public health safety, hygiene and the provision of persons with necessary personal protective equipment, or remotely. This means that  organisations will be free to decide as to how they are going to proceed.

The private sector is recommended to organise work in the same manner as the public sector

The ban will be lifted of all the beauty services as of 18 May. This will mean the reopening of hairdressers, nail care parlours, solariums, tattooing, piercing and other beauty services. However, the wellness centres providing recreational services will continue as closed, and beauty services will not be provided there.

Gyms will reopen for individual exercising. Ban has been lifted of group training conducted by a physical activity or high-performance sports instructor or physical activity professional with no more than 10 participants, except for family members. In all the cases at least 10 sq. m. of space per visitor and the distance of at least 10 m between people and/or groups of people must be ensured.

As of 11 May, theoretical and practical training in driving skills and abilities will resume provided the hygiene requirements are observed.

The lockdown will continue from 16 March 2020, 00:00, until 31 May 2020, 24:00.

 

To view Government Resolution No 207 declaring quarantine on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, please click this link (In Lithuanian, consolidated version as of 30 May 2020). Unofficial translation of resolution can be found here.

Key information on coronavirus is available at: www.koronastop.lt/en/

Source: lrv.lt
Last updated: 28 05 2020