In 28 European countries, the risk of COVID-19 is now deemed to be high enough for arrivals to have to self-isolate.
Slovenia, Slovakia and Italy are the latest additions to the list, the Disease Prevention and Control Center (SPKC) announced. Neighboring Lithuania narrowly avoided being included on the list with an infection rate of 15.5 per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14 days. The threshold for inclusion on the yellow list is 16 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The changes take effect Saturday, August 29, and apply to Latvian citizens and foreigners alike. The requirement applies to transit passengers as well as direct travellers.
Turpmāk obligāta 14 dienu pašizolācija būs jāievēro arī personām, kuras Latvijā atgriežas no Slovēnijas, Itālijas un Slovākijas.
— SPKC.gov.lv (@SPKCentrs) August 28, 2020
Pašizolācija ir jāievēro arī tad, ja konkrētajā valstī biji tikai caurbraucot, piemēram, biji tās valsts lidostā. pic.twitter.com/7ctHkyP2W8
The countries on the "red" list are where passenger carriers do not operate and it is recommended not to go privately from Latvia. The 'yellow list', or countries which are accessible for travel carriers but where the necessity of travel should be considered before going.
Both 'red' and 'yellow' countries require 14 days' self-isolation.
The full list of 'red' and 'yellow' countries is also available on the SPKC website to download in PDF format here. It is also attached to this news story in English in PDF format.
More information on how to self-isolate and the penalties for not doing so are available in English, Latvian and Russian at the Disease Prevention and Control Center's dedicated web page.
To get a COVID-19 test, call 8303 on weekdays from 8 AM to 8 PM, on Saturdays from 9 AM to 3 PM and on Sundays from 9 AM to 12 PM.
You still have to self-isolate for 14 days, even if you've taken the COVID-19 test.