A group of experts from the academic environment was established on the basis of a recommendation from the Cross-Sectoral Coordination Center in March this year. The group worked on the principle of voluntary and non-remunerated participation, and the aim was to provide support to the Cabinet in the decision-making process by evaluating future decisions related to Covid-19.
The experts assessed the impact of government-prepared scenarios on the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, public behavior, and the consequences for society and the economy. The group's tasks did not include proposing specific new solutions.
In the view of the expert group, the pattern of cooperation with the Cabinet has not been optimal. In particular, cooperation developed in such a way that the group does not help the government to make an informed decision, but the views expressed by experts themselves become part of the political process, according to Sedlenieks.
The expert group, therefore, considers that it is justified to suspend its activities for an indefinite period of time. At the same time, the expert group does not exclude the possibility of further cooperation by assessing matters relevant to the government, if asked.
