He said that, on the contrary, it is more likely to relax restrictions for people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19, which the government plans to discuss on Thursday.
According to a document adopted by the government at the end of March, restrictions should be tightened if the morbidity grows to 600 per 100,000 inhabitants or the hospital bed load exceeds 70%. Health Minister Daniels Pavļuts said the figures have not yet been reached, but the situation is still worrying.
“Formally, these criteria have not been met, but the morbidity is increasing and the pressure on hospitals is high. […] We do not have to wait for that last moment, when it is really bad for us, to be able to make the right decisions,” the Minister said.
Pavļuts said the government should be ready to introduce a strict scenario. However, the Prime Minister said that the government is unlikely to agree on it. In his opinion, morbidity rates do not force tougher restrictions. Kariņš said that the main thing is to speed up vaccination.
Representatives of other coalition parties were also skeptical about new restrictions.
“The problem is not the lack of restrictions on paper. The problem is much of the public's distrust regarding these limits. Rightly or unjustifiably, it is a different story, but the fact is that these restrictions are often not respected, that they are being treated dismissively,” said Raivis Dzintars, Chairman of the Saeima faction of the National Alliance.
Māris Možvillo, president of the Saeima faction of KPV LV, added that “people are tired of this endless horror film and threats that if you are not obedient, you will be sick”.
Issues related to Covid-19, including potential benefits for the vaccinated, will be discussed by the government on Thursday.
