The term of validity of Covid-19 certificates will enter into force on February 15. If no booster vaccine has been received and nine months have passed since the second jab or five months since the single-dose vaccine, it will no longer be possible to use the “green zone” services. The National Health Service estimated that on February 15, the certificate will expire for approximately 42,000 inhabitants, while on March 1 – 75,000 inhabitants.
However, the number could be reduced because, in the case of a vaccinated person becoming ill, the certificate has term of validity.
On Wednesday, February 9, the deadlines for certificates were discussed by the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, with Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš. The president said that given the plan to ease restrictions significantly on March 1, the introduction of the certificate's term of validity should also be extended until that date.
The current framework foresees that the deadlines will start on 15 February. So on this day, the certificates will no longer be valid for some 42 000 people who have not received a booster vaccine against Covid-19.
“If we know that there will be very significant relief on March 1, then for those people without certificates now, for them to comply with these restrictions, it would be disproportionate and wrong. […] So the validity of these certificates must definitely be extended,” Levits said.
The Prime Minister also agreed but stressed that the Ministry of Health is responsible for public health. Therefore, the transfer of the deadline also needs support from the Ministry.
“If it can be agreed that this would be reasonable, I will call a meeting and we would also move it. I myself have stated publicly that in my opinion this should be done, but such an agreement between the ministers has not yet been reached,” said Kariņš.
