The highest daily total so far was recorded a day earlier, December 31, with 1,861 new infections confirmed.
The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic now stands at 41,615.
Of 3,960 tests carried out, 18% were positive.
? Pēdējo 24h laikā:
— SPKC.gov.lv (@SPKCentrs) January 1, 2021
▫️veikti 3960 Covid-19 izmeklējumi;
▫️reģistrēti 711 jauni inficēšanās gadījumi;
▫️saņemti ziņojumi par 8 mirušajiem (pieci cilvēki vecumā no 70-80 gadiem, divi vecumā no 80-90 gadiem, divi vecumā no 90-95 gadiem).
Nine deaths were also confirmed. Of those, five victims were aged 70-80, two were aged 80-90 and two were aged 90-95.
In total 644 people have died in Latvia as a result of the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.
According to the National Health Service (NVD) 1,066 patients are currently being treated for coronavirus symptoms in Latvia's hospitals. Of that number 62 patients have serious symptoms.
Jauni Covid-19 gadījumi stacionāros – 108 (t. sk. 1 pārvests). Kopā stacionāros ārstējas 1066 pacienti: 1004 ar vidēji smagu slimības gaitu, 62 ar smagu slimības gaitu. Pēdējās diennakts laikā no stacionāra izrakstīts 31 pacients (t. sk. 1 pārvests) – kopā 3524.
— NVD (@VMNVD) January 1, 2021
Meanwhile in Lithuania 3,322 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, and in Estonia the figure was 417 cases.
COVID-19 information
A summary in English of the latest COVID-19 situation including restrictions in place and rules on public assembly is available at this special government website which includes the latest updates to regulations over the Christmas and New Year period. Use of nose and mouth coverings is compulsory in all public places indoors, including workplaces, and there are restrictions on what goods can be bought from stores.
As reported previously by LSM, the full regulations relating to the current state of emergency in force are available to read online in English translation. You can read about the recently-introduced curfew conditions for the New Year period in English HERE.
The number for medical emergencies is 113.
There is also an information line to answer any questions you might have about the veracity of facts about COVID-19 on 8345.
The SPKC has information in English about the approved methods of protecting yourself from the virus.
All arrivals (including returnees) need to fill in an electronic declaration prior to coming to Latvia. It is available at the website covidpass.lv.