Restrictions would generally become stricter for those who do not have a Covid-19 certificate.
The government agreed in June that further restrictions would automatically change along with increases or declines in Covid-19 spreads. Therefore, at a time when there are 120 infected people per 100,000 inhabitants in Latvia, a number of restrictions will be tightened. VM forecast that the mark would be reached early next week.
If people do not have Covid-19 certificates, only 20 people will be able to gather outdoors instead of 50, while only 10 people will be able to gather indoors.
VM stressed that the requirements for vaccinated people would not become more stringent.
“At this safe level, events and opportunities for assembly remain the longest, and this is also the framework for organising both work and other households,” explained VM spokesman Oskar Schneider.
However, regardless of the vaccination status, it should be taken into account that queues can return to shops and other service providers, since there will be a requirement to ensure 25 instead of 15 square meters per person.
“Our employees are ready for this, the security officers also know how to proceed. What should be taken into account for our visitors, if such a situation is that queues at the stores are possible, given that the number of baskets will be smaller,” said Inga Bite, head of external communication at Rimi.
The network of stores, Maxima, meanwhile, hopes the government will abandon the stricter requirements.
“We call for the principle of proportionality to be applied and to ensure that people do not need to crowd outside, especially with coming autumn and winter, especially to draw attention to small shops, leave these 15 square meters per customer,” said Maxima Latvija head of communications Liene Dupate-Ugale.
The Ministry of Economics has called for the area requirement to remain unchanged for the time being, but no agreement has yet been reached.
