For international arrivals it means the requirement to fill in an entry declaration at covidpass.lv is abolished from March 1. However, the requirement to provide an interoperable Covid-19 vaccination or disease certificate or a negative Covid-19 test result to get aboard an international carrier remains in force.
No "significant reason" is required to enter Latvia, which should help revive tourism to some degree.
Arrivals from countries that do not provide an interoperable Covid-19 test certificate must have a negative Covid-19 test in the language of the country of departure or in English on paper or electronically (on a smart device)," the Ministry added, also providing a list of countries that provide interoperable medical records .
If a person is unable to present to the international carrier a valid interoperable Covid-19 vaccination or disease certificate or a negative Covid-19 test result (PCR or antigen), the carrier will be entitled to refuse boarding. Exceptions include children under 12 years of age, who do not need to present a certificate or test result.
All arrivals, including those with an interoperable disease or vaccination certificate, will retain the opportunity to take a voluntary, state-paid Covid-19 test upon arrival at Rīga International Airport.
Changes from March 1 to March 31
Trade and services
- Work can be resumed in currently closed industries (indoor entertainment, gambling, nightclubs, attractions)
- the provision of services in these places shall be organized in an epidemiologically safe or “green” environment
- the working time restriction for the provision of all services has been abolished
- the requirement for Covid-19 certificates has been abolished in trade, maintaining the requirement for one visitor to provide 15 square meters of sales area
- the requirement to limit the number of baskets, trolleys etc. so that the number of people in store does not exceed the maximum number of visitors allowed is maintained
- the requirement to establish a documented internal control system has been abolished, while maintaining the requirement to designate a person responsible for compliance with epidemiological safety requirements.
Catering
- The restriction on the number of people at the tables for catering has been abolished
- The requirement for a Covid-19 certificate for both visitors and staff will be maintained from March 1 to April 1
- When walking around the dining areas, a face mask should be used, but when sitting at a table, the mask may be dispensed with
- Certificates and masks will not be required if catering is provided outdoors
Events
Public events:
- Organized (public) events (cultural, sports and other) have increased the maximum number of simultaneous visitors to 3,000 people
- visitor registration canceled
- the requirement to provide personalized seating has been abolished
- the requirement to place visitors in distanced, fixed seats has been abolished
- standing events may also be organized, e.g. dances, rock concerts
- persons or employees who are directly involved in the provision of the service, event or ceremony do not have to be included in the maximum number of people allowed
Private events:
- The number of people at private indoor and outdoor events has been increased to 50 people, while at weddings, funerals and baptisms - up to 250 people.
- From 1 March, it is also allowed to provide face-to-face services during a private gathering in a separate enclosed space or area without verification of Covid-19 vaccination or disease certificates, such as catering, artistic performances, sauna services for birthdays (up to 50 guests) or weddings (up to 250 guests) as well as creative master classes or amusement services at a children’s party (up to 50 guests).
Culture
- From March 1, the restrictions on the working hours of cultural venues and public cultural events will be lifted
- At outdoor events, visitors will no longer be required to present a Covid-19 vaccination or disease certificate and will not be required to wear face masks
- Visitors to indoor events will be required to present a valid Covid-19 vaccination or disease certificate and use medical face masks or FFP-2 respirators until April 1. Children under the age of 17 will not be required to present a certificate. Employees of indoor events must also have a valid vaccination or disease certificate, except for employees who do not have direct contact with visitors.
- When visiting cultural premises - libraries, museums, cultural centers and other premises when there is no event, visitors will not be required to present a vaccination or disease certificate.
- From 1 March, the requirement for amateur art groups to limit participants in groups and to set a specific square footage per participant is abolished.
Education
Testing
From March 1, schools will continue to test students, except in pre-school education, and staff according to the algorithm of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Class overlap, room management
There is no longer a requirement for non-overlapping classes , area for each learner and group size, but any educational institution is encouraged to avoid crowding, and distance is recommended.
The requirement to ventilate training rooms regularly and to comply with general epidemiological safety requirements (use of disinfectants, hand washing, etc.) remains.
Use of masks
For the time being , the requirement to use non-medical (cloth) face masks purchased for educational purposes remains in educational institutions .
At the same time, it is stipulated that from March 1 to March 31, the head of the educational institution in cooperation with the council of the educational institution, evaluating the epidemiological situation, will be able to make a reasoned decision that face masks may not be used indoors during the educational process.
Covid-19 certificates for services
The requirement for a Covid-19 certificate has been abolished as of 1 March:
- services provided outdoors;
- in trade;
- in individual services where a face mask is used and there is no direct contact with the service provider;
- church and religious events.
The requirement for a Covid-19 certificate has been maintained from 1 March to 1 April:
- public events (sports, cultural events and others);
- discos, nightclubs, attractions;
- sports and amateur (choirs, dance groups and others) activities;
- catering, such as cafes, restaurants;
- in the provision of personalized services where the customer does not use masks or FFP2 respirators without a valve and has direct contact with the service provider.
Until 1 April, services provided in an epidemiologically safe environment can be obtained with a valid Covid-19 vaccination or disease certificate and children under the age of 18 without certificates or tests.
At the same time, service providers retain the option of providing the service in an epidemiologically safe environment or requesting a Covid-19 vaccination or disease certificate. Therefore, the recipient of the service must follow the information provided by the service provider on his website or at the entrance.
This does not apply to services that are essential for human rights and public security, which must be accessible to all , such as postal services, public transport services, financial services, which must be accessible to everyone.
It should be noted that the term service provider means both a provider of a public service and an economic service (including trade), an organizer of an event or a performer of a religious activity.
Covid-19 certificates at work
From 1 March to 1 April, the requirement for a Covid-19 vaccination or disease certificate was abolished for some employees, but it was maintained for some.
The requirement for Covid-19 certificates is maintained:
- in the provision of services for which the customer must present a certificate (for example, an employee of a nightclub or cafe);
- in the provision of public services and certain economic services, if there is direct contact with the customer (does not apply to the provision of trade services);
- those employed in the implementation of educational programs, service providers (who come into contact with learners at the place of provision of the service), providers of child supervision services and private practice services of teachers;
- social care, health care workers;
- public sector employees who serve customers on a daily basis in prisons.
Discussions are still ongoing on the requirements for the Covid-19 certificate in employment after 1 April.
Public transport
From March 1, restrictions on public transport capacity will no longer apply and restrictions on fare reductions on municipal public transport routes for adults without a Covid-19 certificate will be lifted.
At the same time, the mandatory use of a respirator or medical face mask in public transport, taxis and commercial passenger transport by car remains in place.
Bus terminals and ticket offices at railway stations, which only sell tickets on domestic routes, will also provide services without Covid-19 certificates. The use of respirators or medical masks is a mandatory requirement at bus and train stations.
From March 1, Rīgas satiksme will stop blocking discounts for those customers who did not have a Covid-19 certificate.
