COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia

On 31 January 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia updated their travel advice, calling on travellers not to travel to Hubei and assess the need to travel to China in general. It also recommended everyone returning from China and experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus infection to seek medical advice and information about their travel and contacts.[8]

On 3 February, a Latvian citizen living in Wuhan was evacuated with a French government plane and taken to Paris, where she was quarantined for 14 days before being allowed to depart to Riga.[9][10] On 11 February, Latvia donated protective clothing, masks, respirators and other epidemic prevention and control supplies to China.[11]

On 27 February, Estonia confirmed the first COVID-19 case, an Iranian citizen fell ill on board a bus from Riga to Tallinn and called himself an ambulance from Tallinn bus station. He had originally departed from Iran, and flown from Turkey to Riga, spending at least 2.5 hours in Riga and using public transport.[12][13] By 2 March, 114 people had been tested for COVID-19, all tests coming out negative.[14]

Train from Kyiv repatriating Latvian nationals on 22 March

Restrictions in Riga public transport on 26 March

On 2 March, the Latvian Ministry of Health confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Latvia. The infected person was a woman who had flown from Milan to Riga through Munich.[15][16] The day after her condition had improved considerably and a repeated test came out negative she was discharged from the Latvian Center of Infectious Diseases with instructions to remain in self-insolation for 14 days.[17][18] The same day the Latvian government allocated an additional 2.6 million euros to the Ministry of Health for various anti-coronavirus measures.[19] Minister of Health Ilze Viņķele rated country's preparedness for coronavirus 8 out of 10.[20] Between 8 and 10 March, Latvian Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has carried out 274 tests and confirmed seven more cases for people who had recently returned from Northern Italy.[21][22][23][24][25]

On 12 March, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš announced that the government had declared a state of emergency and that starting 13 March and until 14 April large public gatherings with over 200 people were banned and schools would conduct distance learning, along with other safety recommendations.[26]

On 13 March, the government announced a billion euro support for businesses affected by coronavirus provided as "financial instruments" (such as tax holidays or sick leave pay) via the state-owned ALTUM development bank.[27]

A list of emergency measures took effect on 14 March.[28] On 14 March, Kariņš announced that starting 17 March international travel would be halted, however, this would not affect private travel within the European Union, returning citizens or flow of goods. Furthermore, organised public events are banned and other gatherings may not exceed 50 participants.[29][30]

In preparation of a possible COVID-19 patient influx most of the hospitals began reducing or stopping most unrelated scheduled and outpatient treatment, with the exception of critical operations.[31] On March 25 the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Infectious Disease Risk Analysis and Prevention Department director Jurijs Perevoščikovs reported the first COVID-19 patients with no clear epidemiological links to any other infection cases or trips abroad, pointing to the start of COVID-19 transmission within the Latvian society.[32][33][34]

On 29 March, the government adopted a number of stricter regulations. Foremost, everyone had to maintain a 2-metre distance and observe epidemiological safety measures in private and public events, as well as during public indoor and outdoor activities. Exceptions were given for 2 people, those living in the same household or parents and their minor children if they didn't live in the same household. New restrictions also prohibited all private arrangements (except funerals), public events, meetings, processions, pickets, indoor sports and religious activities. Trading and public catering venues were still allowed to hold more people while maintaining the 2-metre distance and observing safety measures. Various other measures were also adopted, such as prioritisation of medical item supply for national purposes or the government's right to request information from electronic communications operators on specific persons for epidemiological investigation.[35][36]

On 7 April, The Cabinet of Ministers decided to extend the state of emergency by another month until 12 May with the same restrictions in place.[37]

On 7 May, The Cabinet of Ministers extended the state of emergency until 9 June, but eased some of the restrictions. Notably, starting 12 May, outdoor and up to 3-hour indoor gatherings of up to 25 people would be allowed while observing the two-metre distancing and providing disinfectants. A mouth and nose cover would be required in public transport. Travel and tourism would also be allowed within the three Baltic states.[38] By 22 May, travel from the EU was reopened.[39] On 22 May, the contact-tracing app "Apturi Covid" (lit. Stop Covid) was released that could be voluntarily downloaded and followed Google and Apple API standards.[40]

The state of emergency ended on 10 June, while restrictions remained in effect -- face cover in public transport, 2-metre distancing, as well as various restrictions on gatherings and public events.[41] On 16 June, the government met with various experts to discuss the possible second wave.[42] Dumpis warned that the pandemic was not over and that the situation had to be closely monitored.[43] State-paid test availability was extended from end of June until the end of summer.[44]

At the start of July, Dumpis remarked that the greatest risk of new cases came from travel and import of the virus from other countries.[45] The small outbreaks observed the following week were attributed to personal gatherings.[46] Due to the case increase, some restrictions were restored for catering facilities.[47] On 15 July, penalties for not observing the self-isolation rules were approved.[48] By the end of July, epidemiologist Jurijs Perevošcikovs, director of the SPKC's Department for Risk Analysis and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, said that stricter restrictions were not needed at the time.[49] On 20 July, testing was made mandatory for guest workers,[50] Perevošcikovs remarked that guest workers would not significantly increase the risk of infection.[51]

After a regular weekly meeting, Levits and Karinš stated that various contingency plans being made for the likely second wave of the virus.[52]

Dumpis argued that keeping the rates low in Latvia relied heavily upon measures and stricter rules in other countries.[53] By 25 September, arrival from all EU countries (except The Vatican) required self-isolation upon arrival in Latvia.[54]

In October, the infection rates increased 11-fold from September.[55] Use of face covers became mandatory in public transport on 7 October,[56] and other public places on 14 October, along with other restrictions.[57] Dumpis urged to prioritize social distancing over masks.[58] Rural areas saw a reusable mask deficit.[59] By 19 October, Latvia saw a record number of confirmed cases,[60] and restrictions on gatherings and remote study were further tightened by 24 October.[61] On 29 October, fines were introduced for not wearing a face cover in enclosed public places.[62]

Testing also saw long queues in October due to lack of personnel with up to 11 days in rural areas.[63][64] Voluntary tests were suspended,[65] and new testing locations were planned.[66]

At the start of November, the Cabinet of Ministers was divided on instating a new state of emergency,[67] while Levits supported it.[68] Dumpis explained that travel and mobility has been the cause of rapidly rising case numbers and that stricter restrictions were necessary because society had not fully followed even the light restrictions before.[69] The SPKC reported that 50% of new cases could not be tracked to a source,[70] and infected persons have many contact persons, which suggests that restrictions are not being observed.[69] A study showed that social activity had returned to a level before the pandemic linking the decrease in social distancing with the rise of new cases.[71][72] On 6 November, the government declared a second state of emergency to begin on 9 November. The restrictions on gatherings, events, sport activities, catering and education were further tightened.[73] Following local outbreaks, municipalities and regions were faced with additional tighter restrictions,[74] and the government announced that the list of affected regions would be reviewed every week based on the infection rate.[75] Overall, the infection rates doubled in November.[76] Dumpis had remarked that distancing restrictions were still likely not being observed as evident by the increasing case rates.[77]

By mid-November, the testing queue waiting time had significantly decreased, following an earlier change in application procedures.[78][79] As the case rate doubled in November, the testing only increased by 10%.[76]

At the start of December the state of emergency was extended until 11 January and a broader range of restriction came into force.[80] The government aimed to have 10,000 tests per day, which primarily meant having the testing sites open on weekends and holiday.[81]

Following a further increase in daily cases and hospitals approaching capacity, a range of new restriction are expected to come into effect on 21 December.[82]

Vinkele stated that various restrictions are likely to remain throughout 2021, while vaccines would be state-funded and voluntary.[83] The first batch arrived on 26 December.[84]

On 29 December 2020, the government introduced a curfew for New Year's holidays and weekend from December 30 until January 4, and the weekend following Orthodox Christmas on January 8 and 9, during which individuals must stay at their place of residence between 22:00 and 5:00 except for emergencies and work-related matters.[85]

Karins expressed mistrust in Minister of Health Vinkele due to the lack of a vaccination plan and requested her demission. Vinkele disagreed that the plan was not sufficient, but resigned.[86] On 7 January, Daniels Pavļuts was confirmed as the new Minister of Health.[87]

The earlier restrictions, including the weekend curfew, were extended until 25 January,[88] and later to February 7.[89] Pavļuts proposed that the restrictions could be lifted only if the cumulative number of new cases per capita would fall trifold.[90]

At the start of February, Latvia had a death rate 32% higher than EU average and being the third most frequent cause of death in the country.[91]

The government approved a "Covid warning system" based on 14-day cumulative new case count. The system aims to inform the public about the current levels of risk of the epidemiological situation and set the restriction accordingly.[92] On 5 February, the State of Emergency was extended to until April 6 with mostly the same the restriction in place, although it is to be decided whether the weekend curfew will remain in effect.[93] Notably, additional travel restrictions were also instated for two weeks.[94] The State voluntary vaccination registration website also began operating on 5 February.[95]