On Wednesday, 30 December, a decision was made regarding the curfew or the obligation of the residents to stay at their places of residence on weekends and public holidays from 22.00 to 5.00. This extraordinary limitation of movement has been introduced temporarily to protect human health, reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus, and decrease pressure on the healthcare system.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has also warned of the risk of Covid-19 becoming more widespread during the holidays.
In Latvia, the Covid-19 infection rate continues to increase, with the number of hospitalized patients even exceeding 1,000, as a result of which the provision of other health care services must be increasingly restricted. To limit the spread of the virus, the emergency situation has been extended until 7 February 2021.
In order to reduce the possibility of the increased spread of Covid-19 during the holidays, residents of Latvia are encouraged to stay at home, not to receive guests, and not to go on private visits. For stricter controls, there is a movement restriction on the evening and night hours of weekends and holidays. From 30 December 2020 to 4 January 2021 and from 8 January to 10 January from 22.00 to 5.00, a person must be present at his/her place of residence.
Leaving the place of residence during the curfew is allowed only in especially urgent cases. When leaving the place of residence, you must carry a self-certificate stating your personal details, residence address, reason for movement, and destination of movement. Every resident is obliged to carry a passport or ID card.
On these days, points of sale, catering, and on-site service providers shall close no later than 21.00, so that employees can get to the place of residence prior to 22.00. In its turn, the opening hours of gas stations and providers of emergency and emergency utilities services are not restricted on these nights. Other companies can also continue to work on these nights, ensuring business continuity (including shift work).
The time of provision of public transport services is not limited, but on the mentioned dates from 22.00 to 5.00, taxi services may be used only to go to work, a medical institution, a veterinary institution, and to return home.
Leaving the place of residence during the curfew is allowed only in especially urgent cases. When leaving the place of residence or workplace, you must carry a self-certificate written in free form or printed out, stating your personal details, residence address, reason for movement, and destination of movement.
The State Police will monitor compliance with movement restrictions. Fines can be imposed for the violation of curfew or other emergency situation regulations.
More information on filling in the certificate is available on the State Police website www.vp.gov.lv and on the unified website www.covid19.gov.lv.
Reinis Grāvītis
Press Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers
Telephone: +371 67082919; +371 27011868;
E-mail: reinis.gravitis@mk.gov.lv