Latvia to extend COVID-19 emergency as Omicron spreads

The Latvian government on Tuesday decided to extend the current COVID-19 emergency until Feb. 28 to stem the spread of the Omicron variant, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said at a news conference, reported Xinhua.

The current state of emergency was introduced on Oct. 11, 2021 and set to end on Jan. 11.

The extension means that the existing COVID-19 restrictions will remain effective until the end of February, but rules concerning the use of facemasks, validity period of vaccination certificates and testing will be made tougher, the prime minister said.

The government plans to make medical facemasks or respirators mandatory in all public spaces. Under the current rules, people can also cover their faces with reusable cloth masks.

The validity term for vaccination certificates will be nine months, except for those that have been issued to persons jabbed with the Janssen vaccine, which will expire in five months.

There is also a plan to expand the testing of private-sector employees for COVID-19.

Latvia has so far confirmed over 650 Omicron cases, and the country's cumulative two-week COVID-19 incidence was at 573.8 cases per 100,000 Tuesday, according to official data.