Covid-19. February 8

Over the last 24 hours, the country has registered 270 new coronavirus infections and 14 more deaths, the Department of Statistics reported this morning.

4 deaths of people who died earlier were also included in the statistics.

Within 24 hours, 57 people recovered.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 187000 cases have been diagnosed in Lithuania. Overall, 138,207 people recovered. 2,955 people died.

The number of active cases – 43,506.

The current epidemiological situation allows the lockdown to be eased, the situation of small businesses should be taken into account, informs the president’s adviser Simonas Krėpšta.

“The situation in Lithuania is improving and it is at this time that a new security balance must be found between relaxing the lockdown and, of course, preventing the development of additional infections,” said Simonas Krėpšta, the president’s aide, at a press conference on Monday.

“According to the president, the epidemiological situation in the country allows us to look for some safe ways to partially ease the lockdown requirements and of course focus on the safest areas that need mitigation the most,” he added.

Small businesses are now “taking the main blow of the quarantine”, according to a presidential adviser, but he stressed that relaxing the requirements must be handled responsibly. According to him, the president sees two alternatives: reductions in local governments with the lowest number of infections or very high protection standards.

Members of the government tentatively agreed that some non-grocery stores and hairdressers may open from next Monday, but a final decision is scheduled for Wednesday.

The Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė, who presented the lockdown mitigation plan, announced that it is proposed to allow the resumption of beauty parlours with the provision of services to one client at a time.

Upon approval, non-grocery stores with outdoor access will be allowed to resume operations. Sellers will have to provide 20 square meters of vacant space per customer.

At the request of Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, the cabinet of ministers tentatively approved the plan, but the final decision of the government is to be adopted on Wednesday.

Source: ZW.lt