Covid-19. March 8

“We decided that from March 15, we will not limit movement between municipalities. We see a significant contribution of local governments to managing the epidemic. We are thinking about introducing more mitigation in those local governments where the incidence rate is will remain high, the restrictions on movement will still be maintained,” says Agnė Bilotaitė, Minister of Interior Affairs.

“In terms of mortality, Lithuania ranks 15th in the European Union, previously we were much higher. We hope that vaccination will reduce the incidence of disease. The particularly good news is that after vaccinations, only single cases of sickness are recorded among medical staff,” she says.

According to the Ministry of Healthcare, it is estimated that the incidence is 238 cases per 100,000. residents over 14 days. The largest number of vaccinations is recorded in the municipalities of health resorts – Birštonas, Druskininkai and Neringa. There, about 14% of residents have already received the first dose of the vaccine.

At its meeting on Monday, the government will consider releasing quarantine restrictions over the Easter period.

“These would be proposals for a possible release of restrictions during the Easter season and further opportunities for the release of trade restrictions,” said Živilė Gudlevičienė, health adviser to the prime minister.

Restrictions for the second quarantine were introduced in the country in November, later tightened, and in mid-December, traffic controls between municipalities were introduced.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that she believes the EU will receive 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine a month.

As manufacturers have promised to increase production and “more vaccines will soon be approved”, the EU should receive many more doses, the president told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten.

“The EU will receive an average of 100 million doses in the second quarter of this year. A total of 300 million by the end of June,” she said.

The EU, made up of 27 countries with 446 million inhabitants, received 51.5 million doses by February 26.