Covid 19. May 19

Over the past 24 hours, 911 new cases of infection have been confirmed in the country.

Nine residents lost the fight against the infection.

The incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants in the last fourteen days is currently 534.8.

The rate of positive tests for Sars-COV2 over the course of the week is 5.2 per cent.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 267,769 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in Lithuania. More than 243,126 people recovered. The number of active cases is now 15,227.

During the past day, over 18 thousand tests for the presence of coronavirus were conducted.

The government on Wednesday allowed larger gatherings from next week, extended the opening hours of cafes and restaurants by an hour. Sauna and swimming pools will operate more freely, all shops will be able to open at weekends, and the number of viewers at outdoor events has been doubled.

There are also extended benefits for people with an opportunity passport: they will be able to spend time inside restaurants and gather at mass events of up to 2,000 people.

Courtesy of the BNS agency, we present a description of the new, relaxed restrictions:

EU countries agreed on Wednesday that the EU’s external borders should be reopened to travellers fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, European sources said.

Diplomats in Brussels also agreed to increase the incidence rate above which a country would be considered unsafe. Such a decision would allow people from more third countries to enter the EU.

The recommendations will be adopted by EU ministers on Friday, the sources said.

At present, entry into the 27 EU from third countries is prohibited without proper justification. An exception applies to a number of countries considered safe where the COVID-19 incidence is low.

However, as restrictions are lifted in EU Member States, the economy opens up – such as hotels, bars and restaurants. The entire tourism industry is concerned about the tourist season. Facilitations for people outside the EU would help put EU economies on their feet.