Essential Covid news. January 18

Within 24 hours, 52 people recovered. 21 people died. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 167,992 cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in the country. 104,297 people recovered. The number of active cases is now 60,014.

To date, 2,469 people have died from Covid-19. Three deaths due to the coronavirus are also listed when the actual date of death was earlier. 47,498 people received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

It has been estimated that around half a million people in the country have contracted COVID-19 in an asymptomatic or mild form, says Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys. “It can be predicted that there may be around half a million infected. Now we officially have about 168,000 of them,” the minister said at a meeting with the opposition Social Democrats group on Monday.

Currently, residents are tested for antibodies to COVID-19 before being vaccinated. Research shows that around a fifth of people is already immune to COVID-19. The antibody test is performed before a person is vaccinated. The test shows whether immunity has developed after the infection. Currently, the total number of people vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine is over 46,000.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said that currently, the government does not intend to consider opening stores outside the food industry, as well as resuming the provision of services by beauty salons.

The Lithuanian Confederation of Workers today asked the government to revoke the current trade restrictions and allow non-food stores to work as well.  In the opinion of the president of the confederation, the current lockdown requirements distort competition, and their benefit in stopping the spread of the coronavirus is questionable.

Cosmetologists also made an appeal to resume the provision of services from February 1.

Source: ZW.lt