Latvia closes non-essential shops for about a month, curfew at night
(Berlin = Yonhap News) Correspondent Yul Lee = As vaccination against the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has been delayed, Latvia, the world’s fastest-spreading country, has decided to return to lockdown measures.
The Czech Republic made it compulsory to wear a mask at work, and Poland is also considering strengthening quarantine measures, such as closing elementary schools again.
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Latvia, one of the three Baltic countries, has entered into a lockdown on the 21st (local time) by closing movie theaters, theaters and beauty salons excluding essential shops for a month, AFP news agency reported.
The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Latvia in the last two weeks per 100,000 people reached 1,406. This is the fastest rate of spread per capita in the world according to the AFP report.
Lithuania and Estonia, other Baltic countries, are also rapidly spreading with 1,221 and 1,126 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population in the past two weeks, respectively.
Latvia’s COVID-19 vaccination completion rate is only 50%. It is the second lowest in the European Union (EU) after Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia.
Latvian Prime Minister Krisyanis Karins told reporters, “I’m sorry to those who have already been vaccinated, but the quarantine regulations will apply to everyone.
Latvia’s lockdown measures are until the 15th of next month, during which a curfew will be implemented from 5pm to 5am the next day. The restaurant is only available for takeout.
Most of them have to work from home, and schools are moving online.
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Earlier, the Czech government introduced strengthened quarantine measures, such as compulsory wearing of masks at work, as the number of new COVID-19 cases soared to the highest in six months.
Czech Prime Minister Andrei Bavish said, “If no action is taken, our health system will collapse on the 7th or 11th of next month.
From next week, wearing a mask at work will be compulsory. From the 1st of next month, to enter indoor multi-use facilities such as restaurants, bars and nightclubs, you must present a certificate of vaccination or a certificate of complete recovery or negative diagnosis.
The number of new COVID-19 cases in the Czech Republic in the past week soared from 29.59 per 100,000 people on the 6th of this month to 85.64 in two weeks.
Poland, where the number of new confirmed cases in one day exceeded 10,000, is also preparing to strengthen quarantine measures. The strengthening measures are expected to include closing elementary schools and switching to online classes.
yulsid@yna.co.kr
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2021/10/22 17:01 Send
