Lithuania’s government will consider shortening the period of mandatory isolation for those returning from coronavirus-affected countries, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said on Wednesday.
People must now self-isolate for two weeks when returning from countries on the Health Ministry's list of coronavirus-affected states. According to the prime minister, a test for Covid-19 will still be required.
Recently, the Latvian Health Ministry said it may order a 14-day mandatory isolation for Lithuanian travelers if the country’s coronavirus infection rate exceeds 16 cases per 100,000 people.
Latvia has also established a procedure to cut the self-isolation period to one week. Now, if a person in Latvia shows no symptoms, he or she will be allowed to break self-isolation with a doctor’s permission after a week, according to the Baltic News Network.
Read more: Lithuanian travelers could face self-quarantine in Latvia
Skvernelis said that Lithuania would not ask for an exception in the so-called "Baltic travel bubble" that allows free movement of citizens and residents between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
"I don't think we should be talking about exceptions," the prime minister said. "If someone falls out [of the Baltic bubble], then they are out."
"Exceptions will only be possible if the criteria are changed in all Baltic states. Perhaps that figure could be other than 16 and 25 per 100,000 inhabitants," he added.
Skvernelis admitted that "Lithuanian tourism would be hit hard" if Latvia and Estonia ordered Lithuanians to self-isolate upon arrival.
Lithuania is not considering imposing a similar requirement on Latvians and Estonians, as the epidemiological situation in the other two Baltic countries is better, he said.
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