The Lithuanian government has decided that people will no longer be required to present Covid certificates in order to access shops, in-person services, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
The so-called opportunity passes (galimybių pasas) will go out of use on Saturday, the cabinet decided.
According to the government, Covid certificates – issued to people immunised against Covid-19 – played an important role in controlling the spread of the pandemic, but no longer work against the new Omicron mutation.
“With the spread of the much more contagious Omicron variant, both the unvaccinated and vaccinated or recovered people are at risk of infection,” according to a document proposed by the Health Ministry. “As a result, the effectiveness of Covid certificates as a means of limiting Covid spread is significantly diminished.”
However, the ministry added, the certificates may be re-introduced in the future.
At the same time, the government set a requirement for retailers to manage customer flows, ensuring at least 15 square metres of floor space per person.
In addition, the government decided on Wednesday to lift the compulsory Covid-19 testing of workers in certain areas.
Deputy Health Minister Aurimas Pečkauskas said that the decision would significantly reduce the workload on testing sites.
Previously, workers in medical, social care, education, pharmacy, public transport, manufacturing, food service, and other sectors were required to get tested for Covid-19 regularly.
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