Lithuania recorded 1,815 new Covid-19 cases last week, up from 473 a month earlier, according to the National Public Health Centre (NVSC). Officials said the increase was expected but urged the public to take extra precautions to prevent a wider outbreak.
Greta Gargasienė, an NVSC representative, said the trend is similar to last year, with cases beginning to rise in late August and likely peaking in the second half of September.
Doctors noted that cases have increased steadily since September 1. Symptoms of the new omicron subvariant are typical of respiratory illnesses, including fever, runny nose and sore throat. Unlike earlier strains, the loss of smell is less common.
Health experts urged residents to isolate at the first sign of illness. “If you feel symptoms, the first recommendation is to take a rapid combined antigen test, which can detect flu or Covid-19,” Gargasienė said. “If the result is positive or symptoms worsen, contact your family doctor.”
Officials also stressed reducing social contacts, wearing medical masks at home if isolation is not possible, and continuing basic preventive measures such as handwashing and ventilation. Isolation, they added, should last as long as symptoms persist.
Although the current variant appears milder than earlier waves, the virus remains dangerous for vulnerable groups. Last week, a patient over 90 died from Covid-19 complications.
Vaccination remains the most effective protection, Gargasienė said. Lithuania received updated vaccines in August, but not all medical institutions have them in stock yet. Some, such as Vilnius District Polyclinic, expect to receive shipments in the coming days.
Despite the availability of vaccines, uptake remains low. Only 40 people nationwide have been vaccinated in the past month. Doctors warned that now is the time to get the shot, while immunity can still build before infections peak.
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