On December 29, the Lithuanian government approved draft legislation to introduce mandatory coronavirus vaccinations for health and social care workers. The package will now be tabled for parliamentary approval. Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys said that vaccinations would be mandatory not only for the staff of health and social care facilities, but also for workers providing services there, including cleaning and food services.
The vaccination requirement will not apply to workers who cannot take the shot for medical reasons or those who have recently recovered from Covid-19. Unvaccinated workers will not be allowed to do in-person work. If possible, they will have to work remotely or will be moved to other positions that do not require mandatory vaccination. If none of this is possible, these workers will be suspended without pay. Three months after their suspension, employers will have the right to terminate their employment without prior notice or severance pay.
As of December 29, Lithuania confirmed 1,948 new coronavirus infections and 17 deaths from Covid-19 over the previous 24 hours. Eleven of the fatalities were either not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated. The total number of Covid-19 patients in Lithuania’s hospitals currently stands at 1,072, including 109 ICU cases. The 14-day infection rate now stands at 720 per 100,000 people, and the seven-day percentage of positive tests has edged up to 11.9 percent. Overall, almost 515,900 people in Lithuania have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. The death toll has exceeded 7,300. LRT.lt
