LT COVID Update

Karantinas Vilniuje / J. Stacevičiaus/LRT nuotr.
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The coronavirus pandemic in Lithuania has been gaining momentum since March, according to the latest Lithuanian government review. Case numbers have not declined at all for almost a month, and the daily number of cases may reach 2,000 by the end of April if the current situation persists. Lithuania should receive around 375,000 vaccines over the next three weeks. Vaccination of over-65’s will be stepped up, as there are still 295,000 people in this age group who have not received a Covid-19 vaccination. The daily number of deaths linked to Covid-19 continues to decrease.

Lithuania has lifted domestic travel restrictions on April 7. However, other quarantine restrictions remain in place. The main quarantine limitation remains on contacts between households. Up to five people from two different households can meet outdoors, while contacts between different households indoors are prohibited. Exceptions apply to people living alone who may form social contact bubbles with another household, as well as in urgent cases, for example to provide medical assistance or care. Up to two people may travel together on intercity and domestic public transport, or in groups of one household. People are only allowed to leave their home to go for a walk, for work, grocery shopping, as well as other urgent needs.

According to the Health Ministry, facemasks outdoors are not mandatory when exercising or as long as there are no other people within a 2-metre distance. Facemasks remain compulsory inside shops and indoor public spaces. Restrictions on business remain in force, but are due to be reviewed by the government in the coming days.

New Eurostat numbers show that Lithuania is one of the EU member states registering the largest drop in life expectancy in 2020, due to Covid. The largest decreases were recorded in Spain (-1.6 years compared to 2019) and Bulgaria (-1.5 years), followed by Lithuania, Poland and Romania (-1.4 years each). Life expectancy in Lithuania fell to 75.1 years in 2020, from 76.5 years in 2019. The figure remained unchanged in Latvia and declined by 0.4 years in Estonia.

Average life expectancy in the EU was 81.3 years in 2019. Eurostat defines life expectancy at birth as the average number of years that a newborn child would live if subjected to current mortality conditions throughout the rest of their life.