LT News September 10

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LT Coronavirus Update

Lithuania registered 705 new coronavirus infections and six deaths from COVID-19 on September 7. Three of the fatalities were in their 80s, and the remainder were aged between 40 and 69 years. Two of the deceased, both in their 80s, had been fully vaccinated.  Lithuania’s 14-day coronavirus infection rate has risen to 320.9 cases per 100,000 people, according to the latest statistics. Some 7,129 molecular (PCR) tests for COVID-19 and 8,022 antigen tests were performed on that day.

Overall, 303,692 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Lithuania since the start of the pandemic, including 7,806 active cases. A total of 4,623 people have died from COVID-19 in Lithuania so far, including 45 fully-vaccinated persons. The overall number of deaths directly or indirectly related to the coronavirus has reached 9,334.

The Lithuanian Health Ministry has approved a booster COVD-19 vaccine shot to be administered to certain segments of the population. As of Sept. 7, it is possible to register for a third booster shot both via Koronastop.lt and by calling 1808, said Health Minister Arunas Dulkys. Healthcare workers and nursing and care home staff, and people aged 65 and over will be eligible for a booster dose of either Pfizer or Moderna COVD-19 vaccines six months after their last shot. The government is launching the revaccination program in light of research that has shown that the level of coronavirus antibodies in the body decreases significantly six months after vaccination. Dulkys said that eventually a booster shot could be offered to any previously vaccinated person. 

Taiwan Loves LT Online Shops

Taiwanese consumers have increased their spending in Lithuania’s online stores as ties strengthen between Lithuania and Taiwan, which Beijing considers an inalienable part of China. According to the data from Taiwanese institutions, residents of the island’s seven large cities made approximately 112,000 credit card payments, worth more than 2.5 billion new Taiwan dollars (approx. EUR 76 million), in Lithuanian stores between February and the end of June.

“Lithuania has become one of the top 10 destinations for online credit card spending by Taiwanese consumers,” Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan’s economic and cultural representative to the United States, said in a Twitter post sharing a picture of a bottle of Lithuanian beer she bought. The biggest spenders were the residents of Taipei who left approximately 1 billion new Taiwan dollars in Lithuania, according to local news portal United Daily News (UDN).

Diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Taiwan have grown substantially stronger this year. In particular, Taiwan announced in July that it would set up a representative office under the name of “Taiwan” in Lithuania separately from China. China tries to keep Taipei isolated on the world stage and avoids any official use of the word “Taiwan” so as not to give international legitimacy to the self-ruled island of 23 million people.

Info from BNS News