COVID-19 Update
People diagnosed with Covid-19 were often not registered by their GP as having recovered from the virus, despite spending the required number of days at home and feeling well, reports LRT.lt. For this reason, Lithuania’s statistics office began separating data into “declared” and “statistical” active cases. A declared patient is a person who has been diagnosed with the disease, but whose recovery has not been confirmed by his/her general practitioner, according to Statistics Lithuania. A statistical patient is one who has been diagnosed with the disease in the last 28 days.
The change has resulted in a drop from 40,269 active cases on February 10 to 11,960 “statistically” ill people on February 11. The “statistical” incidence rate may more accurately reflect the real situation. The number of people “declared” ill with the coronavirus, meaning their case hasn’t been closed by their GP, stood at 62,586 on Thursday, February 11. That morning, Lithuania recorded 487 new cases of Covid-19. Another 19 people have died, bringing the country’s coronavirus-related death toll to 3,013.
Foreign Minister Visits Poland
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis made his first visit to Poland on February 8.
In 2021, Lithuania and Poland mark the 230th anniversary of the the Constitution of 3 May and Mutual Pledge of the Commonwealth of the Two Nations, as well as the 30th anniversaries of the recognition of the Republic of Lithuania’s restored independence and the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Landsbergis met with Elzbieta Witek, Marshal of the Polish parliament (Sejm) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau. He thanked Rau for Poland’s contribution to strengthening regional security and noted that further defence and security cooperation remains a priority. The meetings also focused on democratic processes in neighbouring countries, efforts to mobilize the EU and support from transatlantic partners.
IMF Opinion
According to Borja Gracia, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission working in Lithuania until early February, Lithuania faced the coronavirus pandemic in better condition, compared to the 2008-2009 crisis, but it is now important to support businesses for the country’s economy to recover. In an interview with BNS, Gracia said that Lithuania’s GDP for 2020 was one of the best in Europe, adding that if vaccination and the development of the European economy continue smoothly, then Lithuania will experience a major recovery in 2022.
Vaccination is key as it will help reduce uncertainty and prevent future lockdowns, and people will be able to plan ahead. Investment will be able to come back, the loans by the banking system will start financing those investments. It is also helpful that there is a broad consensus in Lithuania as to top priorities. Having met with the government, the opposition, unions, companies, and banks, Gracia notes that all agree that the most important issues are education and healthcare. He thinks that there is room for improving the efficiency of the tax system in Lithuania.
