Covid-19 control measures

Safe and healthy living conditions

Measures applying to all people

Persons vaccinated and/or recovered from Covid-19*

Face mask

- A face mask must be used by everyone from the age of 7 in premises outside their household whenever there is more than one person in the room.
- A homemade mask should be made of at least three layers of suitable material (cotton, nylon, etc.) and have ties to secure it behind the ears or behind the head.
- The organiser of the event or the service provider must not allow people into the premises who do not fulfil the obligation of using a face mask or who wear it incorrectly (the face mask must cover the mouth and nose).
- Wearing a face mask is not obligatory for children under 7 years of age or for people who have difficulty wearing a mask due to medical reasons, for example, due to functional impairments.
- Face shields may only be used together with a mask.
- Face masks will no longer be required outdoors in places with high-traffic, but people are not in prolonged close contact with each other, such as at street vendors, outdoor catering venues, including outdoor terraces, during outdoor educational activities, and psychological support therapy groups, solicitation, services and children’s camps that are held outdoors.
- In places where close contact cannot be avoided, such as at events where people are close to each other for a long time, the use of masks could also be applied outdoors.
- Mouth and nose covering should still be used on public transport and indoors, where the risk of spreading Covid-19 infection remains high.
 

- Up to 20 people at work premises and meetings in one room may not use a mouth and nose covering and do not need to observe a distance of two meters.

- Face masks should be used in rooms and culture areas where vaccinated, Covid-19 recovered or tested individuals gather.

Work

- It is advisable that only employees whose duties cannot be performed remotely due to the nature of their work are allowed to work on site.
- If, due to the nature of the work, employees must work on site, the employer is obliged to:
 - Arrange measures for limiting the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace;
 - Appoint a responsible person for the implementation of these measures;
 - Provide employees with the necessary personal protective equipment;
 - Inform employees about the measures implemented in the workplace to control the spread of Covid-19.

- Up to 20 people at work premises and meetings in one room may not use a mouth and nose covering and do not need to observe a distance of two meters.

- There are currently no individual benefits for the target groups - that includes vaccinated persons, persons recovered from Covid-19 as well as tested persons - so general epidemiological conditions that apply to the whole population must be met.

Education

Kindergartens

- Once a week all employees of the kindergarten must take a Covid-19 test.
- Kindergarten staff uses properly worn face masks.
- Kindergartens operate subject to epidemiological health and safety requirements.
- In June, July, and August the activities of joint groups (temporary groups) are allowed:
 - For up to 24 children from one kindergarten or municipality; 
 - If the composition of the group does not change for at least a month.
 

- Fully vaccinated kindergarten staff do not need to take the Covid-19 test once a week.

Children’s camps

 - From 14 June, on-site camps for children may be organised for up to 20 participants, subject to epidemiological safety requirements.
- Both children and staff must get tested before the camp, not earlier than 48 hours before the planned start of the camp.
- If the camp lasts longer than a week, everyone should have a Covid-19 test at least once a week.

- Fully vaccinated camp workers and participants will not be required to take the Covid-19 test.

Adult education

- On-site education in several adult vocational education programs is allowed, in accordance with epidemiological requirements:
 - The total number of participants in the study group does not exceed 10 people;
- The participants of the studies are registered every day;
- Weekly testing of Covid-19 virus is organized;
- Participants use a mouth and nose covering;
- Each participant must be provided with at least 3 m² of space;
- A distance of 2 m between persons must be observed;
- Rooms must be ventilated regularly;
- The educational institution must ensure that the flows do not overlap.

- Persons who have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 may participate in adult vocational training programmes held on site with up to 20 persons in a group, without the need to wear masks, observe physical distancing, etc.; however, ventilation of the premises remains obligatory.
- Persons who cannot confirm their full vaccination or recovery cannot participate in classes with those who have been vaccinated or those who have recovered from Covid-19.

Sports

Sports training

- Sports training sessions in groups are allowed outdoors for up to 20 people without the use of changing rooms. 
- Outdoor sports training sessions and classes may start no earlier than at 6.00 and take place until 22.00.

- Training sessions of a permanent amateur sports group of up to 20 people may take place indoors.
- Indoor sports training may take place without additional conditions if persons taking part have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 (ensuring that these requirements are also met by the staff).

 

Competition

- Competitions and training included in the competition calendar of international sports federations may take place.
- Competitions for higher leagues may take place without spectators.
- Training of athletes for national, Olympic and Paralympic teams, Latvian youth and junior teams who are preparing to participate in the European or World Championships of the respective age is allowed.
- Sports competitions of all the Latvian higher leagues of team sports may take place, providing that they award a title of Latvian champion in the adult category.
- It is allowed to organise competitions not only for Latvian adult national team athletes, but also for national team athletes over the age of 10, strictly observing all epidemiological requirements and provisions. 
- From 15 June, outdoor sports competitions organized by sports federations or their legal members recognized in accordance with the procedures specified in the Sports Law are allowed. The organizers of the competition must follow the established epidemiological safety measures.

Trade

Shops

Both visitors and staff must wear face masks at shops.
- Signs with instructions regarding physical distancing and current safety measures must be displayed.
- The number of people in retail premises including indoor markets must be limited to provide an area of at least 25 m² per person.
- Points of sale and markets must be visited individually, except for persons accompanying their children under the age of 12 or those who require the help of an assistant/carer.
- The (documented) development of an internal control system for the implementation of epidemiological safety measures must be ensured at all shops.
- A responsible person must be designated to organize compliance with the requirements at the point of sale on an continuous and ongoing basis.
- Arranging and advertising special offers applicable for less than seven days that could motivate people to immediately visit and stay at the point of sale for longer periods are not permitted.
- An invitation for visitors to use the national contact tracing and alerting mobile app "Apturi Covid" must be placed in a clearly visible place (in addition to other information about precautionary measures).

Shopping centres

- Shopping centres operate according to the same epidemiological safety requirements as shops. 
- Electronic equipment for monitoring the flow of shoppers must be installed in shopping centres with a total area of more than 7000 m² .

Markets

- The number of people in indoor markets must be limited so as to provide an area of at least 25 m² per person.
- In outdoor areas of the market, a distance of at least 2 m between points of sale must be ensured.
- Merchants and visitors must wear face masks; customers without face masks shall be denied service.
- Face masks are not required in outdoor areas of markets
- Everyone observes general epidemiological safety requirements in accordance within the established health and safety protocols.

Street trade

- The maximum number of merchants selling goods in an administrative territory is determined by the municipality. 
- No entertainment events are organized (e.g. themed festivals, amusement park rides).
- The territory in which goods are offered for sale is zoned off.
- Everyone observes general epidemiological safety requirements.

Services

Catering

- Catering is allowed from 6.00 to 24.00 but only outdoors or take-away.
- No more than four adults, excluding minors, from no more than two households (i.e. adults and children) are present at the same table outdoors. And the total number of people at a single table may not exceed ten persons.
- If there are no partition between the tables, there must be a distance of at least 2 m between the people sitting at different tables.
- Staff and visitors must use mouth and nose coverings during their stay, except while seated at a table.
- Tables must be disinfected after every meal (after every visitor).
- Cutlery, sets of dishes, and napkins must be individually issued to every visitor.
- There must be a designated person who organises and manages the implementation of the established epidemiological safety measures.
- Clearly legible publicly available information, including in foreign languages, must be displayed in places visible to visitors on the maximum number of persons and with contact details of the designated person and the direct phone number 110 of the police service.
- Provision of catering services in enclosed spaces such as pavilions and tents are not permitted.

Beauty care

- Beauty and wellness services are not available to people who have not been vaccinated, have not recovered from Covid-19 or have not been tested.

- Subject to enhanced safety measures, individual beauty care and wellness services are allowed (including steam bath and sauna) services if the service provider has been vaccinated and/or has recovered from Covid-19.
- Subject to enhanced safety measures, hairdressing, manicure, pedicure and podiatric services may be received if the provider has been vaccinated and/or has recovered from Covid-19.
- In order to prevent hairdressers, manicure and pedicure professionals, and podiatrists from having to interrupt the provision of services, a transitional period is applied from 15 June 2021 and the vaccination must be completed by 1 September 2021.

Other commercial services

- Subject to enhanced safety measures, the provision of individual photographic services outdoors is permitted.
- It is allowed to provide individual economic services related to outdoor attractions, incl. water parks, entertainment and
amusement centres, trampoline parks. 

- Subject to enhanced safety measures, the provision of individual services is permitted.
- Subject to enhanced security measures, it is permitted to provide indoor sports equipment rental services and photo services per household.
- Vaccinated persons and/or persons recovered from Covid-19 are allowed to be at the premises/facilities of one and the same social service provider, providing and receiving social services, without wearing face masks and without observing a distance of 2 metres.

State and municipal services

-  It is recommended that such services to be provided and received remotely.

- Vaccinated persons and/or persons recovered from Covid-19 are allowed to be at the premises/facilities of one and the same social service provider, providing and receiving social services, without wearing face masks and without observing a distance of 2 metres.

Public transport

- The need for a trip on public transport must be carefully considered.
- A face mask must be worn by the driver and by all passengers, incl. children from 7 years of age.
- Regular disinfection and ventilation of vehicles must be ensured.
- Hygiene measures must be observed.
- All instructions of the carrier in public transport must be observed on public transport, incl.the indications not to occupy seats that have been marked.
- Public transport must not be used by passengers who have tested positive for Covid-19 and by persons who have been exposed to someone infected with Covid-19.
- The number of passengers in a public transport vehicle must not exceed 65% of its capacity.
- Outside the destinations of regional traffic routes, the number of passengers in a vehicle may not exceed 75% of its capacity.
- Public transport must not be used by persons who have tested positive for Covid-19.

Culture

Cultural sites

- Archives, libraries, museums and places with art and history exhibitions will gradually resume work as soon as the site is prepared for opening for work, subject to epidemiological safety requirements:
 - One-way visitor flow must be ensured at cultural sites;
 - 25 m² indoors, and 10 m² outdoors per visitor or members of one household;
 - Regular ventilation of the premises must be ensured;
 - Preparation of epidemiological safety rules and appointment of a person responsible for their observance.

- It is allowed to go to the cinema, theatre performances, concerts, and clubs, participate in guided museum group tours and amateur group rehearsals within one group, as well as receive other similar services without having to wear nose and mouth coverings or observe a 2-metre distance from others.

Operation of amateur art groups

- Rehearsals of permanent amateur art groups may take place outdoors in groups of up to 20 people, if the persons observe a distance of 2 meters, and, if it is not possible to observe the physical distancing rule, then they must wear face masks.

- Rehearsals of permanent amateur art groups may be held indoors, without observing a distance of 2 metres and without the use of face masks if participants have been vaccinated and/or have recovered from Covid-19.
- Amateur art groups can participate in events, regardless of distance and without wearing face masks, if the participants have been vaccinated and/or have recovered from Covid-19.
- When staying in common areas, a distance of 2 metres must be observed and face masks must be worn.

Gatherings, Events

Pickets, demonstrations, processions

- Outdoor marches and pickets may be organised for up to 10 people, but they are subject to epidemiological safety measures.

Private events

- Up to 10 people from two households can meet indoors, up to 20 people outdoors, without restrictions on the number of households. 
 - If it is necessary to provide personal care or if the person lives in the household alone, visits are allowed, but between not more than two households

- Unrestricted private indoor and outdoor events for up to 20 people from different households are allowed.
 

Public events

- Public events are not allowed.

- It is allowed to attend indoor and outdoor events without restrictions on the number of visitors, time and other restrictions.

Services, religious activities

- Places where religious activities and services take place may be open from not earlier than 6.00 and end work no later than 22.00.
- Visitors to the place of religious activity, as well as clergy and ministry staff, must wear a mouth and nose covering during the performance of their duties.
- At least 10 m² of the publicly available area of the premises are provided per visitor.
- Publicly available information is placed at the entrance, including in foreign languages, regarding the maximum number of people who may be located in the place of worship at the same time
- Choirs singing at a place of religious activity is prohibited.
- On-site Sunday school classes are prohibited.

Baptism

- Baptismal ceremonies are open to people from different households, with up to a maximum of 10 persons indoors and up to 20 outdoors.

Marriages

- A wedding ceremony can be held:
 - indoors, in the presence of no more than 10 persons from two households (excluding a civil servant or clergyman);
 - outdoors, in the presence of no more than 20 persons (excluding a civil servant or clergyman).
- All persons present must wear a mouth and nose covering during the wedding ceremony and maintain a distance of 2 metres.

- The number of persons that can attend a marriage ceremony is not limited, however, the number of present vaccinated persons or persons who have recovered from Covid-19 must be agreed on with the registry officer or clergy person in advance.
- During the wedding ceremony, these persons may not wear a mouth and nose covering and may not observe a distance of 2 metres both indoors and outdoors.

Funeral

- Funeral ceremonies are open to people from different households, with up to a maximum of 10 persons indoors and up to 20 outdoors.

Trips abroad

Entering Latvia

- Self-isolation must be observed when returning to Latvia.
- A test must be taken when returning to Latvia from high-risk and very high-risk countries.
- The Covid-19 test does not need to be taken when returning from the EU, the EEA, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and low-risk third countries.

 - The Covid-19 test is not required except when returning from high risk countries.
- Self-isolation is not required, except when returning from high-risk countries.

Transit through Latvia

- Persons transiting through Latvia will have to cross the country within 12 hours of submitting the arrival confirmation form on the covidpass.lv website.