Saeima supports reducing restrictions for sports and culture activities

On Thursday, 28 May, Latvia’s Saeima approved the government’s approved decision retarding lifting certain restrictions imposed on education, hobby groups, sports and culture activities during the COVID-19 state of emergency, BNN was told by Saeima press-service.

From 1 June onward it will be allowed to organize state exams, including professional qualification exams, primary and secondary education exams. If it is not possible to organize exams in higher education institutions remotely, it will be allowed to organize face-to-face exams.

Children camps will be permitted from 1 June as well.

Vocational career growth, professional growth and adult non-formal education processes will be allowed as well.

As of 1 June it will be allowed for residents to gather indoors and outdoors for sports training exercises without complying with the 2 m distance requirement. It is required, however, for those people to be members of the Latvian Olympic or Paralympic team, as well as members of sports teams who perform sports duties as stated in their contracts. This will not apply to athletes of other types of sports.

Additionally from 1 June it will be permitted to organize amateur art collectives’ activities indoors and outdoors if social distancing and epidemiological security measures are complied with.

From 21 May citizens of the European Union, European Economic Zone and Switzerland, as well as persons with residence permits to live in those countries, are allowed to travel to and from Latvia from EU member states, Eurozone member states and Switzerland.

The order of the Cabinet of Ministers in relation to the state of emergency is in force from the moment of approval – 21 May.