Recommendations for travellers arriving/returning from abroad

The Ministry of Health has issued recommendations to travellers arriving/returning from abroad, taking into account the current developments of COVID-19 (coronavirus infection).

If you have arrived returned from abroad, you will be deemed to have been exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection. This does not mean that you are infected, but we cannot rule out this possibility. Each contagious disease is characterised by a certain incubation period, i.e. the period from the entrance of an infectious agent into the body until the development of symptoms of the disease. The current data show that the incubation period for COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection) can be up to 14 days. To prevent the possible spread of the infection, you are advised to follow the general requirements for the prevention of COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) and – depending on your country of origin – to stay at home (self-isolate) for 14 days from the date of arrival/return to the Republic of Lithuania (isolation will be mandatory, if you come from a country on the list of countries affected by COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) approved by Order No V-1463 of the Minister for Health of 15 June 2020 approving the list of countries affected by COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection), which is published on the website of the Ministry of Health: http://sam.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/koronavirusas)). Self-isolation is also required from foreigners who arrive from the European Economic Area, the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

A. FOR THOSE THAT ARE REQUIRED TO SELF-ISOLATE

If you arrive in the Republic of Lithuania from a country, including transiting through the affected country (in the case of transit via the airport of the affected country when not leaving the airport transit area - isolation will not be required) listed as a country affected by COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) in the list of affected countries approved by Order No V-1463 of the Minister for Health of 15 June 2020 approving the list of countries affected by COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection).

• If you travel to the Republic of Lithuania by regular, special and charter flights of all modes of transport organised and operated by carriers, you must register on the website of the National Public Health Centre under the Ministry of Health: https://keleiviams.nvsc.lt/lt/form and submit the confirmation of the completed electronic form (QR code) to the carrier (carrier’s representative) before boarding the vehicle, and in other cases - you are required to register with the National Public Health Centre (https://keleiviams.nvsc.lt/lt/form) within 12 hours of returning / arriving in the Republic of Lithuania.

• According to Decision No V-1680 of the Minister for Health, State Commander of National Emergency Operations, of 17 July 2020 concerning isolation and COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) testing requirements for foreigners, foreigners arriving from outside the European Economic Area, the Swiss Confederation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, even if the country is not listed as affected, must register with the National Public Health Centre and self-isolate and in the case of arrivals from a country listed as affected or having transited through a country listed as affected, except when travelling through an affected country when not leaving the airport transit area, foreigners must have a confirmation of a negative test of COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) taken at maximum 72 hours before the arrival in the Republic of Lithuania, except where it is provided otherwise.

• It is recommended to travel from the airport, seaport or other land entry point to your place of residence by your own (rented) transport or to ask to be picked up by your relatives. Avoid using public transport. If you have to use public transport anyway or are transported by another person, we recommend that you wear protective equipment (face masks, respirators or other equipment) covering your nose and mouth and try to keep 1-2 meters away from other people.

• You are required to self-isolate for 14 days from the date of arrival / return to the Republic of Lithuania. Isolation requirements and exemptions for arrivals from affected countries approved by Order No V-352 of the Minister for Health of the Republic of Lithuania of 12 March 2020 on the approval of the rules for isolation at home, another place of residence or premises provided by the municipal administration applicable to individuals with confirmed COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection), individuals with suspected COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection) and individuals who have been in contact with a case of COVID-19 (see: https://bit.ly/2FX4PbU). In the case of a negative COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) test taken not earlier than on the 8th day of the isolation, the isolation period will be reduced to 10 days counting from the last day of arrival / return to the Republic of Lithuania.

14 days after arrival / return to the Republic of Lithuania:

• Observe your health daily. If you happen to develop the symptoms of the disease (fever, cough, troubled breathing, sudden loss of smell or taste, or weakness), immediately call the Coronavirus Hotline at 1808 to report the circumstances of the infection (stating that you have been abroad during the period of 14 days), and follow the medical recommendations.

• Stay for 14 days after the trip in a separate apartment/house, on another well-insulated floor of a separate apartment/house with a separate bathroom. If it is not possible to ensure these conditions, isolation may take place in a separate, well-ventilated room (i.e. with opening windows and tightly closing doors).

• You can stay in the same house/apartment with the other family members or other people, who have not travelled, if they agree to stay together. In this case, those that travelled have to stay in separate, well-ventilated rooms, restrict their own movement at home and minimise sharing of common spaces.

• Do not leave your isolation place without permission from a healthcare professional. You cannot use public transport to go to and from your isolation place for tests referred to by a health care professional.

• If you have made an appointment with a specialist doctor or a dentist, have it postponed to a later date. If you need to extend your prescription, contact your family doctor remotely.

• Do not welcome guests for the duration of your isolation.

• If possible, ask family or friends to collect food and other necessities for you. If this is not possible, you are recommended to order food at home.

• Follow other general instructions for the prevention of COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) (wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, rinse and dry thoroughly, use alcohol-based hand sanitiser (disinfectant) if soap and water are not available, do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, follow sneezing and coughing etiquette (coughing or sneezing into a disposable tissue or on the inside of a bent elbow, etc.).

Recommendations for the living environment

• Dispose of the household waste in a rubbish bin with a liquid-tight bag
• Wash clothes with regular detergents at 60-90°C.

• Wash dishes with hot water and regular detergents or use a dishwasher.

• Air the premises at least 2-3 times a day (open the windows wide for 10 minutes or do drafts indoors for a few minutes. People should be out of the room when airing premises in this way).

• Clean high-touch surfaces daily in the room and common areas, such as door handles, electrical switches, remote controls, refrigerator handles, bedside tables, etc. Use regular soap or surface cleaners.

• Clean and disinfect bathroom and toilet surfaces at least once a day.

B. FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SELF-ISOLATE

If you have arrived from a country included in the list of countries affected by COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection) approved by Order No V-1463 of the Minister for Health of 15 June 2020 approving the list of countries affected by COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection), you are advised to follow the general instructions for the prevention of COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection):

• maintain safe distance (of at least 2 meters) from others;

• wear protective equipment covering your nose and mouth, particularly in places where it is not possible to maintain safe distance (more than 2 meters) apart and in places where you meet people with whom you normally have no contact;

• wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, rinse and dry thoroughly, use alcohol-based hand sanitiser (disinfectant) if soap and water are not available;

• do not touch your face and eyes with unwashed hands;

• follow sneezing and coughing etiquette (coughing or sneezing into a disposable tissue or on the inside of a bent elbow, etc.);

• Observe your health daily. If you develop the symptoms of the disease (fever, cough, troubled breathing or weakness), immediately call the Coronavirus Hotline at 1808 to report the circumstances of the infection (stating that you have been abroad during the period of 14 days), and follow in the medical recommendations.

No isolation will be required in the case of persons that have arrived from affected countries, who are subject to exceptions under Order No V-352 of the Minister for Health of the Republic of Lithuania of 12 March 2020 on the approval of the rules for isolation at home, another place of residence or premises provided by the municipal administration applicable to individuals with confirmed COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection), individuals with suspected COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection) and individuals who have been in contact with a case of COVID-19 (see: https://bit.ly/2FX4PbU).

FOR ALL TRAVELLERS AFTER 14-DAY PERIOD OF ARRIVAL/RETURN TO THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

If you have not developed any symptoms during the 14-day period of arrival / return to the Republic of Lithuania, it will be considered that you do not have COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) and that you can continue your normal routine following other general instructions for the prevention of COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) (washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water, rinsing and drying thoroughly, using alcohol-based hand sanitiser (disinfectant) if soap and water are not available, not touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, following sneezing and coughing etiquette (coughing or sneezing into a disposable tissue or on the inside of a bent elbow, etc.).

WARNING!

Your failure to comply with EU public health regulations or decisions, hygiene standards or other public health legislation, and with the requirements laid down in the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Humans, and your actions that have posed risk of spreading or infecting others with serious or particularly serious communicable diseases (including COVID-19 (coronavirus infection)) may lead to administrative or criminal liability:

- administrative liability - according to Article 45 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Lithuania, a violation of the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Humans incurs a warning or a fine from sixty to one thousand five hundred euros;

- criminal liability according to Article 277 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania, depending on the consequences. Furthermore, depending on the consequences, criminal liability may be faced for crimes provided for in Chapter XVIII ‘Crimes against human health’ of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania.

Should you have any questions related to the prevention of COVID-19 (coronavirus infection)

or uncertainties related to isolation upon arrival / return to the Republic of Lithuania,

please contact the National Public Health Centre at: +370 5 264 9676

(Mon - Thurs 8.00-17.00, Fri 8.00-15.45, Sat - Sun 8.00-17.00).

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