Lithuania: Authorities plan to ease certain COVID-19 restrictions from April 19 /update 26

Event

Authorities are planning to begin to ease COVID-19-related measures from April 19, though say that some restrictions will remain in place until at least June. As of April 16, the following restrictions remain in effect nationwide:

All persons must remain at home unless they are shopping for groceries, engaged in essential work, performing exercise in the company of household members, seeking medical attention, or attending to urgent tasks.
Catering establishments are only permitted to offer carryout services.
A limited number of nonessential businesses may operate, provided they implement strict hygiene and social distancing requirements.
Masks must be worn in all enclosed public spaces and where 2 meters of physical distancing cannot be maintained.

From April 19, remaining nonessential businesses will be permitted to open on weekdays and events involving a maximum of 150 people will be possible; a maximum of 30 seated guests will be permitted inside. From April 22, catering facilities will provide outdoor services 07:00-21:00. Gyms will reopen for limited services from April 26.

International Entry Restrictions

As of April 16, all international arrivals must produce a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 72 hours prior to boarding public transport. Individuals arriving via private transport may instead take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival. Transport crew, transit passengers, persons under the age of 16 years, and those who have evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or recovery are exempt. Regardless of the test result, all travelers must self-isolate for 10 days. The self-isolation period can be reduced if the traveler takes a COVID-19 test returning a negative result on or after the seventh day. These measures do not apply to cross-border workers and students, though such persons must be able to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within the previous seven days on request.

Individuals traveling from Andorra, Aruba, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Curacao, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Palestinian Territories, Poland, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, and Uruguay are not permitted to leave their places of self-isolation except to seek emergency medical attention or for other specifically defined urgent reasons; all nonemergency movements require prior permission from the National Public Health Centre (NVSC). Arrivals from all other countries are permitted to walk up to 1 km (0.6 miles) from their places of self-isolation for limited reasons, such as handling legal matters or attending a funeral.

Travelers who possess a medical certificate confirming they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or that they have had COVID-19 within the 90 days prior to entry are exempt from the requirement to self-isolate. All individuals arriving in Lithuania via public or private transport must register online with the NVSC at least 24 hours before arrival; this does not apply to persons transiting by air and remaining airside for the duration of their layovers.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.