Lithuania: Authorities maintaining COVID-19 restrictions as of March 1 /update 22

Lithuania maintaining COVID-19 restrictions as of March 1; significant business and travel disruptions remain.

Event

Lithuania is maintaining restrictions introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19 as of March 1. The ban on travel between municipalities is extended until at least March 15, though residents of Alytus, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Panevezys, Siauliai, and Vilnius are permitted to travel within their surrounding "ring municipalities." The following domestic restrictions are in place until March 31:

All persons must remain at home unless they are shopping for groceries, engaged in essential work, performing exercise in the company household members, seeking medical attention, or attending to urgent tasks.
Meetings between households remain prohibited unless two households meet the conditions for a support bubble.
A limited number of nonessential businesses in premises with no more than 300 square meters (3229 square feet) of floor space may operate.
Masks must be worn in all enclosed public spaces and where 2 meters of physical distancing cannot be maintained.

International Entry Restrictions
As of March 1, all travelers entering Lithuania must complete a passenger questionnaire and present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours prior to arrival, or take a test within 24 hours after arrival. 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 of self-isolation.

Individuals traveling from Albania, Andorra, Bahrain, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lebanon, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Turks and Caicos Islands, UK, and the US are not permitted to leave their place of self-isolation except to seek emergency medical attention or for other specifically defined urgent reasons; all non-emergency 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 place 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.