Lithuania: Authorities temporarily tighten certain COVID-19 restrictions March 27-April 6 due to concerns over Easter holiday spike in disease activity /update 25

Event

Authorities in Lithuania have issued orders to extend the nation's COVID-19-related restrictions until at least April 30; the measures were originally slated to expire March 31. At the same, the government issued a directive temporarily tightening domestic travel controls in order to minimize the potential for a spike in disease activity during the Easter holiday season. From March 27 through April 6, nonessential travel between municipalities will be suspended; international travel, as well as travel for work, healthcare purposes, or to attend funerals, will still be permitted.

Under the new extension, the following existing restrictions will remain in effect nationwide until at least April 30:

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.

Outside of the special Easter holiday travel directives, travel into and out of municipalities having 14-day COVID-19 incidence rates exceeding 200 per 100,000 inhabitants is restricted. As of March 26, these locations include Vilnius district, Birzai district, Klaipeda city, Kupiskis district, Marijampole, Neringa, Panevezys city and district, Salcininkai district, Sirvintos district, Svencioniu district, Trake district, Utena district, Varena district, and Visaginas. Exceptions are in place for essential travel, such as travel for employment or urgent health reasons.

International Entry Restrictions
All international travelers must produce a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 72 hours prior to boarding public transport; rapid antigen tests will not be accepted. 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 Bahrain, Brazil, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Poland, and the US 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.