Covid-19, Crisis, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Medicine

Altogether, 1,003 people were tested for Covid-19 during the last 24 hours. The total number of Covid-19 tests conducted so far reached 15,810.

The Health Ministry's chief infectious disease specialist Uga Dumpis said on Twitter that when anaylizing this latest figure, it is necessary to take into consideration the large Covid-19 outbreak discovered at a Riga homeless shelter. The expert said that many people have been examined as part of epidemiological investigations and all the positive cases and their contacts have been quarantined. 

The Center for Disease Prevention and Control also indicated that the statistics for the last 24 hours include the 27 cases discovered at the homeless shelter. 

The daily rate of increase in Covid-19 cases is 11 percent, according to LETA's estimate.

Of the 28 Covid-19 patients that are being treated in hospital, 25 are cases of moderate severity and three are severe cases.

On Tuesday, a widespread Covid-19 outbreak was reported at a Riga homeless shelter, operated by a religious organization. There are both clients and employees among the 27 people infected with the novel coronavirus at the homeless shelter.

Also, at least 26 medical employees have been diagnosed with Covid-19.

As reported, epidemiologists announced last Wednesday that they have not been able to trace several new Covid-19 cases back to travelers returning from abroad or residents who contracted the virus from these travelers, which means that community spread of Covid-19 has begun in Latvia.

It has also been reported that in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19, a state of emergency has been declared in Latvia from March 13 to April 14, imposing a number of restrictions in order to curb the infections