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

The airBaltic flight BT-226 departed from Munich at 3:40 p.m. and landed in Riga at 5:55 p.m. last Saturday, February 29. In Perevoscikovs' words, the woman got the infection in Italy. She had traveled with her family from Verona, Italy, via Munich in Germany to Riga.

The first coronavirus case in Latvia was confirmed around two hours ago. Paramedics had visited the woman at her home to take the necessary samples for a Covid-19 test.

The woman has been taken to the Infectious Diseases Center where she will be isolated and treated. Her child, who has tested negative for the coronavirus, has also been placed in isolation at the hospital.

Health authorities have already obtained all the necessary information about the trip and the passengers of the flight. They have identified the people who sat close to the infected woman. There were 145 people on board the plane with the infected woman, and 24 of them have been identified as having been in contact with the her, including her family. Eight of these people are citizens of Latvia.

Those who have been in close contact with the woman will be quarantined and monitored.

Since she was not yet sick during the flight home, the infection risk is low, said Perevoscikovs, adding though, that people should monitor their health and seek medical assistance if symptoms appear.