Lithuania raises self-isolation threshold for travelers

Lithuania is of next week raising the threshold at which countries are considered affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to 25 cases per 100,000 people over the past 14 days, from 16 cases currently, Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga said on Friday.

"We'll be applying the rate as of Monday, meaning that the updated list to be released today will look (...) at countries with 14-day rates above 25 per 100,000 inhabitants," he told a news conference.

Estonia has also taken the decision, and talks with Latvia are still ongoing, according to Veryga.

Currently, Lithuania requires travelers to self-isolate for two weeks if they come from countries with 14-day infection rates above 16 cases per 100,000 people.

The requirement for arriving people to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test or to get tested upon arrival remains in place, according to Veryga.

The European Commission has suggested applying the threshold for mandatory self-isolation across the EU.