Crisis, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Medicine, Retail

At today's meeting, the Crisis Management Council, chaired by Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity), heard reports of Health Minister Ilze Vinkele and other authorities, as well as took several decisions aimed at preventing the coronavirus from spreading to Latvia, LETA was told at the State Fire and Rescue Service.

Taking into consideration other countries' experience, the Ministries of Economics, Agriculture and Health have been tasked with following the situation and ensuring the availability of essential goods and services.

Entrepreneurs were urged not to take advantage of the situation and not to raise prices on essential goods and services.

Supervisory authorities, meanwhile, were ordered to organize a price monitoring and sanction the businesses that raise prices on essential goods and services with a good reason.

As reported, in order to purchase protective materials and products necessary for the prevention of Covid-19, the Health Ministry will ask for a EUR 1.74 mln allocation from the government's contingency funds, according to a draft resolution the Cabinet of Ministers is due to review on Tuesday.