RIGA, Jan 19 (LETA) - Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) has ordered a plan for curbing the spread of Covid-19 in Latvia's nursing homes to be prepared until the end of this week. 

LETA was told at the premier's office that Karins issued a resolution on Tuesday giving the Ministries of Welfare, Health and and Regional Development until the end of this week to submit a coordinated action plan aimed at stopping the virus from spreading in long-term care and rehabilitation facilities.

"Clients of social care and rehabilitation facilities are among the most vulnerable social groups whose health and lives are in the hands of the employees of these facilities and responsible authorities. I have tasked the responsible ministries with urgently preparing and submitting to the government an action plan for much tougher Covid-19 measures in said facilities," the prime minister said. 

Karins also indicated that the Welfare Ministry has to take the initiative in coordinating and thoroughly planning epidemiological safety measures in all long-term care and rehabilitation facilities.

The Cabinet of Ministers is expected to review the plan at the nearest meeting. 

As reported, in January this year, Covid-19 cases were reported in 80 social care homes across Latvia, said Ilona Liskova, a representative of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) in a video conference of the Latvian Association of Local Governments.

She said that on January 4-17, Covid-19 cases were registered in 80 social care homes - in total 1,433 cases.

Covid-19 cases related with social care homes account for 10-11 percent of all cases registered daily.

Meanwhile, Welfare Ministry's social services department director Aldis Dudins, citing CDC data, said that the situation in social care centers has improved compared to the end of last year.