RIGA, Nov 2 (LETA) - Although the current strict Covid-19 measures are working, one should be cautious about their relaxation, because the easing of the restrictions will have especially serious consequences in Latgale, the province showing the lowest vaccination rate in Latvia, Uga Dumpis, an infectious disease specialist at Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital and University of Latvia professor, said in an interview to Latvian Radio on Tuesday. 

"The rise in Covid-19 incidence has stopped and hopefully will start dropping this week. In a week or two, the trend might result in fewer patients in hospitals," Dumpis said, adding that the return of schoolkids of first three grades in classrooms is not expected to reverse the  positive trend because the children are being tested on a regular basis. 

In accordance with the original decision, Latvia will remain under strict lockdown by mid-November, and Dumpis warns against lifting the restrictions too quickly. "I am not saying that the restrictions must not be lifted at all, but it is necessary to look which restrictions could and which could not be lifted."

The infectious disease specialist's recommendations to the government include following experts' forecasts, explaining to the public "how many deaths we have decided to allow" and with what infection rate we might continue to live. It is also essential to watch the decline in Covid-19 infections and Covid-19 vaccine uptake in the senior population. 

In the interview, Dumpis turned special attention to Latvia's eastern province of Latgale where vaccine uptake remains critically low. "I am afraid even to think of what might happen in Latgale if the restrictions were lifted," the expert said, calling for greater support to Latgale's local hospitals.

"I think that Covid-19 incidence in Latgale is higher than in Riga per number of population. And let me remind you that vaccine uptake in Latgale's senior population is three times lower than in other regions," the infectious disease specialist said.