RIGA, Jan 4 (LETA) - At present, five hotels in Riga are available for self-isolation if necessary, LETA learned from the Latvian Investments and Development Agency (LIAA).

Wellton Riverside SPA Hotel and Rija VEF Hotel offer 90 rooms, Rixwell Elefant Hotel offers 71 rooms, Rixwell Konventa Seta offers 56 rooms, and Rixwell Terrace Design offers 18 rooms.

Thus, in total, 325 hotel rooms are available in the self-isolation program with government support, administered by LIAA.

On Monday, 11 rooms were filled, including by five Latvian nationals who arrived on a repatriation flight from the UK on December 28.

LIAA communication department reported that it was not mandatory for persons who returned with a repatriation flight from the UK at the end of last year to self-isolate in the hotels, they could undergo self-isolation in a different place. 

According to LIAA, negotiations with 14 other hotels on provision of the self-isolation service are still ongoing, including 12 in Riga, one in Rezekne and one in Saulkrasti.

As reported, Covid-19 contact persons, Covid-19 patients with light symptoms and Covid-19 patients after treatment in hospital but who still has symptoms, as well as persons returning to Latvia with repatriation flights may receive self-isolation services in the designated hotels.

LIAA said that more than 30 hotels have applied for the program, half of them in Riga, while the other half in other Latvian regions. LIAA will sign agreements with the hotels once they are cleared by the Health Inspectorate.

As reported, for people who have been in contact with a Covid-19 positive person, Covid-19 patients with light symptoms, and Covid-19 patients who have been discharged from hospital but still have Covid-19 symptoms, the state will cover 80 percent of the accommodation cost, but not more than EUR 35 per day, while the person will have to cover the remaining 20 percent of the cost.

According to the government's decision, support will be provided until March 2021, and up to EUR 2,173,500 will be allotted from the budget to provide the support.