This week Latvia’s government plans to use the electronic procurement system to announce a procurement of 400 000 protective masks for poor residents, as confirmed by Economy Ministry’s Domestic Market Department director Inga Apsīte at a webinar organized by the Consumer Rights Protection Centre on 1 June.
«After the end of the procurement the protective masks will be delivered to the least protected groups of residents in Latvia. The process will be coordinated by Welfare Ministry,» said Apsīte.
She added that multiple Latvian producers soon plan to commence production of medicinal masks.
As previously reported, considering the decision made by the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the recommendation to use mouth and nose concealing masks, the government decided on 14 May to perform a centralized procurement of 400 000 hygienic face masks in order to provide the least protected people with protection.
Latvia has developed a single technical specification for hygienic face masks. It is also expected the state will provide the least protected groups of residents with protective face gear.
The technical specifications for face masks were developed by Riga Technical University’s Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry Design Technologies Institute’s associated professor and leading researcher Inga Dāboliņa based on research literature on usefulness of different textile materials in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
It is planned that the National Defense Military Facilities and Procurement Centre together with National Armed Forces will perform a centralized procurement and will provide storage of the procured goods. Distribution of protective gear among social rehabilitation institutions will be provided by Welfare Ministry. Nevertheless, municipal administration should take responsibility for distribution of masks among other groups with help from social service providers.
The state of emergency in Latvia over COVID-19 will last until 9 June. This includes a number of restrictions that affect the economy. All of these restrictions are intended to protect residents from the pandemic and limit the spread of the infection.
