Law on the Management of the Spread of COVID-19 Infection (2020) Country/Territory Latvia Document type Legislation Date 2020 (2020) Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Latvijas Vēstnesis, 110A, 09.06.2020. Subject Environment gen., Food & nutrition, Land & soil, General Keyword Hazards Risk assessment/management Governance Public health Human rights Local government Environmental planning Public participation Procedural matters EIA Policy/planning Poverty Social protection Land-use planning Geographical area Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, Northern Europe Entry into force notes This Law shall be in force for as long as there are threats to the epidemiological safety in relation to the spread of COVID-19 infection. At least once every three months, the Cabinet shall submit to the Saeima a report on the threats to the epidemiological safety in relation to the spread of COVID-19 infection. The Saeima shall recognise this Law as repealed by a separate law. Abstract This Law provides for the management of spread of COVID-19 infection. Its purpose is to restore the general legal order after the end of the time limit for emergency situation by providing a set of appropriate measures for ensuring such scope of rights and obligations of private individuals which would be commensurate with public health and safety interests and effective operation of the State and local government authorities in relation to the spread of COVID-19 infection in the State. The Law lays down basic principles for the operation of public authorities and the rights and obligations of public authorities and private individuals for the prevention and management of the threat to the State after revocation of the emergency situation created by the spread of COVID-19 infection. In accordance with this Law, restrictions on the rights of private individuals may be imposed only when the risks to public safety that are related to the spread of COVID-19 infection cannot be effectively eliminated by applying the legal means specified under the general legal procedures. If the objective necessity to maintain the measures restricting persons has ceased to exist, such restrictions on rights must be revoked. The Law also provides that, if the term of validity of the status of a low-income or needy person or status of a needy person according to provisions for the receipt of aid specified by the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (average income per family member does not exceed EUR 242 per month) determined to a family (person) expires or it needs to be extended within three months after revocation of the emergency situation, a local government social service office has the right to determine such status based on the previously submitted documents. During this period, the family (person) shall retain all the benefits and reliefs granted by a local government and the State to which such family (person) has the right as a low-income or needy family (person). The Law also provides that the public consultation specified in the environmental laws and regulations, except for the consultation on the environmental review of the local government spatial development planning document, shall be organised remotely. The local government shall organise the public consultation on the spatial development planning documents and environmental review of the planning document in person in accordance with the regulations regarding the development of spatial planning documents and strategic environmental impact assessment and with the procedures specified for gathering. Full text English/Latvian Website likumi.lv