Most people do comply with government recommendations, although they have impact on our freedoms and have changed our normal life patterns for some time. However, complete or partial loss of income, mandatory self-isolation, limited entertainment options, uncertainty about future creates fatigue among people. Pandemic reduces people’s motivation to abide by government instructions and increases tension. Disinformation and various conspiracy theories permeate the collective information space. This puts efficient containment of pandemic at risk because controlling the virus requires involvement of every member of the society and strict adherence to restrictions.
Discussion organised by the President of Latvia aims to focus on current priorities and possible solutions on how to ensure widespread public support to government restrictions and approach various social and opinion groups with experts of various fields, such as Minister for Health Ilze Viņķele, Head of the World Health Organisation Country Office Latvia Uldis Mitenbergs, Re:Baltica co-founder, journalist Inga Spriņģe, journalist Māris Zanders, Associate Professor of University of Latvia Medical Faculty Solvita Olsena, psychotherapist Andris Veselovskis, Chief Infectious Disease Expert of Ministry of Health Uga Dumpis, Director of NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence Jānis Sārts and Professor of University of Latvia, Head of National Research programme reCOVery-LV Inna Šteinbuka.
Discussion will be livestreamed on President’s YouTube channel presidentlv, webpage www.president.lv and Facebook (egilslevitslv) and Twitter (@Rigas_pils) accounts of Egils Levits.