Security and virus 2
Continuing with the ongoing topic, let's look at the causes.
No, not where the virus came from, how it spread, and who is to blame. These conspiracy theories are supported by others. This time about our own land and its security.
As is known, the virus was already known at the very end of 2019. Later, the virus began to be talked about in Iran and Italy. After all, at that point we had to sound the alarm, but ... We weren't concerned and nothing was done.
And then ... February. Iran citizen is using AirBaltic to fly from Italy to Riga to travel to Estonia. Iran citizen on the plane is close with our compatriots who had a real chance of getting infected. Then, with this Iranian, there are many people on the bus who also have every chance of getting infected. Of course, judging by everything - lucky. But ... What does it show? This shows that our government and other responsible bodies are absolutely unprepared for crisis situations.
March 12, 2020 Finally, the Crisis Commission is convened and a state of emergency is declared. At the same time, more and more people are coming from affected countries. Riga airport is used by both Lithuanians and Estonians. The only security measures at the airport are some stands with hand sanitizer. And all. The test on COVID-19 is only for entry, for others it is huge money. In this way, the government once again demonstrates its absolute incomprehension and the fact that neither the government nor its services are prepared for crisis situations. Instead, everyone is told that the tests and health tests at the airport make no sense because the incubation period is 14 days. One silly question right away - does the Ministry of Health really think that it is only transport that can be infected, and that those who arrive cannot be infected the day before, weekly, etc.?
March 15, 2020 Lithuania and Estonia declare emergency measures and close their borders. March 16, 2020 - Latvia makes changes to the state of emergency by imposing additional restrictions and finally at least verbally acknowledging that the crisis is real. The Ministry of Transport of Latvia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are launching repatriation flights by air and sea. Finally at the airport and so on, health checkpoints appear. Although on March 16, when the largest number of people return at the same time, no additional security measures (information from the arrivals themselves) have been made at the airport.
National security in a crisis situation is limited to asking for 'self-isolation'. At the same time, "self-isolation" and adherence to quarantine rules only start to be effectively monitored after 16 March. At the same time, these requests are completely ignored by the modern generation in their low education, and as a result we see the first cases of self-infection (self-infection - contacting a person who has introduced the virus from outside). We read about a number of cases where people openly disregard the requirements of self-isolation. The police can only effectively monitor cases reported by peers.
All this shows that national security is only on paper. The country has no concept or plan to deal with any crisis. This is also indicated by the scarcity of funds and materials in both the services and the state material reserves, although the annual budgets provide for amounts of money of material reserves in the sectoral budgets.
Whether security has been achieved for the moment. Both yes and no. Yes, because what was supposed to be done in early February is finally done. No, it is clear from listening to ministerial press conferences and announcements that they lack both confidence and a definitive understanding of what is happening, and decisions are usually made by a day to a week.
It is to be hoped that, while there is great doubt, going through this crisis, the government will be able to understand its mistakes and start thinking about national security realistically, looking to the future rather than catching the hot in the present.
And more ... Thank you very much to those conscientious people who honestly and conscientiously follow the rules of self-isolation and quarantine.
Thanks to everyone who read. Thank you for your comments and discussions, which are quite fruitful. Well, thank you very much to the supporters. It is you who help create new articles.