RIGA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Latvia said on Saturday that at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine has been given to more than one million people of its around-1.9 million population, as the country has so far been lagging behind most other European countries by the rate of vaccination.
At least the first vaccine dose has been administered to 1,006,454 people, or 53.47 percent of the population, while 925,754 (49.18 percent) of them have already completed their vaccine course, according to the National Health Service.
The rate of vaccination in Latvia, started on Dec. 28, 2020, has been picking up lately after the government issued an emergency regulation in late September, mandating vaccination for certain professions such as medics, teachers, care providers, and all public sector employees.
Responding to renewed demand for vaccines, health authorities this week reopened mass vaccination facilities in the capital Riga and other cities.
In the outgoing week, COVID-19 jabs were given to an average of 11,344 people a day, as compared to an average of 7,148 people a day last week and 6,348 the week before.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 incidence continued to soar in Latvia as the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) reported over 2,100 new cases for four consecutive days this week. On Saturday, the CDC reported 2,799 infections, hitting a new daily record.
Latvia's cumulative 14-day number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants grew over the past day from 1,110.4 to 1,195.4, which is also a new record.
Latvia has so far confirmed 183,239 COVID-19 cases and 2,881 people have died of the disease. Enditem