In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Denys Tezdzhanenko signed a Government Order banning all reunions of citizens until further notice, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Reunions — organized meetings of Lostislandic citizens — play an important role in Lostislandic culture, and are believed to be an important factor bringing citizens closer together. The majority of reunions were conducted in Russia, such as the meeting with the Lostislandic Ambassador to the US, though smaller meetings also took place in Croatia, Israel, and Spain.
The decision to ban reunions was made following the confirmation of a fifth COVID-19 case in Lostisland, out of 303 citizens. According to the announcement, the citizen is experiencing moderate symptoms and is currently isolated at home. This brings the incidence of COVID-19 in Lostisland to 1.65%: comparable to Canada or Bolivia (as of 15 December), and significantly higher than the world’s average, though no deaths have been recorded in Lostisland so far. The pandemic has already affected prominent Lostislandic political figures, such as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Minority Affairs Maria Ostroukhova, and Ambassador to the US Robert Meyer, who tested positive for COVID-19 in October and have since recovered successfully.
Since Lostislandic citizens are not required to report their health status to Lostisland, the total number of citizens who tested positive may be higher than the number of confirmed cases. Citizens of Lostisland who had or still have COVID-19 and who were not included in the official tally are encouraged, but not required, to fill in the COVID-19 Questionnaire, which would help the government correctly evaluate the magnitude of the pandemic in Lostisland, and if needed, provide assistance.
In effect, the ban on reunions means that no meetings of citizens shall be arranged on behalf of Lostisland, and does not prevent citizens from meeting each other should they wish so, which would be well beyond Lostislandic authority. However, citizens are strongly encouraged and expected to comply with the COVID-19 guidelines of the government and of their country of residence, with the latter having precedence over the former in case of a dispute.