Slovakia: Authorities ease domestic COVID-19 measures effective Jan. 10 /update 43

Event

Authorities in Slovakia plan to ease domestic measures imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19 from Jan. 10. From this date, the nightly 20:00-05:00 curfew will no longer be in force.

Domestic Measures
A state of emergency remains in place until at least Feb. 23. Until Jan. 10 a nightly 20:00-05:00 curfew is in place during which time individuals may only leave their homes for essential activities. Other domestic restrictions will remain unchanged beyond this date. Proof of vaccination, recovery, or a recent negative test is required for access to most nonessential businesses and for use of long-distance public transport; some facilities are accessible to vaccinated or recovered individuals only. Gatherings of more than six people are prohibited. FFP2-standard facemasks are mandatory in all enclosed public spaces; any form of facemask is mandatory in crowded open public spaces.

International Travel Restrictions
Nonessential travel is permitted for travelers from any location who have undergone a full course of vaccination with a European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved vaccine, as well as from a Schengen Area country and for residents of Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuwait, Macau, New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, UAE, and Uruguay. Entry for individuals not meeting any of these conditions is restricted to essential purposes only.

All arrivals must fill out an online registration form before arrival indicating whether they are vaccinated against COVID-19; to access the form, click here. Authorities consider a person fully vaccinated if they have received both doses of a two-dose vaccine between 14 days and six months ago, a single dose of a two-dose vaccine if administered between 14 days and six months ago and within 180 days of the individual recovering from COVID-19, or a single-dose vaccine received between 21 days and six months ago.

All travelers arriving by air are additionally required to register online before arrival; to access the form, click here.

Fully vaccinated individuals able to present evidence of their vaccination are not required to self-isolate on arrival. Permitted unvaccinated individuals must self-isolate for 10 days on arrival. However, this can be ended early following a negative result from a COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken on day five of the isolation. Certain categories of essential travel are exempt from the isolation requirement if they can present a negative RT-PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours. Cross-border commuters are exempt if they possess a negative RT-PCR test taken within the previous seven days.

Due to concerns regarding the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Any arrivals who have spent time in Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, or Zimbabwe in the previous 14 days must isolate for 14 days on entry. Isolation can be ended early following negative results to PCR tests taken on days one and eight of isolation.

For regularly update information regarding entry restrictions, click here.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice, depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Government of Slovakia Coronavirus Website
Traveler Registration Form
Electronic Passenger Search Form