Slovakia: Authorities partially relax COVID-19 lockdown measures from Dec. 10 /update 42

Event

Authorities have amended current COVID-19 measures from Dec. 10, partially relaxing domestic lockdown measures.

Domestic Measures
All nonessential stores are permitted to reopen, though only for people who can demonstrate full vaccination or recent recovery from COVID-19. Other close-contact nonessential services will be permitted to open for vaccinated and recovered people from Dec. 17, with hotels scheduled to reopen under similar conditions Dec. 25. Officials will expand restrictions on the education sector from Dec. 13, with older primary schools and all secondary schools moving to online learning. The measures will remain in place through at least Jan. 9.

The government declared a 90-day state of emergency Nov. 25 in response to rapidly rising COVID-19 cases. Unvaccinated people who have not recovered from COVID-19 must undergo regular COVID-19 testing to attend their place of work. All gatherings of more than six people from different households will be prohibited until the end of the state of emergency.

All open services are operating subject to hygiene and social distancing requirements. Facemasks are mandatory in public spaces nationwide.

International Entry 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 Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, Macau, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, 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 12 months ago, a single dose of a two-dose vaccine if administered between 14 days and 12 months ago, and within 180 days of the individual recovering from COVID-19, or a single-dose vaccine received between 21 days and 12 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.

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