Slovakia eases up on lockdown reins

Nevertheless, the curfew will be in force for all between 20:00 and 5:00, restaurants remain closed, and the non-vaccinated can visit only basic shops

The Slovak government has relaxed the nationwide Covid-19 restrictions ahead of the Christmas holidays, allowing home visits and opening more shops and services to those vaccinated or recovered from the disease. The toned-down measures come into effect from today, 17 December.

Measures at a glance

• Home visits are allowed, but a maximum of six people may gather, except for members of the same household.
• The night curfew is in force between 20:00 and 5:00 the next day irrespective of people’s immunity status. Exceptions apply to: commuting to work and back if home office is not an option (confirmation from employer needed); care giving; shopping for essentials in the immediate vicinity; visiting a doctor or pharmacy; walking pets within 500 m from one's home.
• Attending church mass, travelling abroad and conducting social services is possible in OP mode (for those vaccinated against and recovered from Covid-19).
• OP mode applies to all shops, hairdressers, beauty salons, hairdressers, massage parlours, solariums, libraries, galleries, museums and ski lifts but outside curfew hours (i.e between 5:00 and 20:00).  
• Restaurants remain closed.
• Unvaccinated people have access to basic necessities’ shops only.
• Trains and long-distance buses will operate in OTP mode (vaccinated/tested/ recovered).

Health authorities urge caution

Announcing the measures, Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky called on the public to act responsibly and exercise great care in the face of the high infection rate and the threat posed by the ascending Omicron variant. The Health Ministry’s Institute of Health Analysis even recommended Slovaks to test themselves for Covid-19 before making any Christmas visits.