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Strict indoor protective mask requirement, Covid testing only events – A series of strict corona measures must be applied in Slovakia starting Thursday. The Czech Republic also wants to toughen it up.
Regarding the growing number of new corona infections in Slovakia, the country’s crisis team has decided to declare a new state of emergency. This was announced by Slovak Chief Hygienist Jan Mikas on Monday evening at a press conference in Bratislava.
The government will definitely have to decide on the crisis team’s proposal, which is expected to happen on Wednesday, he said. There was already an emergency in Slovakia during the first Corona wave in spring, but only for the health sector. This should allow the mobilization of health workers and prohibit health workers from being on vacation or on strike. It should now be applied nationally and without restrictions to one area.
Austria is not on the red list
Despite the start of the second crown wave, Slovakia will not put neighboring Austria and Hungary on the red list, as had been feared for days. No changes or restrictions on the border regime are planned, Mikas explained, arguing that the situation in Slovakia is currently almost as bad as in the two neighboring countries.
However, for many groups of residents, the long-awaited results of the crisis team have turned out to be drastic. The mandatory outdoor mask will be reintroduced for all people who do not belong to the same household and if the distance from strangers is less than two meters.
In all indoor areas, strict protective masks are mandatory without exception, even during sports activities. Mass events are completely prohibited, including sporting and cultural events, with the exception of actions in which everyone involved, that is, those who perform and the spectators, can show a negative Covid-19 test. The only exceptions are weddings, funerals or christenings, which only applies to the ceremony itself, not to the celebration afterwards.
Restaurants or bars will only be open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, even those only facilities with seating. Those that only offer standing places will have to close. Take out sales and food delivery are excluded.
In shopping centers, supermarkets and individual stores, the same measures that were already in place during the first Corona wave will be reintroduced. Only one customer is allowed for every 10 square meters of commercial area, a distance of 2 meters must be strictly respected. Disinfection of hands or gloves must be offered at the entrance and protective masks are absolutely mandatory, which must be checked by the security service.
A large part of the measures will take effect from October 1, they could still follow stricter rules.
Daily log last Friday
Compared to other European countries, Slovakia has so far been largely spared from the corona epidemic. So far, only about 9,300 infected people have been registered, there were a total of 44 deaths. Since the end of August, record after record has been recorded, last Friday an absolute daily record was recorded with 552 new confirmed infections.
Slovakia has exceeded the critical limit of 40 new corona infections per 100,000 inhabitants in 14 days, Health Minister Marek Krajci announced. The reproduction number of Covid-19 in Slovakia has increased from 1,156 to 1,206 and the number of infected people is increasing exponentially. The department head warned that only 30 days should pass before the numbers of those hospitalized react.
The Czech Republic wants a state of emergency again
In view of the growing crown number, the Czech Republic also wants to impose a state of emergency again. That’s certainly necessary, Prime Minister Andrej Babis of the populist ANO party said Monday night on Nova television station. It assumes that the cabinet will meet in Prague on Wednesday in a special session to decide on this step.
The state of emergency was in effect for two months in the spring and expired in late May. Among other things, it allows the government to suspend civil rights such as freedom of assembly. Courts can also impose higher penalties.
In the Czech Republic, regional elections and by-elections will be held on Fridays and Saturdays in one third of the electoral districts of the Senate, the upper house of parliament. The government had recently ruled out a postponement. Mouth and nose must be covered when voting.
In the last 14 days, the Czech Republic had the highest number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe after Spain and France. On Sunday, 1305 cases were added, according to official data. That was the highest increase on a Sunday since the start of the pandemic. The number of deaths related to a Covid-19 disease exceeded the threshold of 600. Germany has issued a travel warning for the entire Czech Republic, Austria for the capital Prague.
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