Slovakia Exempts Specific Groups of People From Quarantine and COVID-19 Test Requirements for Entry

The Public Health Office of Slovakia has issued a new decree on April 23, which includes updated entry measures aimed at preventing public health against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new changes will be effective starting from today, April 26, AtoZSerwisplus.com reports.

In a press release issued by the Ministry of Interior, it was revealed that based on the new rules, the quarantine measure will not apply to persons with a temporary or permanent residence permit in a neighbouring country within 100 kilometres of an open border crossing with the Republic of Slovakia. They should also work in Slovakia within 100 kilometres of an open border crossing, in order to fully meet the criteria.

“The distance limit for commuters from neighboring countries is adjusted from 30 to 100 kilometres. Thus, the new quarantine will not apply to persons who have a permanent or temporary residence in the territory of a neighboring state within 100 kilometers of an open border crossing and work in Slovakia within 100 kilometers of an open border crossing,” the Ministry of Interior press release reads.

Furthermore, it was pointed out that citizens of Slovakia who live in a neighbouring country within 100 kilometres of the open border crossing will be exempt from quarantine requirements.

However, the two groups of people that are now exempt from the quarantine rules are still required to provide a negative COVID-19 test not older than seven days.

The Ministry of Agriculture has agreed that specific exemptions should be made for the following groups of people, which will not be required to provide a negative test:

• Persons needed to manage operations in the sector of forestry, food, and agriculture
• Persons providing veterinary care for livestock
• Persons providing veterinary examinations, surgery, or treatment of animals

Similarly, citizens of EU Member States and their family members who transit through the territory of Slovakia will not be required to quarantine or provide a negative COVID-19 test upon entry as long as they leave the territory of Slovakia within eight hours of entry.

In contrast, the Ministry of Interior explained that all persons entering Slovakia after staying in another European Union country or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom in the last 14 days, will be subjected to self-isolation at home or quarantine facility for two weeks.

All persons entering Slovakia from one of the countries mentioned above will be allowed to end their isolation period if they provide a negative PCR or rapid antigen test supported by laboratory diagnostics. However, they will also be required to undergo another COVID-19 test on the eighth day of isolation.

Moreover, all persons entering the territory of Slovakia through land must register on the website provided by the authorities as soon as they enter the country. At the same time, the ones using air transport are required to fill in another form.

Previously, the authorities in Slovakia revealed that they might no longer make quarantine exceptions for the ones that are returning from abroad after a member of the Government made such a request.