Last chance before lockdown or Bergamo, government says

The government tightened up measures again, coalition leaders clashed over them. Foreign policy keeps going strong as Belarussian freedom fighter visits.

Masks will be compulsory out in the streets. The government hopes to contain the rising second wave of the coronavirus pandemic with its latest measures. Masks will be compulsory out in the streets. The government hopes to contain the rising second wave of the coronavirus pandemic with its latest measures. (Source: TASR)

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Second wave rushes in

While on Friday, the talk was still centred around the most-hit northern region of Orava, where the government has sent the army to help hospitals and hygienists, the conversation about how to contain the second wave that is currently inundating all of Slovakia has significantly shifted over the weekend.

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On Saturday, public health offices reported 1,887 new COVID-positive people, which prompted the pandemic commission (representatives of several ministries, epidemiologists, and hygienists) to convene for an unscheduled session that resulted in a number of stringent rules for Slovakia.

By Sunday night, the crisis staff announced the restrictive measures mainly affecting gastro, fitness and wellness facilities, as well as all events. Secondary schools are now closed and all pupils at primary schools must wear their masks at all times.

>>> Take a look at the measures that come into effect in Slovakia this week

Border closures and the use of a quarantine-tracking app have been dismissed as unnecessary at this point, when most surrounding countries have a better standing with the epidemic than Slovakia and imported cases from abroad are no longer a significant factor in the spread of the coronavirus.

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Bergamo as a scarecrow

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Top stories

Stock image.

Twice as many Ukrainians work in Slovakia now than before the Russian invasion.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


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