State quarantine interferes with personal freedom, the court decided

The Constitutional Court did not accept the complaints of the ombudswoman concerning the bill for state quarantine.

The Constitutional Court in Košice.The Constitutional Court in Košice. (Source: TASR)

Some provisions of the law on public health protection concerning the quarantine and self-isolation are at odds with the Constitution.

This particularly concerns the provision ordering people to self-isolate outside of their homes, which limits their personal freedom.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

This stems from the December 8 decision of the Constitutional Court, which pointed to the fact that “isolation in a medical facility or other designated facility in connection with the legal definition of isolation and the absence of the procedural guarantees of personal freedom” are at odds with the Constitution, as reported by the TASR newswire.

SkryťTurn off ads

With this decision, the court partially accepted the motion submitted by Ombudswoman Mária Patakyová. She questioned the constitutionality of mandatory state quarantine and the powers of the Health Ministry and hygienists to adopt any anti-pandemic measures without clear specification.

On the contrary, the court did not accept her complaint concerning the bills people received for spending time in state quarantine facilities.

People sent to state quarantine

From abroad to Slovakia: What repatriations look like Read more 

During the first pandemic wave, Slovakia decided to close their borders to foreigners, with exceptions for those with some links to the country or its citizens. At the same time, it enabled Slovaks staying abroad to cross the borders.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

The Dočasný Kultúrny Priestor venue in Petržalka.

Picking up where others left.


Katarína Jakubjaková
New projects will change the skyline of Bratislava.

Among the established names are some newcomers.


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
SkryťClose ad