Entry conditions change as the Omicron wave is set to arrive in Slovakia. (source: TASR)
With the Omicron variant expected to become dominant in Slovakia in the coming weeks, the government prepared for the new pandemic wave with new measures, which came into force on Wednesday, January 19 and are expected to remain in place until further notice. The government is promising to not introduce any more lockdowns.
Those fully vaccinated against Covid and recovered from the disease were given access to most shops and services, as well as mass events held around the country. Yet, there are certain changes for the validity of the certificates. In addition, there is a new regime, requiring an extra certificate for full vaccination or recovery status.
Several modifications came into force on February 15 and 16, allowing everybody enter all shops and moderating the conditions for entering hotels and other accommodation facilities.
The Slovak Spectator put together answers to what applies to people in various life situations:
Basic rules
Starting February 1, the vaccination certificate will be valid for 9 months from the last vaccination.
The status of those recovered from Covid will apply to people who have had Covid not more than 180 days prior.
The test result is valid for 48 hours for antigen tests, 72 hours for PCR/LAMP tests.
Shops, services and mass events will follow four entry regimes: basic, OTP, OP and OP+ (find the explanation below).
Entry regimes:
Basic: everyone regardless of being vaccinated, tested or recovered from Covid
OTP (vaccinated, tested, recovered): people who have:
been fully vaccinated against Covid:
*at least 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, but no more than nine months;
*at least 21 days have passed since receiving the single-dose vaccine, but no more than nine months;
*at least 14 days have passed since receiving at least one dose of the Covid vaccine within 180 days since recovery from Covid, but no more than nine months;
*children younger than 12 years and two months;
tested negative (PCR/LAMP test not older than 72 hours, antigen not older than 48 hours);
*children younger than 18: the negative result from self-testing is also accepted;
recovered from Covid in the past 180 days and have it confirmed with a positive PCR test result;
*children younger than 12: a confirmation issued by their paediatrician based on a positive antigen test issued before November 15, 2021 is also accepted;
have a contraindication against the Covid vaccine with a confirmation and a negative Covid test (PCR/LAMP test not older than 72 hours, antigen not older than 48 hours).
OP (vaccinated, recovered): people who have:
been fully vaccinated against Covid:
*at least 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, but no more than nine months (until February 1: 12 months);
*at least 21 days have passed since receiving the single-dose vaccine, but no more than nine months (until February 1: 12 months);
*at least 14 days have passed since receiving at least one dose of the Covid vaccine within 180 days since recovery from Covid, but no more than nine months (until February 1: 12 months);
*children younger than 12 years and two months;
recovered from Covid in the past 180 days and have it confirmed with a positive PCR test result;
*children younger than 12: a confirmation issued by their paediatrician based on a positive antigen test issued before November 15, 2021 is also accepted;
have a contraindication against the Covid vaccine with a confirmation and a negative Covid test (PCR/LAMP test not older than 72 hours, antigen not older than 48 hours).
OP+: people who:
have been fully vaccinated and:
*have received the booster shot;
*have a negative Covid test;
*have recovered from Covid in the past 180 days;
have recovered from COvid within the past 180 days and are able to present a negative Covid test result (PCR/LAMP: not older than 72 hours, antigen: not older than 48 hours);
have a contraindication against the Covid vaccine with a confirmation and a negative Covid test;
are children younger than 18 years and two months who have been fully vaccinated;
are children younger than 12 years and two months of age and are able to present a negative Covid test result (PCR/LAMP: not older than 72 hours, antigen: not older than 48 hours);
are children younger than 6 years (no test necessary).
At work
Employees can enter the workplace, without the need to present a proof of vaccination, testing or recovery.
Questions & answers
What am I allowed to do if I’m neither vaccinated nor recently recovered from Covid?
