Unvaccinated people face extensive restrictions in several districts

The pandemic situation in Slovakia is getting worse.

Four districts, namely Bardejov, Krupina, Rožňava and Skalica, have switched to the dark red tier, meaning they will follow a very strict regime from Monday, September 20. Bardejov toughened up its measures last Friday (September 17), given the rapidly worsening developments.

Altogether 27 districts are in the red tier and 44 in the orange tier. Only four districts (Dunajská Streda, Medzilaborce, Pezinok, and Poltár) are in the green tier, meaning the restrictions are very mild.

The Slovak Spectator selected certain rules the districts now need to follow based on the alert system, known as the Covid automat.

At the same time, the cabinet approved changes to border controls, switching to the green tier of its border alert system. This means checks will only be conducted at random starting Monday.

Selected rules in tiers

(source: Health Ministry)

Green tier

• Face-covering: mandatory in interiors, public transport and taxis; in the case of mass events both inside and outside (masks or other face coverings are sufficient)

• Shops: without limits

• Mass events: three regimes:

fully vaccinated: no limits

OTP (confirmation of negative Covid test result, vaccination or recovery from Covid): 50 percent standing and 70 percent seated audience (or no more than 5,000 outside and 2,500 inside);

basic (open to unvaccinated and untested too): 50 percent standing and 75 percent seated audience (or 1,000 max outside and 500 max inside)

• Church service:

fully vaccinated: no limits;

OTP: 50 percent standing and 70 percent seated (or no more than 5,000 outside and 2,500 inside);

basic: 50 percent standing and 75 percent seated (or 1,000 max outside and 500 max inside)

• restaurants: without limits

Orange tier

• Face-covering: mandatory in interiors, public transport and taxis; in the case of mass events both inside and outside (masks or other face coverings are sufficient)

• Shops:

OTP: 1 person per 15 square metres of the shopping area max;

basic: 1 person per 15 square metres of the shopping area max.

• Mass events:

fully vaccinated: no limits;

OTP: 25 percent standing and 50 percent seated audience (or no more than 1,000 outside and 500 inside);

basic: standing 100 max outside and 50 max. inside and seated 25 percent of capacity inside (but no more than 100 people) in the basic regime; organiser needs to keep a list of participants for 14 days

• Church service:

fully vaccinated: no limits;

OTP: 50 percent outside and 25 percent inside (or no more than 1,000 outside and 500 inside);

basic: standing: 100 people max. outside and 50 inside, seated: 50 percent outside (but no more than 200 people) and 25 percent inside (but no more than 100 people)

• Restaurants:

fully vaccinated: outside without limits, inside no more than 4 people or one family at a table, 2m between tables;

OTP: outside without limits, inside no more than 4 people or one family behind a table, 2m between tables;

basic: outside only, 10 people max.

• wellness centres, water parks: closed for the basic regime

Red tier

• Face-covering: FFP2/FFP3/KN95 respirator mandatory in interiors, public transport and taxis; in the case of mass events a face covering is mandatory both inside and outside

• Shops:

OTP: 1 person per 15 square metres of the shopping area max.;

basic: 1 person per 15 square metres of the shopping area max.

• Mass events:

fully vaccinated: no limits but a list of participants is mandatory;

OTP: 25 percent of capacity but no more than 150 people;

basic: 10 people max.

• Church service:

fully vaccinated: no limits;

OTP: 25 percent of the capacity (or no more than 150 people);

basic: 1 person per 15 square metres or 10 people max.

• Restaurants:

fully vaccinated: outside without limits, inside no more than 4 people or one family behind at a table, 2m between tables;

OTP: outside without limits, inside no more than 4 people or one family behind a table, 2m between tables;

basic: window point of sale and delivery service

• Fitness centres, swimming pools, accommodation facilities, wellness centres, water parks: closed for the basic regime

Dark red tier

• Face-covering: FFP2/FFP3/KN95 respirator mandatory in interiors, public transport and taxis; in the case of mass events a face covering is mandatory both inside and outside if the distance between people is less than 2 metres

• Shops:

OTP: 1 person per 15 square metres of the shopping area max.;

basic: 1 person per 15 square metres of the shopping area max. & special hours for people older than 65 years and handicapped between 9:00 and 11:00

• Mass events:

fully vaccinated: no limits but a list of participants mandatory;

OTP: 25 percent of capacity but no more than 50 people;

basic: 6 people max.

• Church service:

fully vaccinated: no limits;

OTP: 25 percent of capacity but no more than 50 people;

basic: 1 person per 15 square metres or 6 people max.

• Restaurants:

fully vaccinated: outside without limits, inside no more than 4 people or one family at a table, 2m between tables;

OTP: only outside, 2m between tables;

basic: window point of sale and delivery service

• Fitness centres: closed for the OTP and basic regime

• Swimming pools, accommodation facilities, wellness centres, water parks, museums & galleries: closed for the basic regime

More on coronavirus developments in Slovakia:

• Measures valid in Slovakia as of August 16

• How to travel to and from Slovakia during Covid-19

• Statistics of the positive coronavirus cases

• Do I have the new coronavirus? How to proceed if you have a suspicion

• I encountered a person who is COVID-19 positive. What do I do next? (FAQ)

• When will I get my COVID vaccine? FAQs about vaccination in Slovakia

V zelenej fáze sú okresy:

Dunajská Streda, Medzilaborce, Pezinok, Poltár,