News

Strict new measures related to COVID-19 in Slovakia

Earlier today Slovakia adopted several new restrictions to counteract the spread of COVID-19. These restrictions will affect practically everyone living in Slovakia as well as businesses to a great degree, even though the restrictions do not apply to businesses directly. A stay-at-home order is in place for all of Slovakia between October 24, 2020 and November 1, 2020.  

Exceptions to the stay-at-home order for people without a negative test (PCR or antigen test) are as follows:

 Between 1:00 am and 5:00 am;

 Traveling to be tested;

 Traveling to work or accompanying a child to school;

 The nearest grocery store, pharmacy, doctor, caring for a family member, caring for one’s own livestock, walking domestic animals up to 100 m from the house, funerals, going to the post office, bank, insurance company, dry cleaners, car repair shop, fuel station;

 Going out into nature (in the district where you live);

 Traveling home until October 25, 2020. 

The stay-at-home order for Námestovo, Trvrdošín, Dolný Kubín and Bardejov is even stricter. These districts are also beginning testing for the general population starting today (October 23, 2020). Other districts in Slovakia will begin testing for the general population in the first wave from October 30, 2020 to November 1, 2020 and in the second wave from November 6, 2020 to November 8, 2020. 

Border crossings

The Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic measure No. OLP/7693/2020, dated September 29, 2020, remains in place, requiring all individuals entering Slovakia to enter home isolation until they receive a negative PCR test for COVID-19. Individuals who have visited any country not included on this list: http://korona.gov.sk/ehranica must also register on the website. The exceptions for cross-border workers (“pendlers”) remain in force. Slovak/Czech border crossings are subject to random checks. The information available indicates that border testing may be introduced next week at the Slovak border for people wishing to enter the country.

We will be happy to help businesses sort through the compensation programmes currently available from the Slovak government. Our offices remain open and our attorneys are working as usual, although many are currently working from home.