Based on available data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Ministry of Health has updated the list of countries according to their risk of infection, which took effect on Monday, January 10.
Due to the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant, stricter rules are set for the entry of foreigners into the Czech Republic. Finland, Latvia and the Azores will now be in the dark red category of countries according to the degree of risk of infection. Poland and Germany will be in the red category. By contrast, Romania will be orange.
The Vatican City State belongs to the category of countries with a low risk of infection (green category) . From non-European countries or parts thereof, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Indonesia, Colombia, Korea, Canada, Qatar, Kuwait, Macao, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Peru, United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay or Taiwan.
Another category is countries or territories with a medium risk of infection (orange category). Romania currently falls into this category.
The traffic light also includes the category of countries with a high risk of infection (red category). Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Hungary and Austria currently fall into this category .
The countries with a very high risk of infection (dark red category) includes Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Croatia, France, Finland, Malta, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Norway, Monaco, Iceland, Ireland, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Portugal incl. Madeira and Azores, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain incl. Balearic and Canary Islands and Switzerland and other non-EU third countries.
Citizens of the Czech Republic returning from the red and dark red categories must fill in the arrival form before returning to the Czech Republic and at the same time undergo an antigen or PCR test before return if they use public transport to return.
These persons are also obliged to undergo a PCR test upon their return to the Czech Republic, no earlier than the 5th day and no later than the 7th day after entering the territory of the Czech Republic.
In the case of a trip to the Czech Republic by individual transport, it is not necessary to have a test before the start of the trip, and also to undergo a PCR test no earlier than day 5 and no later than day 14 after entering the territory of the Czech Republic.
This obligation also applies to fellow travelers and family members of Czech citizens who have a temporary residence permit issued in the Czech Republic, as well as European Union citizens with a temporary residence permit issued to the Czech Republic or foreigners with a long-term or permanent residence permit in the Czech Republic.
In order to prevent the spread of the new omicron mutation, foreigners who do not have a residence permit in the Czech Republic will be obliged to have a negative PCR test result before entering the Czech Republic. Only foreigners vaccinated with a booster dose have an exception if they are vaccinated in a country whose certificate the Czech Republic recognizes.
At the same time, the Ministry of Health strongly recommends that citizens limit travel, as the risk of spreading COVID-19 must be minimized. ■