Based on available data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Ministry of Health has updated the list of countries according to the level of risk of infection.
The so-called traffic light regulates the categories of countries to which the relevant anti-emic measures are to be compared when returning to the Czech Republic. Estonia, France, Croatia, Lithuania and Luxembourg will now be in the green category from Monday, June 28. The Netherlands and Spain will now be orange. The Canary Islands will now be in the red category.
It is possible to travel to the Czech Republic without restrictions from the category of countries with a low risk of infection (green category).
This category includes Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Poland, Austria, San Marino, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia, Germany, Serbia, Vatican city-state, as well as the Balearic Islands and Madeira. Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Macau, New Zealand, Singapore, the USA, Thailandor Taiwan .
Another category is countries that are characterized by a medium risk of infection (orange category). Before returning from these countries, it is necessary to fill in the Arrival Form and if passengers use public transport (especially airplane, train, bus) to return, it is also necessary to take an antigenic or PCR test before returning to 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 journey, but it is obliged to undergo an antigenic or RT-PCR test no later than the fifth day after arrival in the Czech Republic. This category of countries includes Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus, Latvia, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal (including the Azores), Greece, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain and Switzerland.
The traffic light also includes a category of countries with a high risk of infection (red category). The Canary Islands currently fall into this category. Persons returning from these countries must complete the Arrivals Form before returning. At the same time, they are obliged to undergo an antigenic or PCR test before returning to the Czech Republic if they return by public transport.
After entering the Czech Republic, they must then undergo a PCR test within 5 days. Until the PCR test result, the person remains self-isolated. 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 journey, but it is obliged to undergo a PCR test within 5 days after arrival in the Czech Republic and again to submit to self-isolation until the result.
Other countries fall into the category of countries with a very high risk of infection (dark red category). Persons returning from these countries must complete the Arrival Form before returning to the Czech Republic and at the same time undergo an antigenic or PCR test before returning if they use public transport to return.
These persons are obliged to undergo a PCR test after returning to the Czech Republic, not earlier than the 5th day and no later than the 14th day after entering the Czech Republic.
Until then, it is necessary to remain self-isolated. 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 journey, but it is obliged to take a PCR test no earlier than the 5th day after entering the Czech Republic and no later than the 14th day of the PCR. Self-isolation is required until the result.
The conditions of return do not apply to persons who have received vaccinations or have experienced COVID-19 in the last 180 days. All they have left is the obligation to fill out the Arrival Form. The complete conditions for returning to the Czech Republic from abroad during the covid-19 pandemic can be found here.
Due to the possible spread of new variants of the virus, the Ministry of Health has prohibited travel to countries where there is an extreme risk of spreading these mutations (black category), unless absolutely necessary.
Specifically, Botswana, Brazil, India, South Africa, Colombia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Peru, Swaziland/Eswatini, Tanzania (including Zanzibar and Pemba), Zambia and Zimbabwe. ■