Slovakia will extend the current curfew with exceptions, however, stores that are currently closed will open for customers vaccinated against the coronavirus or recovered from the disease from Friday. Some schools will switch to remote learning.
The agreement on the measures differs in part from the original proposal of the Slovak Minister of Health Vladimir Lengvarsky, who proposed extending the current two-week national closures in their current form for another week until Dec. 16 and later opening stores for vaccinated people or those who recovered from COVID-19. The new measures, which will be discussed by the government on Wednesday, should apply until Jan. 9, unless the epidemic situation becomes worse.
“Vaccination is the only way out of the pandemic. Lockdown will not save us, it will postpone suffering, it will destroy the economy and jobs,” said Deputy Prime Minister and head of the smallest government party For People (Za ľudí) Veronika Remišová, who welcomed the agreement to partially lift restrictions on vaccinated people.
Next week, students in the second stage of primary schools and secondary schools will switch to remote learning, and then the Christmas holidays will begin. It will no longer be possible to hold mass events. Restrictions on the operation of services or restaurants will remain in force.
The Slovak Ministry of Health is to prepare an analysis of the possible introduction of compulsory vaccination against coronavirus or the financial participation of unvaccinated patients in treatment.
