Starting Friday, the COVID-19 testing rules will change for people traveling to the Czech Republic. Furthermore, a new category of very high-risk countries will be created, announced Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček. He explained there is a need to respond to the spread of new coronavirus variants. Until now, most European countries have been red on the map, indicating a high level of risk.
According to the new system, citizens of the orange, medium-risk countries will have to pass an antigen test before entering the Czech Republic. On top of this, people traveling from the red, high-risk states will have to get a PCR test within five days of arrival in the country.
In the case of the new category of very high-risk countries, a PCR test taken before traveling to the Czech Republic will be required. After arriving in the country, travelers from very high-risk areas will have to stay in quarantine. After five days, they will be able to take a second test, which, if negative, will terminate the quarantine. However, travelers from these countries will have to wear an FFP2 face mask (or higher class) for another five days.
‼️ Od pátku 5. 2. se zpřísňují pravidla cestování do ČR ??. Důvodem je hlavně snaha tlumit nové mutace viru. Zavádí se kategorie velmi vysoce rizikových zemí. Příjezd z nich znamená PCR test, pětidenní karanténu ukončenou dalším testem a povinnost nosit respirátor alespoň 10 dní. pic.twitter.com/DDmfI6Bqqa
— Tomáš Petříček (@TPetricek) February 1, 2021
Czechia further restricted traveling last Saturday, banning all inessential trips to the country. However, there are some exceptions, such as work and school trips, family visits or travel for a wedding or funeral.
Title image: Czech Republic’s Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the Europa building in Brussels, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
