Unvaccinated visitors from several EU countries will now be required to submit a pre-departure test, a post-arrival PCR test, and undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine, according to the Czech Ministry of Health.
Nine European countries were affected but to a different degree. Germany, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Andorra were added to the -dark red- list (countries with very high risk).
This means that unvaccinated tourists from these countries will be subject to all of the limitations listed above.
Other countries suffering the same fate are Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Croatia, Latvia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
All third-party countries that are not listed as green belong in the dark red list.
The Canary and Madeira Islands, as well as Romania, have been added to the -red list- (a country with a high risk.) In practice, visitors from these areas must meet the same requirements like those from the “dark red” classification.
The adjustments were based on data retrieved from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, according to the minister (ECDC).
The last one affected was Spain, which was moved to the -orange list- “country with a medium risk.”
Visitors from “orange” countries have the option of presenting a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure or at the airport.
This category also includes Malta, France, Italy, Monaco, and Portugal.
Vaccinated travelers and those who have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 180 days are exempt from both testing and quarantine.
The situation in Czech is quite concerning. Chief Hygienist Pavla Svrinová warned today that calling on medical students to assist in hospitals, as well as a statewide lockdown and compulsory vaccination, are all on the table.
“Of course these possibilities are being considered. We are starting to run out of personnel, especially in hospitals, pensioner homes and social care facilities,” she said at a radio program.
For now, Vatican City is the only European country on Czechia’s green list.
By Sept. 22, the country had averaged 487 daily infections. Eight weeks later, it had surpassed 14,442, a 2,965% rise.
Inspired by the “Bavarian” approach, Visitors who cannot present a valid vaccination certificate or proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the last six months will be unable to visit several public and private venues.