Strict COVID vending machine applies from Monday: What will change? A new category, lockdown and bans is being introduced – Topky.sk

However, if the situation does not improve, the measures will be tightened even more. A new category will be created in the new COVID vending machine and strict rules will apply for the unvaccinated. They will not be able to go to the malls …. What’s changing?

The government APPROVED the strict measures: the Prime Minister openly! Yes, it’s a lockdown for the unvaccinated

Lockdown for the unvaccinated

The government is introducing the so-called lockdown for the unvaccinated, Prime Minister Heger announced. According to him, the new COVID machine significantly tightens the measures for the unvaccinated in red, burgundy and black, ie currently in all districts. According to him, the unvaccinated are currently the most endangered, they do so for their protection.

Source: Topky / Vlado Anjel

The prime minister explained that the new COVID vending machine is being introduced to stabilize the critical situation in hospitals, it will apply from Monday. He stressed that this would be a temporary solution, he expects it to take three weeks. Subsequently, the next step could be to relax the measures for the vaccinated. He challenged everyone to get vaccinated. Heger believes that vaccination is the only way out of the pandemic. He called on citizens to be vaccinated. “Whether COVID-19 exists is not a matter of opinion, but of hard data,” he said.

A new category “OP” was created

The Public Health Office has issued two new ordinances to comply with the new version of the COVID vending machine, which was approved by the government on Thursday. The decrees published in the Gazette of the Government of the Slovak Republic will be effective from Monday, November 22, and regulate the activities of operations and the organization of mass events.

Three modes are defined in the COVID machine, from which operators and organizers can choose. According to the regulations, as well as from the COVID machine, the regime of complete vaccination changes to OP regime (vaccination, overcoming). This means that people who have had COVID-19 in the period no more than 180 days ago will have the same options as fully vaccinated people. Thus, the OP, OTP (vaccination, testing, overcoming) and baseline regimes (all regardless of immune status) are established.

New rules for children

“These two groups of people will be favored in many ways. They don’t have to be tested for work twice a week, they are free to go to shops, not only to essentials, but also to shopping malls.” said the prime minister after the government talks.

Conditions for children up to 12 years of age are also defined within the OP category. This regime also includes children under 2 years of age, they do not have to have a test, so they have an exception. However, the change concerns the category of children from 2 to 12 years old. They only get to shopping malls or stores that do not sell basic necessities with a test. They need a PCR or LAMP test not older than 72 hours or an antigen test not older than 48 hours.

If the situation worsens, the COVID machine will shut down and strict national restrictions apply

The COVID machine update comes at a time when the epidemiological situation is really critical and is deteriorating rapidly. “The rapidly growing number of hospitalized patients can quickly overload the health care system and lead to a humanitarian crisis with the necessary foreign aid. it is written in the renewed version of the COVID automaton.

After this limited period, in the event of an improvement in the situation, an updated COVID vending machine will be adopted with more extensive releases for persons with a significantly lower risk of hospitalization, ie for vaccinated or overcome persons in the so-called OP mode. “In the event of continuing deterioration, continuing case growth and exceeding the limit of 3,200 hospitalized patients, the Slovak Republic will be on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. the creators made changes.

Unvaccinated people will not get to the malls

Another change is that operations other than essential stores are closed for the OTP mode and the base in red to black. Shopping centers are to be open to the OP regime, regardless of the color of the district. For the basic mode and the OTP mode, they should only be open in the green and orange districts.

In burgundy and black districts, non-essential establishments and services must have limited opening / operating hours from 5.00 to 22.00. In the case of red to black districts, non-essential operations may only be open in OP mode. According to the decree, for example, grocery stores, drugstores, newspapers and newspapers, as well as libraries and petrol stations are considered essential shops and services.

Single limit for a mass event

For mass events, 200 people in red, 100 people in burgundy and 50 people in black should apply to the OP regime. The green districts and the orange districts are to be unrestricted for the OP regime. To enter the OTP mode, the capacity limit for red, burgundy and black districts is six people. Basic mode mass events are to be banned for the red, burgundy and black districts.

Entering employment in OTP mode

Entry into employment in the green and orange districts should be without restrictions. However, there is a big change for employers – in the red, burgundy and black districts, the OTP regime should apply to entering work. Only people who have been vaccinated, have passed COVID or have a negative test will be able to enter the workplace.

This is the original proposal of the expert council and currently it means that all companies and firms in Slovakia will have to operate in OTP, as there is no district in the better than red phase. If the employee does not prove a single certificate, the employer will arrange for the unvaccinated to be tested twice a week. If an employee refuses to be tested, they will not be released from the workplace and will be perceived as an obstacle on the part of the employee without the right to compensation.

Restrictions also for vaccinees

There will also be restrictions on vaccinations – in the black districts, fitness centers, wellness centers and restaurants will be completely closed. The sale of food in restaurants in the black districts will be possible only through the window and through delivery. Accommodation for all remains prohibited in black districts. The only exceptions are quarantined accommodation and business trips.

In the districts in green and orange, the veil should apply indoors and at mass events (HP) as well as outdoors. For the red, burgundy and black districts, an indoor respirator and an outdoor drape should be mandatory at HP, with extended exceptions and at a distance of up to two meters.