The situation is stable: However, the number of new cases is growing! There is talk of the third dose and changes in the COVID vending machine – Topky

From Monday, according to the COVID vending machine, 14 districts will be on alert. All other districts are in the monitoring stage, ie in the green phase. Although the situation is relatively stable, the number of new cases is growing slightly.

VIDEO The pandemic situation is still relatively stable, but there will be more orange districts

An average of more than 100 cases have occurred in the last week

“Within the V4 countries, the number of cases is growing slightly. In terms of vaccination coverage, we are 20 percent behind the EU average as a country.” stated Matej Mišík, Director of the Institute of Health Analyzes of the Ministry of Health.

In the last seven days, there have been an average of 115 infected cases per day in Slovakia. Among the cases in the last two weeks, 74 percent of those infected were unvaccinated.

47 patients are hospitalized, most of them in the Košice region. “However, the growth rate of those infected is relatively modest and stable than in other weeks,” added Mišík.

The highest numbers of cases are recorded in Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Israel, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the United Kingdom and the USA. The fastest growth rates were recorded in Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Serbia.

Vaccination above 50 is rising slightly

At the same time, he expects that with the arrival of the new school year, interest in vaccinations will increase slightly. There are currently eight districts with over 50 percent vaccination of their inhabitants.

“The number of unvaccinated people over the age of 50 is also declining. There are more districts approaching the 65 percent vaccination limit for this age group, which will allow them to move to a milder level, according to the COVID machine.” evaluated Mišík.

At least the first dose of the vaccine was given to districts by 30 to 61 percent of the population. 26 to 58 percent are fully vaccinated within the regions. Overall, the second dose is 39 percent vaccinated.

Stricter conditions apply in the orange districts

In the degree of vigilance – orange phase – the districts of Banská Štiavnica, Bardejov, Gelnica, Kežmarok, Košice I.-IV., Košice-okolie, Levoča, Nové Zámky, Poprad, Vranov nad Topľou and Žiar nad Hronom will be included.

In the orange districts, stricter conditions apply, for example, for mass events, restaurants, fitness centers or wellness, but also weddings and kara. The number of people will depend on the mode chosen by the organizer.

Operators and organizers of mass events will decide for themselves which persons will be allowed to enter. They can choose from three regimes, namely fully vaccinated, OTP (vaccinated, tested, after overcoming COVID-19) and the so-called basis, ie all customers without distinction.

Is COVID automat waiting for another change?

The Minister also reiterated that the possibility of a third dose is still being explored. “I don’t rule out a decision coming in a week or two,” specified by Lengvarský. According to the Minister, the COVID vending machine could be modified within two weeks, so that the districts do not get into stricter grades and colors only on the basis of the number of infected.

Most districts remain in the green phase

In the monitoring stage, ie in the green phase will be the districts of Bánovce nad Bebravou, Banská Bystrica, Bratislava I.-V., Brezno, Bytča, Čadca, Detva, Dolný Kubín, Dunajská Streda, Galanta, Hlohovec, Humenné, Ilava, Komárno, Krupina, Kysucké Nové Mesto, Levice, Liptovský Mikuláš , Lučenec, Malacky, Martin, Medzilaborce, Michalovce, Myjava, Námestovo, Nitra, Nové Mesto nad Váhom, Partizánske, Pezinok, Piešťany, Poltár, Považská Bystrica, Prešov, Prievidza, Púchov, Revúca, Rimavská Sobota, Rožňava, Ružomberok, Sabinov, Šaľa, Senec, Senica, Skalica, Snina, Sobrance, Spišská Nová Ves, Stará Ľubovňa, Stropkov, Svidník, Topoľčany, Trebišov, Trenčín, Trnava, Turčianske Teplice, Tvrdošín, Veľký Krtíš, Žarnovica, Žilina, Zlaté Moravce and Zvolen.

In green districts, fully vaccinated can perform most activities without restriction, with slight restrictions they must count unvaccinated or not tested for COVID-19. Wearing drapes remains mandatory indoors in both green and orange districts.