There are more orange DISTRICT again: The situation is relatively stable! The number of new cases is slowly growing – Topky

The situation with COVID-19 remains relatively stable. In recent days, however, the number of new cases, but also hospitalized, has been slowly growing. From Monday, there will be fourteen orange districts, most of Slovakia remains green without restrictions. What applies to the Orange Districts from Monday?

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In the orange districts, measures will be tightened

Vigilance (orange phase) districts will be included Banská Štiavnica, Bardejov, Gelnica, Kežmarok, Košice I.-IV., Košice-okolie, Levoča, Nové Zámky, Poprad, Vranov nad Topľou and Žiar nad Hronom. In the orange districts, stricter conditions apply, for example, for mass events, restaurants, fitness centers or wellness, as well as weddings and kari. 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.

Veils are required

Covering the upper respiratory tract with a respirator, drape, scarf or shawl remains mandatory indoors, including public transport and taxis. It is also mandatory at mass events, even outdoors.

The veil will not have to be worn by pedagogical and other professionals in the upbringing and education of children and pupils with hearing impairments, autism spectrum disorders, moderate to profound mental disabilities, or pupils with mental disabilities who also have other disabilities.

Operations and organizers will have to choose

Operators and organizers of mass events can choose in which mode they will operate. There are options to choose from basis (access for all persons), OTP (approach for vaccinees, testers, and after COVID-19, with a negative result from the PCR or LAMP test not older than 72 hours after collection or antigen test not older than 48 hours from collection) or vaccinations (for fully vaccinated).

The mode in which the operation operates must be visibly marked on its premises. The organizer of a mass event must also visibly indicate at the entrance which persons will be allowed to enter. Only persons over 12 years of age are considered.

Mass events

As far as mass events are concerned, there is no limited capacity for vaccinated people. If the organizers choose OTP, the standing capacity can be filled to a maximum of 25% of the capacity, seating up to 50% outdoors and indoors, if it is not possible to determine the capacity, up to 1000 people outdoors, 500 indoors.

With regard to seating, the capacity may be filled to a maximum of 25% (maximum 100 persons) indoors and 50% (maximum 200 persons) outdoors, standing a maximum of 50 indoors and 100 outdoors. The organizer is obliged to keep the list and contacts of the participants 14 days after the end of the event, after 14 days he is obliged to destroy them.

Events (with the exception of weddings, parties, celebrations and other similar events or events in public catering establishments) where all participants are vaccinated are without a capacity limit. If the participation is higher than 1000 people, this event must be reported no later than 48 hours before the start to the locally competent regional public health office. If the event takes place outdoors, the organizer must enclose it and mark its entry and exit. As far as marriage or baptism ceremonies are concerned, the rules for mass events apply.

Weddings, kary, celebrations, parties and other events

If you choose the form of the basis, such actions may not take place. As far as those vaccinated are concerned, a maximum of 100 people can take part indoors or 200 people outdoors (mandatory list of participants). In the form of OTP, there can be a maximum of 50 people indoors or 100 outdoors (mandatory list of participants).

Department stores and hotels

In department stores, there can be a maximum of one person per 15 square meters. Seating sections and children’s corners remain open in green and orange districts. Hotels and similar accommodation services are, when choosing the form of vaccination or OTP, without capacity restrictions, on the basis of which they are closed.

Restaurants and other public catering establishments

If the owner chooses that only vaccinated people can come to his business, he can work in the exterior without a capacity limit, in the interior the occupancy of one table can be a maximum of 4 people or people from one household. There must be two meters between the tables. The same applies to OTP, on the basis of which the owner can only open the terrace with a maximum number of people 10. There are no restrictions on the sale of meals with you or through the delivery service.

Fitness centers

For the vaccinated, fitness centers can operate without a capacity limit, with OTP there can be one customer per 15 square meters or a maximum of 50 customers indoors. If the base is available, there can be a maximum of 10 people in the gym.

The number of new cases is growing slightly

“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.

How will the vaccination be?

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.

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.