Covid-19 Information
Current Situation
Slovakia was largely affected during the second-wave of the epidemic and is currently at the very beginning of the third-wave. Daily new confirmed cases per million people compared to selected relevant counties:
We expect the situation to gradually worsen during August and September. While the country does not have very high vaccination rates, the Bratislava region does (often compared to London rates). We are hopeful that vaccinated attendees will be able to attend the workshop in-person (see Local Countermeasures).
Travelling to Slovakia
Attendees who are fully vaccinated (14 days after the administration of the second dose or 21 days after the administration of a single-dose EU-approved vaccine) may enter Slovakia without quarantine. It is mandatory to register online and to be able to present a certificate of vaccination (the “green pass” EU digital-covid certificate or a vaccination certificate in English, Czech, or Slovak language).
Attendees who cannot be vaccinated and are able to present a certificate confirming permanent contraindications to vaccination confirmed by a medical doctor and negative PCR-test not older than 72 hours may also enter without quarantine. Registration is mandatory.
It is not recommended to attend in-person if you do not belong to the two above mentioned groups. However, currently it is possible to enter Slovakia even in this case. Registration is mandatory and a compulsory isolation that ends on the 14th day or upon obtaining a negative result of a PCR test performed no earlier than on the 5th day of isolation.
More detailed official information…
Entering Slovakia Via Vienna International Airport
Austria currently allows to enter from a number of so-called safe countries (including e.g. Italy, Germany, Italy, France, the US and others) without the need of quarantine by providing a vaccination, past infection, or negative test certificate. In addition, fully vaccinated travellers from some additional, so-called other countries (including, e.g., the UK) can also enter without quarantine. It is generally advised to all participants who fall into these categories to carry the required documentation just in case.
However, regardless of your country of origin, there is a general exemption under which no vaccination, test, or special documentation is required from transit-only passengers who transit to other countries without unnecessary stops or delays. While it should not be required, it is advised to be able to prove this by presenting a bus ticket to Bratislava together with DL registration confirmation if requested by Austrian authorities.
More information at the official Austrian travel portal, more specifically in the Entry Regulations for Austria page, including the FAQ section at its end.
Local Countermeasures
Slovakia follows a system of countermeasures called the Covid Automaton that assigns one of five levels (Green 1 – Black 5) to each district based on the current epidemic situation. Countermeasures are increasing with higher level numbers.
The levels are updated every week and are announced for one week ahead. All districts in the Bratislava region are at the Green level 1 in the Sep 13–19 week, but will turn to the Orange level 2 in the upcoming Sep 20–Sep 26 week.
General countermeasures include mandatory face masks in the interior of buildings, in public transport and taxis, and even in the exterior when attending mass events, keeping social distance of 2m, disinfection of hands upon entering public buildings, shops, restaurants, etc.
At the Orange level 2 (Sep 20–Sep 26), public events (including conference) organizers and restaurants must choose one of three admittance regimes and restrict access and the number of attendees/guests accordingly. We expect the most common regime will be Vaccinated/Tested/Recovered (OTP in Slovak) and we will also run DL in this regime. In this regime, event and restaurant staff is obliged to verify the V/T/R status of attendees and guests, and the capacity is restricted to some extent. Capacity restrictions will not affect DL due to a rather high capacity of the venue. However, attendees will be required to present a valid proof of their V/T/R status (e.g., their EU Green Pass) when entering the DL and the associated social events venues.
Updated official information can be found at korona.gov.sk.