Bratislava: The Slovak government allows shops, ski resorts and churches to reopen Friday to those who are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid, despite having the highest level of infection in the world.
UE members from 5.4 million people, who entered the partial locker late last month, registered 1,099 cases per 100,000 people for the past seven days, according to the AFP calculation.
The decision to facilitate restrictions comes after the public criticism of government policy because it cannot go shopping for Christmas or plan to vacation.
“The Covid situation is still very serious but we have it under control,” said Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky this week after the decision was announced.
“The opening shop is a relatively risky step from an epidemiological point of view, but it is to calm the public.” Government spokesman Lubica Janikova said the decision did not lie in stone and would be evaluated again in the coming days.
“The government will discuss the situation in the hospital next week and maybe the steps will change after that,” he said.
Economy Minister Richard Sulik first announced Wednesday’s decision, said “We opened all shops for vaccination and those who had recovered from Coronavirus”.
The decision came with a residential limit and was also applied to hairdressers, fitness centers, ski resorts and churches.
Sulik said the government decided to make a closed restaurant for all, even though they could still offer takeaway food.
The hotel will be permitted to reopen the vaccination on December 25, although only the same household members will be able to share rooms.
Slovakia has one of the lowest level of European Union vaccination, with less than half the population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19.