Belgium adds Prague to list of red COVID-19 risk areas, requiring quarantine on arrival

Brussels/Prague, Sept 9 (CTK) – Belgium has decided to add Prague to the red zone on its COVID-19 traffic light map, requiring a mandatory two-week quarantine for those returning from the Czech capital, the Czech embassy in Brussels said today.

The rest of the Czech Republic remains in the yellow category, where quarantine and a coronavirus test are recommended but not required for travelers, the Embassy said, referring to the decision made by Belgian epidemiologists on Tuesday.

The Czech embassy noted that the Belgian traffic lights map mainly applies to journeys that can be postponed, such as tourist, but not to travels for urgent personal or business reasons.

With the exception of Prague, the rest of the Czech Republic remains in the yellow category. Before travelling to Belgium, however, people are still required to fill in a form with contact details that would allow authorities to trace their contacts in case COVID-19 infection was confirmed.

Unlike Belgium, Austria said today it would change nothing in its approach to the Czech Republic despite the country’s increasing epidemiological situation.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry is not considering either a travel warning nor a border closure, its spokesperson told the APA press agency.