Slovakia, France change color in latest Czech Covid-19 travel map

Slovakia has returned to the ranks of red high-risk countries after being rated moderate-risk orange for one week, according to the Czech Health Ministry's latest Covid-19 travel map.

France and Andorra, meanwhile, will move from dark red very high risk to high-risk red on the latest Czech travel map, valid from Monday.

San Marino will move from red to orange, and Iceland from orange to low-risk green.

People entering the Czech Republic must undergo a Covid-19 test in advance if they travel from dark red countries. A small number of EU countries fall into this category, along with most countries outside the EU, including the UK. Those returning from dark red countries must take another Covid-19 test on the fifth day after their arrival at the earliest, and stay in quarantine until then.

Those returning from the red countries must take a PCR test within five days of their arrival at the latest. Anyone coming from dark red, red or orange category countries must wear a respirator anytime they they leave their home, including outdoors, for two weeks.

People who have completed their vaccination in Czech Republic do not have to undergo a test or quarantine if they are coming from red or orange countries. The Czech government decided on Friday that these requirements would also not apply to people who have received their first vaccine dose at least 22 days ago.

As of Monday, the group of red countries will include Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland.

Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, the Azores, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands will be in the orange group.

Czech residents are still banned from traveling to countries with an extreme risk of the spread of new variants of coronavirus, which includes Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Eswatini, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Peru, South Africa,Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The ban is valid until the end of May.

None of the above requirements apply to those traveling from the green countries with low infection risk. Among European states, only Iceland and the Vatican are currently green. Outside the EU, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand are considered low-risk.