Covid-19 Travel Update: Czech Map Remains Dark Red

Following the latest update from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Health has announced that all European Union/Schengen Area countries, except for the Vatican City State, will continue to be part of the dark red list.

ECDC announced yesterday that all EU/Schengen Area countries have been registering increased infection rates over the last couple of weeks. For this reason, they have been coloured dark-red.

In line with the current entry rules that Czechia has, all travellers from EU dark-red listed countries are required to take a pre-entry test and fill out an Arrival Form.

The testing requirement applies to everyone, even to those who have completed their primary vaccination as well as to those who have recovered from the virus.

On the other hand, the Ministry has explained that travellers from dark-red listed EU/Schengen Area countries who have already received an additional vaccine dose, also known as a booster shot, are exempt from the testing requirement.

“Only foreigners vaccinated with a booster dose have an exception if they are vaccinated in a country whose certificate the Czech Republic recognises,” the Ministry states.

Exempt from the pre-entry testing requirement are also children under the age of 12, regardless of their country of origin.

While more relaxed rules apply to EU/Schengen Area travellers who have been vaccinated or recovered from the virus, the case is not the same for unvaccinated and unrecovered persons.

Apart from having to provide a test result taken before arrival, unvaccinated and unrecovered travellers from the EU must also undergo another test upon their arrival in Czechia.

Unvaccinated and unrecovered EU travellers must take the second test between the fifth and seventh day after their entry.

“Unvaccinated persons or persons who have not developed covid-19 must subsequently undergo an RT-PCR test between the 5th and 7th day,” the Ministry noted.

Even though Czechia will continue to keep in place entry rules for persons who wish to travel to the country, the authorities have announced that the requirement to hold a valid certificate while in the country will no longer be effective.

The Ministry of Health said earlier this week that vaccination and recovery certificates will no longer be required when accessing bars, restaurants, and other outdoor events.

In addition, the same announced that other national COVID-19 restrictions would also be relaxed on February 19.