Friday, June 5, 2020
The government of Czech Republic has decided to lift travel restrictions to Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. After an important meeting between the authorities, the Czech government agreed to fully open its borders with neighbours Austria, Slovakia and Germany and allow unrestricted travel to and from Hungary. The decision would be in effect from Friday, June 5. Previously, the Czech Republic already agreed to open its borders to Slovenia.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis said in an official statement that people who visit the mentioned countries would not require any coronavirus test or quarantine from now on. He mentioned that the country looks forward to return to normal and said that arrival of people from the other countries would also be beneficial for the Czech Republic and its economy.
Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek further added that all restrictions on travel to and from Austria, Hungary and Slovakia had been removed. However, travellers to Germany would still need to follow Germany’s current conditions for entry. Czech Republic has also planned to allow unrestricted entry from more than 20 European states starting June 15. Any visitors arriving from places with continued widespread coronavirus cases will have to provide a negative COVID-19 test report or will be quarantined on arrival. Travel restrictions between the Czech Republic and Poland are still in place and negotiations between the countries is expected to take longer.
On the other hand, Austria has already removed its travel restrictions from the Czech Republic earlier this week and Hungary has also announced that restrictions on travel with the Czech Republic would be lifted from today itself. Slovakia has also started free movement to and from the country with Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic arriving in Prague as a part of his first foreign trip post the pandemic. However, Germany’s travel restrictions continue to be in effect and the country still requires a valid reason for entry alongside a negative COVID-19 test. Negotiations between Germany and Czech Republic would also remain in place for now. But German tourists and returning Czechs can freely enter the Czech Republic with restriction applicable only when crossing the border the other way, from the Czech Republic into Germany. These restrictions would only be enforced at random vehicle stops in Germany.
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