The Slovak government is due to launch the first phase of the re-opening of some facilities on Wednesday, April 22nd, which have been closed since March due to the coronavirus, Prime Minister Igor Matovič (OLaNO) stated on Monday. In the first of four phases, shops and service facilities smaller than 300 square metres will be opened, as well as catering services serving food through a window, outdoor facilities for non-contact sports (without spectators, changing rooms or toilets), establishments for long-term accommodation, outdoor markets and car showrooms, including car bazaars.
The next three phases could follow ideally within two weeks, although no precise schedule has been fixed. The evolution of the coronavirus epidemic in Slovakia will be constantly reviewed before either proceeding to the next stage, keeping the current stage, or even regressing to the previous one.
The second phase should include facilities providing short-term accommodation (no mass catering, food delivered to rooms, no shared toilets or showers, no other services), hair salons, nail salons, tourist landmarks, taxi services (under set conditions), religious services, weddings and several other services.
Phase three should cover shops larger than 1,000 square metres, mass catering with outdoor premises, facilities providing massages, museums, galleries, libraries as well as exhibition rooms (under set conditions).
The last phase should include cinemas, theatres, swimming pool complexes and other similar facilities, shopping centres, schools, nurseries and indoor sports facilities. The fourth phase should also allow the organising of sports events.
