The obligation to wear face masks outdoor returns. It will apply when the distance between people who are not members of the same households is less than two meters, Prime Minister Igor Matovič announced during a meeting of the Central Crisis Committee on Monday evening. The measure comes into force on October 1st and it's valid until further notice. Secondary and high school pupils will continue to have to wear a face mask at school. Wearing masks is not compulsory during sport activities both indoor and outdoor.
Wearing a face mask should be compulsory in restaurants, canteens and pubs, except while eating or drinking. Only those facilities that have seats will be allowed to open, and only between 6am and 10pm. The measure should come into force as of October 1st. From the same date a maximum limit to the number of customers in shops will be re-introduced - measured as one customer per 10m2.
Mass events will be banned in Slovakia from October with the exception of weddings, funerals, baptism ceremonies, meetings of public authorities and events where each participant has a negative test for coronavirus not older than 12 hours. The limits on the number of participants at these events is still under discussion. The organizers of such an event must inform the local public health office about it at least 48 hours before it takes place.
Sports, cultural or corporate events, as well as religious services in churches should be banned. Organizing family celebrations is not recommended.
The Prime Minister said that the issue of financial compensation for the restriction of cultural or sports events would be addressed in the upcoming period. The Slovak Football, Ice Hockey and Handball Associations are protesting against the ban on mass sport events announced by the Central Crisis Committee on Monday.
Later on Monday evening in a special TV address, President Zuzana Čaputová asked people to wear face masks in every place required, observe the social distancing and use hand disinfection. The head of state has also required people to express solidarity and not to downplay the outbreak. She pointed out that the Government needs to approve timely measures based on data and expert opinions, and that these measures must be commensurate, predictable and justifiable.
