Epidemic situation in Slovakia developing favourably for the moment

The epidemic situation in Slovakia is developing favourably, with only the number of people needing artificial lung ventilation increasing slightly. Head of the Health Analysis Institute Matej Mišík said on Wednesday that the number of new cases and of people in hospitals with COVID-19 had dropped quite significantly. Mišík further stated that the situation in Europe is diverse. The highest number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants was recorded in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and Russia. However, with the exception of the neighbouring Czech Republic, there is a decrease in novel coronavirus cases in the surrounding countries. The vaccination rate is rising very slowly, however. Following the Cabinet session on Wednesday, Health Minister Vladimír Lengvarský mentioned that the antigen testing for COVID-19 might not be free of charge again, adding that a certain number of PCR tests per month might be made available for free, however. He indicated that the charge for AG tests might be some €10. If his proposal makes it through, it could be passed by Parliament as early as on July 22. If the epidemiological situation worsens, people who have not been vaccinated might be asked to present PCR test certificates at a number of locations.