Despite lift of travel ban, Czech Foreign Ministry still advises against traveling abroad

Prague, April 24 (CTK) – The Czech Foreign Ministry recommends not traveling abroad even though it is permitted to cross the border as of today and it warns on its website that restrictions on the movement of foreigners are still valid in other countries and that cross-border transport remains complicated.

The ministry recommends to go abroad only in urgent and very necessary cases as most foreign countries still apply extensive restrictive measures and limitations.

Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek (Social Democrats, CSSD) said that it is difficult to visit even the neighbouring countries. “There is not such a situation in Europe for people to be considering a weekend trip abroad. “Visits to Poland and Austria are very limited, and people must have coronavirus tests not older than three days to enter Austria,” he noted.

People who decide to travel abroad are advised to verify at the embassy of the given country what are the conditions for the entry to this country and for staying there.

As of today, the ban on free movement has been lifted as well as the ban on travelling abroad. These bans were valid for six weeks.

After their return to the Czech Republic, those who were abroad may either produce a negative COVID-19 test result or stay in isolation for two weeks.

Petricek said the government expects people returning to the country to produce their tests at the border, otherwise they would stay in quarantine and then be tested.

Petricek said foreign tourists still are not allowed to enter the Czech Republic, foreigners may come only for short business trips.

Interior Minister Jan Hamacek (CSSD) told a press conference after a meeting of the Central Crisis Staff today that the Czech state will not take care of the testing of its citizens abroad. Everybody must arrange for the testing themselves.