Most of Europe to be high-risk red in new Czech COVID-19 travel map, valid from November 9

On the Czech Republic's current European travel risk map, which indicates restrictions for travel from other European states, only Spain is listed as a "red" risk area that imposes restrictions on returning Czech residents and other travelers.

From next week, however, the map will look a lot different: the majority of Europe will be high-risk red, requiring travelers from most European states to provide a negative COVID-19 test when entering the Czech Republic.

The change is due to the Czech Foreign Ministry's adoption of a new EU-wide travel risk map, which aims to clear up confusing travel requirements across Europe.

The new map system, based on recommendations by the Council for Europe, has already been adopted by France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Slovenia, Denmark and Finland. There may be some differences in how the map is depicted among these countries, as well as each state's requirements for entry from risk areas.

Under the new Czech version of the map valid from November 9, travelers from countries marked in green (low risk) will be able to enter the Czech Republic without restriction.

At the moment, however, the only green locality in Europe is Vatican City.

Outside of Europe, travelers from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Thailand and Australia may also enter the Czech Republic without restriction, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Smolek.

Most travelers from countries marked orange (medium risk) may also enter the Czech Republic without restriction, but long-term or seasonal workers (not commuting workers) from these countries must provide a negative COVID-19 test upon entry.

Currently, Germany, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Cyprus, and Greece are orange on the Czech map valid from November 9.

All travelers from countries marked red in the map will have to provide a negative COVID-19 test performed within an EU member state no older than 72 hours, or undergo testing after arrival within five days. An arrival form will also need to be filled out by travelers before entering the Czech Republic from red countries to enable tracking by Czech health authorities.

If taken after arrival, the COVID-19 test (an RT-PCR test, taken at the traveler's expense) may be taken up to five days after arrival unless otherwise directed by health authorities, and the results must then be submitted to the relevant regional hygiene station. There is exception to the requirement to provide a test for children under five years old.

The above regulations include both returning Czech residents who have been in a red country for more than 12 hours, as well foreign travelers from these countries entering the Czech Republic. 

Exemptions to the requirements include cross-border workers who regularly commute into and out of the country for work, and students who regularly cross borders to attend classes.

The data used in setting the color-coded risk levels is based on official recommendations from the Council of Europe.

According to those recommendations, a country may listed in green if it has recorded less than 25 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks, and it's rate of positive tests is less than 4%.

A country would be orange if it has recorded less than 50 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks but its rate of positive tests is higher than 4% OR if it has recorded between 25-150 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks and its rate of positive tests is less than 4%. 

A country will be marked red if it has recorded more than 50 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks and its rate of positive tests is higher than 4%, OR if it has reported more than 150 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks and its rate of positive tests is less than 4%. 

Updated maps using these data standards and other factors involved can be found at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, but may not directly correspond with the Czech version of the map.

Full information (in Czech) regarding the new Czech travel risk map, which determines requirements for entry into the Czech Republic from November 9, can be found at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry will publish a new version of the map each Friday, which will become valid from the following Monday. It may be possible that future maps will break countries down into separate regions, according to Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček.

Currently, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends not traveling abroad except for necessary reasons.