Spain, Portugal lowered to high risk for COVID-19 on new Czech travel map

Portugal, Spain and the Portuguese territory of Madeira will drop from the highest COVID-19 risk category to the second-highest one on the Czech traffic light travel map as of Monday, the Health Ministry has announced.

Consequently, it will be (very slightly) easier for Czech residents to travel to these areas.

When returning from countries with a very high risk, denoted by dark red (purple), travelers must take a compulsory PCR COVID-19 test before coming to the Czech Republic. On arrival, they must enter a mandatory quarantine. After five days, they can take another PCR test. If negative, the quarantine can be ended. This category comprises most EU member countries and other countries outside the EU.

For red countries or regions with high infection risk, along with a test before the trip, travelers must undergo another PCR test within five days after arrival. Until then, they must stay in quarantine.

The difference between countries of high and very high risk is the time of mandatory quarantine upon arrival. Travelers coming from high-risk countries may take a PCR test immediately after arrival and leave quarantine if it is negative, while travelers from very high-risk countries must spend at least five days in quarantine before taking a test.

As of Monday, the red countries with high risk will be Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Balearic and Canary Islands, and Madeira.

For return from the orange or medium-risk countries, an antigen or PCR test is required before entering the Czech Republic. The group of orange countries is made up of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Greece and the Azores.

Employees and students are also obliged to submit their coronavirus test result to their employer or school, respectively.

None of these requirements applies to the green countries with a low risk of infection. However, among European countries, this group only includes the Vatican and Iceland; among non-European countries, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand are in the green group.

Foreigners are allowed to come to the Czech Republic only for necessary reasons. The government recently prohibited the travel of non-residents to the Czech Republic, except for trips to work or school, visits to family members, for health reasons, weddings, or funerals.