Easing of restrictions on cross-border work in Slovakia

Some Slovaks who must visit Czechia or Austria on a daily basis will no longer go into mandatory quarantine

The reimposing of borders and border checks between European countries hit hard and fast once the threat of the coronavirus was first discovered on the continent a few months ago. An unfortunate side-effect of such policies, however, was the damage done to many industries and businesses who have been relying on the seamless travel between member states.

Yet, with many countries already taking cautious steps in easing their lockdown restrictions, some cross-border workers have also been taken into account.

The Czechia-Slovakia-Austria axis

Slovaks living in areas bordering Czechia and Austria have long been employed in different businesses and services in these countries – but most importantly, they have been particularly active in the social care sectors of their border regions.

That is why, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the governments of the three countries, Slovakia has decided to ease its restrictions on cross-border movement for some of its citizens – mainly targeting those who are employed in the neighbouring countries’ social care sectors.

Starting this week, social care workers living in a 30-kilometre radius of the Austrian or Czech borders will no longer need to enter mandatory quarantine upon their return. The same policy also applies to their children.

More specifically, the Slovaks can now freely travel to the Juhomoravský, Zlínsky, Moravsko-sliezsky, and Olomoucký regions in the Czech Republic and the states Burgenland, Lower Austria, and Vienna in Austria.

The conditions that must be fulfilled in order for workers to be allowed to leave and enter the country are a written confirmation of employment by care workers’ employers and a negative COVID-19 test that has been performed in the past 96 hours.

By taking such steps in easing the lockdown restrictions, the three central European countries are putting on a display of unity and serve as an example of things slowly going back to normal.