Avoid traveling to countries with low vaccination rates! | New word

The travel reference just provided by the government and accepted by the government shows that the Slovak government does not prohibit travel, it only makes recommendations on where to recommend and where not to travel.

So far, there has been little control, and the government has relied more on the responsibility of the residents, and I support this position. This is the Scandinavian model, when we explain what the stakes are, where we can expect who we are, and we trust that people will be aware of acting responsibly. Travel light also depends on this: to explain to people in an understandable and simple way where the risks lie for them when they travel to a specific country. The colors depend on this, as well as their quantity, as you can see from this that if a country is green, I can go there, if it is red, it is really dangerous, and if it is black, then there is a very big problem. High risk.

Accordingly, the question that arises: Where can we travel this summer and where not to go?

We travel exclusively within the Federation, and more specifically to the countries marked in green. You can also go to green countries outside the European Union, where there is either a very high vaccination rate or no virus at all (like Australia or New Zealand). Although there are risks with these as well, they can be controlled. We avoid traveling to countries – these are Reds and Blacks – where they have not yet been vaccinated or very few people have been vaccinated. Simply put, black is the nogo region, let’s not travel there for the sake of the world! Otherwise, if we bring the virus and spread it again, we will be in the same place as at the beginning of the year, when the country and the economy will have to be closed again.

What is the purpose of the travel light?

This is the Indian variant, and it’s more prevalent and more dangerous than the previous one. It is already present in 53 countries and is spreading at a rate that we have not seen in any of the mutations yet. Countries where vaccination is progressing at a good pace is relatively safe. If not, then the tourist there is a great danger. One of the risks is that you get infected while on vacation and cannot go home (because you need a negative test that you cannot show), or because of the rapid spread, that country closes its borders and airports and so wins. I can’t go home. And the situation can become dangerous even in a few days in a country, and vacation can be a nightmare rather than a pleasant rest. This is exactly what happened to tens of thousands of Australians in India who were unable to return home for two months, stranded in the most affected country in the world.

On what basis were the colors given to each country?

Lions had two main criteria, which were either the presence of the Indian variant or the unreliability of the epidemic data (like all African countries or some islanders that are popular with tourists). Red was given to those who, although the epidemiological situation can now be addressed, could explode the Indian variant at any time due to reduced vaccination. The green countries are primarily the countries of the European Union. The stakes here are variable, but we have decided to put our economic and diplomatic goals first and deal with the European Union as a region. We risked more here, which is why we were tougher than the red countries, thus reducing the overall risk. In short, the stakes are lowest this summer if we only travel within the union.

According to the plans, the council will reassess the map every two weeks, so is there a chance that more countries will be green in the summer?

Officially, this is the case, but I don’t really see the possibility that some countries’ colors change during the summer season, there may be up to two countries that have turned green, and the US and Canada are expected to be free in the summer months to travel. Also, it is possible for the red countries to go black if the Indian virus begins to spread there.

If we look at the map, we see that there are some black countries that have been vaccinated with a rate of more than 70 percent, such as the popular Qatar or the United Arab Emirates. Why did these become black?

With a large number of Indian workers there and only the local population being vaccinated, most of the guest workers are not, and that is a big risk.

What happens when someone travels outside the European Union, from a green country to a green country, but with transportation and an airport in a black country? For example, if someone went green Japan with a transfer to Qatar or Dubai?

This is an issue that we have not organized yet, and it will be clarified at the next meeting of the Council. Either it is the British model, which is strict and says that if someone moves through a risky country, then the higher risk factor must be taken into account (as if in a black country), or the Austrian model that does not appear in the country of transport, just where they have traveled from him. I support the British way.

The European Union’s Covid19 passport will arrive in July. Will something change after that?

On the contrary, we have created the map so that people know where and under what conditions they can travel.

There are many countries of red color that are popular with vacationers in Slovakia, such as Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia. In the word, they get a newer color, orange. What do you know about it?

In fact, there was such a plan, we wanted to present it to the so-called Covid-free zones, but I have now received news from the embassy in Ankara that there is no such zone in Turkey. So we are waiting for the Egyptian analysis, which I know is Phuket in Thailand, where it could happen. In Turkey, only tourism workers have been vaccinated, but this region cannot be called such a region, as if a tourist going out to the city, he immediately exposes himself to greater danger. That is, I do not consider it likely that there will be orange areas. Even Phuket, Thailand.

What about travel agencies that mainly organize trips to these destinations?

It is better not to organize such trips this year and the state will compensate them. Even this would be much cheaper than another close. We can compensate all offices for approximately half a day’s closing.

Since there are still organized trips from Austria-Hungary to these countries, many may choose to leave there and not go back to quarantine upon their return home, because they “came from a green country”. Will there be some control, can they expect some kind of punishment for those who break the rules?

There will be a control mechanism. Sure, who can play the system and many might think they will win, but at what cost? Perhaps due to these irresponsible passengers, we will have to talk about lockdown again in the fall, because the virus is starting to spread in Hungary as well. I’m not saying they shouldn’t travel if someone wants to go, even to a black country (the system allows it), but if they do, go back to quarantine for at least eight or 14 days. After all, the Indian variant is spread much more, and if it explodes, there is nothing to stop it.

Can a police officer knock on the door of someone who has gone into a black country bypassing the system and not returning home and isolating?

I can guarantee the policeman is going to knock. For blacks, of course, and for red countries, the police would visit them. I was surprised by the availability of modern and effective tools of control. We don’t ban travel if someone wants, they can go, but when you get home, follow the rules and lock yourself up for 8 or 14 days.

Because of the Indian variant, 90 percent of vaccinations are required, and in Slovakia now about 35 percent, which could reach 50 percent in summer. Is there no risk that closures will follow again after the summer holidays?

This is a real scenario. We have modeling that shows that the greater the difference between 90 percent and the actual grafting, the larger the third wave will be, and conversely, the smaller the difference, the more controllable it can be. A year ago, we had no other means against the virus than to isolate ourselves, but now we have a vaccine, and it would be better if everyone vaccinated themselves.

How do you achieve 90% of the graft? There are countries that start a national lottery, and some restrict the movement of unvaccinated people. Others say the ideal is to make it mandatory.

This will be very difficult, and we are now also consulting with sociologists and psychologists on how to increase the propensity to vaccinate. I also agree with compulsory vaccination, because if not otherwise, then there would be no other option. Either more closures or making vaccinations mandatory. Politicians have to decide, but if we get there, none of the decisions will be popular. Expect to answer this question in September and October, by then it will be clear whether the current stance, volunteerism, and persuasive policies have worked.