Unofficial Translation 슬 정부 기자회견(5.12)
Press Conference on the current epidemiological situation 12/05/2021
Ministry spokesperson Eliasova
As introduction, let me say that regarding Covid Automat and measures applicable from next week, we will inform you only on Thursday or Friday at separate press conference.
Head of IZA Misik
Good afternoon, let me present the main indicators of the current epidemiological situation.
The situation is still improving, currently we have around 650 positive cases a day. On the other hand, the number of performed tests is also decreasing, so potentially we might be missing some positive cases. Currently we do approximately 110 000 test a day, compared to quarter of million three weeks ago. What is positive, however, is that the positivity of PCR tests is about 5%, so we are approaching the level of 4% which is recommended by ECDC as relevant testing rate. We have around 1000 patients hospitalized, 132 ventilated, so this is about 20% decrease, just as last week. The rate of decline stays at pretty much the same level, around 0.9.
There are currently around 350 visits of emergency services and around 80 patients a day are admitted to hospitals.
The intensive unit beds are currently used in the extent of 56%.
When it comes to vaccination, we currently have 62% of people in category 70+ vaccinated.
The most vaccinated age group is 70-80 year old, which is vaccinated at least with first dose to the extent of 66%. From all people who can be vaccinated, meaning people 16+, there is currently 28% of population vaccinated at least with the first dose.
The highest rate of vaccination according to the place of residence is in Bratislava. The similar vaccination share of about 25-30% is also in districts of Banska Bystrica, Prešov, Zvolen, Dunajska streda, Humenne. On the contrary, the lowest rate of vaccination below 15% is in
Gelnica, Kežmarok, Poltár and Svidnik. So there are some regional differences in interest in vaccination.
As for Covid Automat, all criteria for moving to regional division have been met, so the joint national measures can be switched off and we can now look at the colours in the individual districts only.
From next week, there will be 2 districts in dark red colour, 23 in red colour, 50 in pink colour and 4 in orange colour. In one of the districts in dark red colour, Sobrance, there has been a
worsening of situation from red to dark red colour compared to last week. One of the reasons for outbreak is opening of the fitness centre in this district.
This is how the map for next week looks like. From next week, it is basically the only map we will show, as we do not follow the national map anymore, only the regional one.
That is all from my side, thank you.
Minister of Health Lengvarsky
Good afternoon. Let me highlight that Astra Zeneca is considered as safe vaccine in Slovakia and we will still use it for vaccination. Once we will have sufficient amount of delivered doses, we will again include it in our vaccination strategy. So far, we will only use it for administering the second dose to those who already received the first dose.
When it comes to Sputnik vaccine, we have a final signed statement from the Russian side which grants approval for its use in Slovakia. By paying the indicated amount, the vaccines will become our property. We should include this vaccine into vaccination strategy from the beginning of June.
Thank you.
Questions:
Q: Wordlwide the strategy of giving the third dose in autumn is being discussed. What about those vaccinated with Astra Zeneca, as we see that the EU is not counting with this vaccine anymore, will these people receive a different third dose?
ML: I think the EU is still counting with Astra Zeneca. The lawsuits that are currently ongoing are not related to the safety of the vaccine but rather the delayed deliveries. These are two different issues. When it comes to the administration of second dose, or rather the third dose, as I said already few times, there are already studies that confirm that vector vaccines can be supplemented by another dose of RNA vaccines and vice versa, so there should not be any problem. If there will be enough data, we will of course consider vaccination with the third dose and plus, we will gradually also start with the vaccination of children and minors, as we see is the case in other countries right now, such as the US. But I do not see a problem in whether we will give the third shot of Astra Zeneca vaccine or a different one. It is also very early to address this issue at the moment.
Q: We heard you discussed the end of state of emergency today at the government meeting.
You personally think we still need it or the prepared law on economic mobilization will be enough?
ML: The law on economic hospitalization will be sufficient.
Q: On Tuesday the state of emergency will expire anyway if deputies do not approve it. So what will be the next steps?
ML: We currently need the state of emergency to be able to reprofile beds, pay the expenses and extra fees for covid patients to the hospitals, etc. So these are the things for which it is needed in health care. Of course if the state of emergency expires, also the curfew and other
restrictions related to it will expire. If the law on economic mobilization passes in Parliament, we do not need the state of emergency anymore from the epidemiological points of view.
Q: For those vaccinated with Astra Zeneca vaccine, can Moderna be used as the second dose?
ML: This is what I said previously. So far we do not plan to mix the doses, we know that some other countries are doing this, but so far we do not think this is necessary due to vaccine deliveries.
Q: But if some people might not be willing to receive Astra Zeneca as the second dose are you prepared for such situation?
ML: I will discuss it with experts. So far I do not register any problem with people not willing to receive their second dose of Astra Zeneca vaccine. If there will be any such problem, we will address it.
Q: Those who already had appointment for Astra Zeneca vaccine should now receive Pfizer or Moderna. Will their appointments change?
ML: The date of appointment will remain the same, we will just change the type of vaccine.
Q: How will the vaccination with the Sputnik vaccine be carried out?
ML: Currently we are solving the logistics of this vaccination and the network of centers which will use this vaccine. The plan should be ready in about a week or two.
Q: Are the results from Hungarian laboratory sufficient for administering this vaccine in Slovakia?
ML: Yes.
Q: When will you sign the permission for its use?
ML: After the agreement with the highest state officials. It is a question of days.
Q: What persuaded you to give this permission?
ML: I held discussions with experts.
Q: What did SUKL say?
ML: SUKL was not against.
Q: Did you already receive all documents you were asking for?
ML: Not all, but we have some additional documents from other sources.
Q: We will purchase 200 000 doses of Sputnik?
ML: Yes, those that we currently have in Slovakia so far.
Q: Will the system in NCZI be changed so as to allow the choice of the vaccine?
ML: Yes, it will be possible to choose Sputnik in the registration form.
Q: It will apply only to Sputnik or also other vaccines?
ML: I want it to apply to all vaccines.
Q: Will people take the reponsibility for such vaccination with unregistered vaccine?
ML: The state will take the responsibility.
Q: What will be the age group for Sputnik?
ML: 18-60.
Q: From when it should be possible to indicate that I want to be vaccinated with Sputnik?
ML: Beginning of June.
Q: You brought new Covid Automat to your colleagues two weeks ago. So far it is not approved. Why?
ML: The discussion is still ongoing, it is scheduled for further discussion at the continued government session today. Now we have a break.
Q: Pfizer vaccination was now launched for people aged 35+. What does this mean for people aged 18-34? Is the vaccination stopped for them, since Astra Zeneca is not offered anymore?
ML: At this moment yes, but we will get to this issue soon enough. We need to fill the capacities for this weekend and then we will continue. It is possible that in short period of time, the vaccination will be opened for 16+.
Q: Are the rules in the newly prepared law on economic mobilization same as during state of emergency for medical workers?
ML: Yes with one exception - compulsory labor service, so we will not be able to order work to health workers anymore.
Q: So they will be able to resign, or to strike again?
ML: Yes.
Q: From Monday, the regional Covid Automat rules should apply. Will these be ruled by the new Covid Automat or the old one?
ML: We have both versions ready, we will see if the new Covid Automat will be approved this week.
Q: Will you also discuss the e-quarantine application, which should be ready by now, and might be used during the third wave for example?
ML: Yes, I suppose we will discuss this today as well.
Thank you.
Unofficial Translation 슬 정부 기자회견(5.13)
Press Conference on 13/05/2021
Minister of Health Lengvarsky
Good afternoon. Yesterday, the Government has approved the new Covid Automat. I want to thank to all ministries and coalition partners for agreeing on this compromise. We tried to incorporate as many life situations as possible, to provide for more clear and understandable rules. This document is not any dogma, it is rather a flexible material and it can be still changed based on needs and situation. The aim is to reflect on the most current epidemiological situation and to provide more and more freedom to vaccinated people with the further development in the numbers of vaccinated people.
I would once again like to ask people to register for vaccination – we have enough of Pfizer doses, as well as Moderna, which is the same vaccine type, just from different company. So please get vaccinated.
I will now give floor to my colleagues and I will have to leave soon, so they will also answer your questions.
Thank you.
Head of IZA Misik
Good afternoon. I will try to discuss some of the main changes to Covid Automat. Some things have been changed in this document based on changed epidemiological situation as well as type of virus and variants. Lot of comments and recommendations from other ministries were brought since the publishing of the first document, and we tried to incorporate some, of course it was not possible to reflect on all.
Among main changes is that a separate testing strategy is created that reflects on the types of tests and situation in which these should be used. Before, it was very simplistically incorporated directly in the Covid Automat measures.
Some of the measures are changed and supplemented by the rules drawn by the individual ministries in their own automats/traffic light systems with more details. So the operators of cinemas for example can very specifically find the rules they need to observe in the system of the Ministry of Culture.
We corrected the color scale so it can be better interpreted and visible also on the map, with the colors better distinguishable. This is of course just a cosmetic change.
Also, the criteria for determining the colors are optimized. At the national level, we changed the limits. Only acute hospitalizations are being considered, and instead of 14-day incidence now we will follow the 7-day incidence, which brings more dynamics and is better comparable also with other countries. A new parameter – positivity of PCR tests is introduced in the document. The target, suggested by ECDC or WHO, is a recommended level of positivity of PCR tests at 4-5% - this is when we know we sufficiently test the population. The reproduction number is another factor we are following. At the regional level, the divisions were simplified to make it also easier for mayors and regional authorities. It is principally based on the 7-day incidence. The regional hygienist, however, has opportunity to change the level by one degree.
So, the current situation that we already presented yesterday, is that from next week we only follow the regional measures and we switched off the national levels. The division of districts for next week was still prepared according to the indicators of the old Covid Automat, but the following week it will be already determined by the new rules. From Monday we have 2 districts in dark red color, 23 red ones, 50 pink and 4 orange ones. The specific measures will be presented by the Chief Hygienist.
Chief Hygienist Mikas
Ladies and gentlemen, we are very happy that the new Covid Automat was approved by the Government. Preparing this document required many hours and we managed to find the consensus. I can tell that the new Covid Automat better reflects on the current epidemiological situation than the old one. The changes will be incorporated into decrees of UVZ. One decree will be deleted - the decree on entry into the premises of operations and employer, and four decrees will be changed: the decree on operations, on mass events, on covering upper airways, and on visits in hospitals.
The effectiveness of these decrees will differ, most of them will come into force from 17 May.
The changes to sport events will be already applicable from 15 May and changes in hospital visits from 14 May.
I will now very shortly discuss the individual areas of measures.
First, the shopping malls – in all districts, the obligation to measure temperature is abolished.
The negative test is not needed either. The ban on eating and drinking will apply only for districts in III.level of warning (dark red color). In other districts it will be allowed under conditions determined by the individual colors of districts. The children corners and sitting sections remain closed. The capacity of visitors will be determined according to the color of the district.
The conditions for the facilities for human body care stay same.
As for the swimming pools, the antigen test not older than 24 hours or PCR not older than 72 hours is required. The allowed capacity is determined according to color of districts.
When it comes to the area of tourism, cable cars in ski resorts are opened in capacity according to color of districts. The capacity in accommodation facilities is set only for I. to III.
level of warning, so the pink, red and dark red districts - it is max 2 adults or members of same household per room.
As for the restaurants, in yellow and orange districts it will be possible to eat in interiors too, with capacity restrictions. In fitness centers, the capacity is determined according to districts color. The operator of fitness centers can choose between the maximum fixed number of customers or restriction according to meters of the area. There are bigger and smaller fitness centers, so the operator will be able to choose which condition he/she prefers to comply with.
In warning levels (pink, red, dark red districts) a test will be required – Ag test not older than 24h, or PCR not older than 72h.
In museums, galleries, exhibition halls, in II. and III. warning levels, the red and dark red districts, only individual tours are allowed. In better districts, the group tours are allowed in numbers according to color of district.
The theatres, film and other cultural events in dark red color districts are still banned. In other districts also the interior film events are allowed with capacity restrictions according to color.
In all except green districts, which there are none in Slovakia yet, only sitting audience is allowed. In orange and better districts also events for school children and groups allowed.
Consuming of food will be allowed only in exterior in pink and red districts and in better districts also in interior for max 4 persons or persons from same household at one table. These are basically conditions for restaurants.
For wellness, spas, aquaparks in all districts test required (Ag 24h, PCR 72h). They can be opened only in pink and better districts. The spa treatments based on doctor´s indication are allowed in all districts of course.
For taxi services there are no restrictions only in green districts. In other districts, it still applies that maximum 2 people can sit in one row, and in I.-III. warning levels, also the disinfection after each customer is necessary.
As for mass events, in dark red districts only events up to 6 people can be held. In red districts only events up to 10 people, and in pink districts up to 25 in interior or 50 in exterior. In orange districts these numbers are significantly higher, so the restriction is smaller. Organizes are required to keep the identification data on participants for 14 days.
Wedding celebrations and other parties are banned in II. and III. warning level (red and dark red). In pink districts, these are allowed up to 25 persons in interiors, and in exterior up to 50 persons. In orange color it is up to 50 persons in interior, and in exterior up to 100 persons.
In yellow districts, if there were any, it would be up to 100 in interior and up to 250 in exterior, and in green districts these numbers are even higher. The test is needed for participation in these events - Ag 24h or PCR 72h.
As for church services, wedding ceremonies, funeral or baptism ceremonies, including the civilian versions, in I.-III. warning level, there must be only 1 person per 15m2. If the area does not reach 90m2, the maximum amount of participants is 6.
Sport events is another area. From 15 May the presence of audiences is possible in I. warning level and better districts, but only for sport clubs registered under sport unions. The test requirement is similar as in other events I mentioned. Capacity is determined according to color of district.
When it comes to wearing masks, in yellow and orange colored districts, it will be possible to wear only mask instead of respirator in interiors, and in exterior only on mass events.
The decree on visits in health facilities will be applicable from 14 May. The visits are basically still banned, but several exceptions apply to the ban on visits – such as for priests, in case of palliative care. Regional health offices will be able to set stricter or less strict measures and conditions for visits in social service facilities will be set by the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family. People who are vaccinated, are freshly tested or overcome Covid-19 can be visitors in these facilities.
As there are many changes, we will try to finish these decrees throughout this day.
Questions:
Q: Is it still possible that after reaching certain color level in Covid Automat, Slovakia would need to go through nation-wide testing again?
CH: Covid Automat does not envisage such nation-wide antigen testing anymore. If there was such situation that would require testing some wider part of population, we would need to react to it and possibly update this document as well. As we said this is not a fixed document, we are planning to change it according to needs, I expect that latest in June we will update it again.
Q: We also heard that LAMP testing could be accepted. Is this the gargling test?
CH: Colleagues at the Ministry of Health are still working on the testing strategy so these questions should be addressed to them. We were thinking we might organize a meeting with journalists next week, where experts would join and you could ask also questions for which there is no space during press conferences.
Q: What about the self-testing?
CH: This Covid Automat does not really regulate this question. It might be part of the separate document of the testing strategy which is being prepared at the Ministry.
Q: If somebody makes self-test and turns out positive, should this person also go through PCR testing?
CH: In such case it is necessary to call their doctor and consult next steps with him/her.
Q: You said that the hospital visits will be still banned and new decree will be applicable from 14 May, but when I look into Covid Automat, for the II. alert level it says without restrictions.
CH: Those four districts in the orange color will not have restrictions from 17 May.
Q: Indian variant was confirmed in Slovakia. Do the vaccines we use protect against this mutation?
CH: Yes we identified this case by sequencing of samples. This person complied with all epidemiological measures and was in contact with only 1 person, who was negative. We suppose vaccines will be effective against this variant too, but further studies are needed. It is very important to identify and isolate these cases so to avoid the spread of new variant in Slovakia.
Q: The third wave of pandemic might come in autumn. Should the Ministry already prepare the application for e-quarantine so we can use it when needed?
CH: We are still isolating the cases coming from abroad. Such application might be useful of course.
Q: When could the quarantine for people coming from abroad end?
CH: Currently the colleagues from Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working on travelling strategy. We are communicating with partners from the neighboring countries and EU countries. It is possible that we will proceed differently with people coming from EU countries and non-EU countries. The fact that situation is improving in Slovakia and in neighboring countries does not mean that this is the case for whole world - there are still countries where the situation is alarming – such as India, or countries from Latin America or sub-Saharan Africa, so we have to be still very careful.
Q: Are there many outbreaks in Slovakia at the moment?
CH: Yes there are some – in Sobrance, also in Myjava. I want to ask people not to think that the situation is perfect and they do not need to comply with any measures.
Q: Are you considering granting further exceptions for vaccinated people when entering the country from abroad?
CH: As I said colleagues are working on it, I suppose sometime next week they could inform about some conditions, given the holiday season is approaching.
Q: Next week the state of emergency should end together with curfew restrictions. Is this regulated somehow by the Covid Automat?
CH: These restrictions still apply, they need to be abolished by the Government. I also have the information that the new law on economic mobilization should be passed instead of the state of emergency, so the curfew restrictions should end in upcoming days.
Q: So in dark red districts, people will not have to comply with the curfew next week anymore?
CH: If deputies approve the new legislation and President signs it, I think no, these restrictions are expected to end.
Q: Will you regulate somehow the public meetings, such as strikes, assemblies, etc. once their restriction is abolished with the end of the state of emergency?
UVZ lawyer Mr. Rovny: These meetings on the basis of political rights are governed by same conditions as mass events.
Q: How can people easily get to know the measures without studying several legal documents in details?
Mr. Misik: The decrees and Covid Automat are intended mostly for the operators of shops, services and other operations. People should not be obliged to study these documents in details. The Ministry is preparing website automat.gov.sk where people should be able to choose their district and see all the rules that are applicable there.
Unofficial Translation 슬 보건청 페이스북(5.12)
THE FIRST LABORATORY CONFIRMED CASE OF INDIAN VARIANT, REGISTRATION AND QUARANTINE HAVE BEEN OBSERVED
In Slovakia, we have laboratory-confirmed the occurrence of an "Indian" variant of the pandemic virus. We identified it in samples sequenced in the laboratories of the Public Health Office of the Slovak Republic, bioinformatics analysis was performed by employees of the Science Park of Comenius University in Bratislava. A person from the Bratislava region for whom the "Indian" variant was confirmed came to Slovakia from India and was registered via the website http://korona.gov.sk/ehranica."The man followed the principles of home isolation, the course of his illness did not require hospitalization. We identified one close contact from a shared apartment. Close contact had a negative test result. All anti-epidemic measures were provided," said the Chief Hygienist of the Slovak Republic Ján Mikas. The British variant of the pandemic virus still predominates in Slovakia.
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