Czech Republic Post-Pandemic: Updates on Travel Restrictions

In 2020, Covid-19 hit Europe pretty hard. For a good portion of the year, the continent became the epicenter of the diseases, resulting in countless infections, overcrowded hospitals, and a death toll that reached the millions mark. However, that was last year. This year, in 2021, with a number of vaccines ready to combat the global pandemic, it seems Europe is ready to reopen and resume normal everyday life. That, of course, includes the Czech Republic. Although the country has yet to lift travel restrictions and the like, they're easing up to it bit by bit. Here are the updates you need to know!

According to Forbes magazine, the Czech Republic remains in a state of emergency until May 17, 2021. This means that the country is still on lockdown with various travel restrictions still in place. However, those traveling for essential reasons can still enter the country. With this, the Czech Republic adopted the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's (ECDC) traffic light system classifying travelers whether they're at risk or not. Nevertheless, regardless of travelers' classified colors, they must still practice health protocols such as going in quarantine upon entry and taking a Covid-19 PCR test.

Furthermore, the country has since banned travel to and from certain countries that they deem as 'extreme risk.' The Czech News Agency reports that India is the latest to be added to the list because of the new Covid-19 mutation that was discovered there last April 16, 2021. Although Czech nationals and residents in India will still be allowed entry into the country, officials still insist that all travelers undergo strict health protocols beforehand. Other countries the Czech Republic deems as 'extreme risk' nations include Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Despite this, just this past Monday, May 10, 2021, the Czech Republic has allowed shops, stores, shopping centers, and the like to finally reopen, the first time in half a year. From Prague to Brno, businesses all over the country started welcoming customers back. There have even been reports that queues in said retail spaces stretched for meters long. At the same time, vaccinated Czechs will now be allowed to travel throughout Europe by May 15, 2021. Also, thanks to bilateral agreements with various fellow EU member states, citizens from Austria, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will now be allowed to enter the Czech Republic without any restrictions.

This all comes before the EU's Digital Green Certificate finally comes into play in the region by June 2021. Announced back in March, this is a new vaccine passport system that allows travelers to move freely within the continent. The Digital Green cErtificate will serve as proof that the traveler has either been vaccinated, tested negative, or has fully recovered from Covid-19. This, along with their Schengen Visas and valid passports, will be their tickets to finally gaining entry into the Czech Republic (or any other EU country).

Although the Czech Republic remains on lockdown until mid-May, 2021, the country has shown signs of getting back to normal. From allowing shops to reopen to granting entry to citizens of certain countries without restrictions, it's safe to say the country will fully open soon enough!

When the Czech Republic's borders finally re-open after the pandemic, you'll want to go for luxury rentals to call home here!