Slovakian epidemiologists have published new rules for the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, to be in force as of September 1, adding several countries to the list of high-risk destinations, including Croatia, the local media reported on Friday.

After an increase in the number of new infections in the country, among which there is a large number of imported cases – mostly from the Czech Republic and Croatia – epidemiologists have decided to expand the list of high-risk countries to include Croatia, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Malta.

Arrivals from countries on the red list of high-risk destinations have to go into 10-day obligatory quarantine, and they can get tested for the virus five days upon arrival at the earliest. If the test is negative, quarantine is no longer obligatory.

Slovakians who do not manage to get tested before the expiry of the 10-day quarantine and who have returned from an EU country and do not have any symptoms may be exempt from this rule.

The authorities expect that such a situation could occur in the first week of September, when many Slovakian tourists will return home.

“If tens of thousands of holidaymakers return all at the same time, our testing capacities will not be sufficient,” said Health Minister Marek Krajci.