Slovakia Chronicles

30/12/2021

Happy new year in advance by Slovakia Chronicles Podcast! See you in 2022! 🙂

23/12/2021

18/12/2021

Hello guys
Christmas period is coming but it is not yet time for relax.
In fact, the Covid never sleeps and the SK government is trying to combine the security of people with the necessity of the upcoming festivities.
That's why starting from yesterday, it is possible to visit family up to six people maximum.
In the same time, a curfew from 20:00 till 05:00 of the following day is been put in place. The major benefits will be for the vaccinated people as the previous week.
But there is also a good news: In January the suburban transportation in Bratislava will be for free and it is a good news since in the last year there was an incredible increase of the car numbers in the city (and not enough parking places are been created). Definitely one month will not change the situation but something is better than nothing right? :)
Hear next week with the most important news of the week and stay safe!

11/12/2021

Hello everyone
also the next week, the lockdown will continue but there are good news at least for the vaccinated and recovered. In fact, starting from Friday 10th December, the non-essential shops, churches ski-centers and fitness centers will be open just the vaccinated people and the ones that recovered from the Covid-19.
This is the first package of measures and the second one will start from 25th of December, where also hotels and similar accommodation facilities will reopen still for vaccinated and recovered people.
Regarding the schools, instead, all the lessons will be switched to remote learning from next Monday. Also the transportation system will be affected by the new measures but still not clear the details.
All these measures will be valid at least till 09th January 2022.
So guys good time to be vaccinated! (or recovered by Covid)
Hear you next week with the most important news in Slovakia and stay safe!

03/12/2021

Hello everyone!
Since we are still in lockdown, no major news to share this week but just a reminder that the situation is still worsening day by day even when everything is closed.
Now also schools will start to switch to online programs and I think that, since the vaccination rate is not improving that much, the lockdown will continue again.. remember the previous year??!! 😞
The only news I would say can be very important to share is that again Bratislava will launch that registrations for regulated parking scheme.. so the lockdown doesn’t stop this measure that I don’t consider a solution for the problem of the lack of parking in Bratislava.. but luckily it will be valid just for the 3 zones that were already active before.. I’m sorry for you guys living there.. you can share your experience about this parking policy if you live there.. maybe I will change my mind 🙂
Hear next week with hopefully good news and stay safe!!

27/11/2021

Hello everyone!

what a time to live in Slovakia!

This week we had "fun" following all the news that were coming from the institutions about the worsening of the pandemic situation, that as you may know, lead to a new lockdown valid for everyone (vaccinated and not vaccinated people) started this Thursday 25th November.

This lockdown will be valid for 2 weeks till 9th of December but it can be prolonged since the government agreed to introduce the state of emergency valid 90 days!

I am summarizing what is possible to do below:

- you can go to buy essential products since supermarkets will remain open together with other essential-good shops, while restaurants or other non-essential shops or facilities will be closed.
- Schools will be open for now but most likely the Christmas vacation will start sooner for the students.
- Working from home is recommended but travelling abroad is still possible.
- Christmas markets in Bratislava are officially canceled.. very sad news :-(
- The foreigners' police will remain open for now
- The employers will start to test unvaccinated employees starting from next Monday 29th October

So no good news this week unfortunately but what we can do.. lets hope it will be just for 2 weeks even if i doubt it..

Have a nice week ahead and stay safe!

18/11/2021

Hello guys
I hope you are fine and ready for the weekend!
Regarding the news of the week, this time I wanted just share one with you that so far it is the most important I have seen lately
From next Monday the government approved a 3 weeks lockdown for unvaccinated people, following the example of other countries like Austria.
Unvaccinated people will need to test themselves two times per week if they want to enter in the premises of the workplace or other public places (restaurants, bar or public offices).
The fine if the measure is not follow is 5.000 euro!!
So guys please respect the rule and let’s hope that this new restriction will help the hospital to release more places occupied by Covid patients!
Hear you next week and be safe!!

13/11/2021

Hello guys
here below you can find the most important news of the week in Slovakia(I have finished my justifications to not be able to release the new episode of the podcast so i go straight to the point :) )

- The third wave of the Covid in Slovakia is getting worse and worse. In fact from the next Monday, 52 districts will turn in the black tier, according to the Covid automat alert system, with stricter restrictions.
- To face this endless issue, the government is trying different ways to fight the virus spreading (like increasing the awareness about the vaccine through media campaigns, introducing the third booster dose and improving the restrictions in the most delicate zones). Another action to stop the pandemic is to give more benefits to the vaccinated people (like access to restaurants inside and public offices, including also the right for the employer to ask to its employees the Covid pass), following the example of other EU countries as Austria and Italy.
- Besides Covid, the parliament didn't approve a law that would restrict the access to abortions

That's all for this week.
Hear next week and be safe!

04/11/2021

Hello guys
Here as usual the most important news of the week in the summary way (I promise the real podcast will be back soon.. hopefully!!)

- the new wave of Covid is getting stronger and from next week half of Slovakia will turn black according to the automat Covid slovak system with of course even more restrictions.

- Bratislava unfortunately will be also affected turning red after long time with increasing of restrictions (still the vaccinated people will have a easier life, as for example to enter in the USA as a visitor)

- besides Covid, an hot topic from the previous week was the climate change discussed during the G20 global meeting and also Slovaks are worried about the consequences of the climate change but a bit more sceptical of carbon neutrality, according to latest surveys.

And here there are the most important news of the week. Hear next week my friends!!

30/10/2021

Hello guys!
Again a summary of news this week but it is a trend that looks like will continue till the end of the year.. anyhow happy Halloween!!
Talking about horror stories, let's move to the news of the week that, as you can imagine, are not the best..

- Next week, unfortunately, the number of black tier districts will double (from 12 to 24), following then the strictest measures set by the Covid Automat alert system (these areas are almost all concentrated in the east-north part of the country).
- Even in this dramatic situation, the Health Ministry said that a national emergency will not be declared.. yet!
- The experts recommend to not travel to the black and dark-red districts at least it is strictly necessary, especially during the next holiday of the 1st of November (guys, the shops will remain close that day so do your grocery upfront!).
- It seems that the only salvation is to get vaccinated and, for who like me already did the two doses of the vaccine, it will be possible to have the third dose, just if six months passed from the administration of the second one (or for people with immunity problems as exception).

It is all for this week! Let's hope for the best and hear you next week!
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23/10/2021

Hello guys
here again this week your weekly summary of the news in Slovakia.

- Central and eastern Slovakia is in the dark-red tier of the European map and it is very bad since it signalizes the highest possible risk of infection. Five more districts will switch to the black tier so the situation is worsening more and more, especially for the escalation of the Delta variant of the virus.

- To mitigate this problem, the health ministry finally introduced a new campaign to boost the vaccination

- In addition, the Covid vaccine booster will be available for more people starting from next Monday 25th October

- A very strange situation is affecting the US citizens that managed to get their UA certificate of vaccination since Slovakia is not accepting it (CZ is accepting it btw)

Hear you next week with a new episode of the summary/podcast!

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16/10/2021

Hello guys
yes i know it is becoming a pattern but what we can do.. at least I am still giving you the most important news of the week.. just different format 🙂
so let's see what we have this week:

- from 18th of October 5 districts will turn Black in the Covid automat system (mainly in the north of the country) and the situation seems getting even worse day by day.. again same story of the previous year..

- to contract the pandemic, experts stressed the importance of the flu shot (especially for older people, patients with chronic diseases and healthcare workers), since the flu season is already here

- one of the most important event of the year for Bratislava will finally take place again (hopefully): the Christmas Markets. The Bratislava city council and the Old Town borough are working to make them safe for all the participants. Finally a good news..

And that's it also for this week.
Stay safe and hear you next week with a new episode/summary of the podcast!

09/10/2021

Hello guys
again same issues this week but as usual I want to share the most important news of the week.
Here they are:
- Covid-19 situation is getting a bit worse this week, especially in the north part of the country and among the young citizens. The experts said that to reach the full national immunization 85% of the population should be vaccinated. As you can imagine the vaccination rate is 50% so still a lot of people to get vaccinated.
- An help is coming next week with the introduction of booster shots in Slovakia, for people with immunity issues and at-risk group. Also the scientists are supporting even more the fight against the pandemic, sharing their knowledge though a new portal.
- Giving the right information is very important in this world of fake news and regarding this topic, a team from Slovakia received an award in Amsterdam, for focusing their researches on YouTube channels and their impact on disinformation. Good job guys!!

And that's it for this week. Hear you next week with a new episode of the podcast (hopefully) or a new news summary!
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02/10/2021

Hello guys
again this week it is crazy at work and I think it will continue even in the next ones i am afraid.
But don't worry, as usual I will try to summarize the most important news of the week for you :)

- Curfew should come (again..) for the dark-red and black districts but, fortunately, in this moment Slovakia is not in the national emergency so for now no curfew!!

- A sad news is that many vaccination teams and the main chief hygienist of Slovakia are threatened by radical antivaxxer.. guys these people are trying to save our lives..

- We conclude with a good news for the people living in Bratislava: the new bus station opened to public and also the roundabout and bike tower, so if you have time, go to see it!!

And that's all for this week, hear you in a week with a new episode/summary of the podcast :-)

25/09/2021

Hello guys
unfortunately this week i didn't manage to release a new episode of the podcast (tons of work to do) but i wanted the same share with you the most important news of the week:

- Bratislava shouldn't face a new lockdown due to high number of vaccinated people in the city
- Many districts are turning orange or even red so it looks like the third wave is already here
- This week there was a Q&A session with the major of Bratislava where he was responding questions from foreign community (language barrier, better communication with foreigners, helping homeless, planting new trees and neglected religious communities)
- Bratislava parking policy changes for some districts with a new registration system
- If you are a foreigners with a permanent resident, you have the right to vote but many local politicians and municipalities are not aware of it

If you want to know more about the topic, you can contact me directly :)
have a nice weekend and hear you hopefully next week with a new episode of the podcast!

18/09/2021

Hello everyone, Today, I would like to present to you a special guest that is very interesting to li

11/09/2021

Hello everyone Here I am again with you to share the most important news of the week from our belove

04/09/2021

Hello guys today i am sharing with you the ninth and last episode of the summer series of my podcast