Current information on COVID-19 in the Czech Republic

We would like to remind you that it is your responsibility to check whether you are allowed to travel to Brno.

Check your country's travel regulations
Check your employer's business travel and/or reimbursement rules
Check the Czech regulations for entering the country
Check your country's regulations for returning home
Check the airline(s) you will be using for your travel

If you are not able, due to travel restrictions, to travel to Brno and you would like to change your in-person participation to online participation, please contact the conference secretariat as soon as possible at info@interspeech2021.org

IMPORTANT: participants from USA, UK and Israel: all three countries are from August 23 countries with a very high risk of infection (dark red countries). Participants have to fill in the Passenger Locator Form, undergo a PCR test with a negative result before travelling to the Czech Republic and after the arrival undergo a PCR test not earlier than the 5th day. Self-isolation is required until a negative test result is obtained. Those participants who are vaccinated with EMA approved vaccines as are Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), Spikevax (Moderna), Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Janssen (Jonhson & Jonhson) and Covishield or had COVID-19 in the last 180 days do NOT have the obligation to undergo testing and self-isolation after the arrival. Only fill in the Passenger Locator Form and provide a certificate. Read more information bellow.

Notice: check the travel conditions of the airline or other transport company with which you will travel to the Czech Republic. The conditions may differ from the conditions for entry into the Czech Republic issued by the government of the Czech Republic.

General conditions for non-infectivity: the person must not have symptoms of covid-19, must have a result from an antigen test no older than 72 hours, or PCR test no older than 7 days, be fully vaccinated and have proof of national vaccination (i.e. have at least 14 days after the last dose of vaccine), or have proof of having had covid-19 for no longer than 180 days. It is no longer mandatory to wear protection outdoors where it will be possible to keep a maximum number of two people, at less than two meters apart. However, an exception to this rule applies for the time strictly necessary for the consumption of food and beverages outside catering establishments. However, this rule does not apply to passengers from countries at a certain risk of infection (see below).

General conditions for services for e.g. cultural events, restaurants, hospitality, museums, galleries, castles and other can be found at https://covid.gov.cz/en/measures

Hospitality: in addition to meeting the general conditions for non-infectivity, the stay can be for a maximum of 7 days and in the case of a longer stay it is necessary to provide proof of non-infectivity again.

Czech venues take your safety seriously. Increased hygiene measures are applied in venues: above-standard cleaning, disinfectants are available for delegates, tailor-made catering, health check of employees and more.

Rules for arrival from abroad (as of August 23, 2021):

Passengers from countries where there is a certain risk of infection must wear a respirator covering or approved mask for 14 days after coming to the Czech Republic.

List of countries by risk of infection: https://koronavirus.mzcr.cz/en/list-of-countries-according-to-the-level-of-risk/

List of countries by risk of infection (world): https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/information_for_aliens/news/before_you_travel_step_by_step_guide_on.html

There is an obligation for persons arriving from all countries (including the low-risk green category) to provide a completely filled arrival form. People who have been vaccinated, people who have had COVID-19 in the last 180 days and children under the age of 6 do not need to take tests or self-isolate. All others are obliged to undergo tests to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and eventually undergo self-isolation according to specifications. Read more bellow.

Countries with a low risk of infection (green countries)

Fill in the electronic Passenger Locator Form and before entering the territory of the Czech Republic, have written confirmation from an accredited laboratory of a negative result of the antigenic or RT-PCR test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 before or after arrival. Persons who have had covid-19 in the last 180 days or who are vaccinated do not have to undergo testing, only fill in the Passenger Locator Form and provide the appropriate certificate in English with the possibility of remote verification (QR code).

Countries with a medium risk of infection (orange countries):

Countries at high risk of infection (red countries)

Fill in the electronic Passenger Locator Form and before entering the Czech Republic, have written confirmation from an accredited laboratory of a negative result of a RT-PCR test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and after entering the Czech Republic you must undergo an RT-PCR test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 not earlier than the 5th day after the arrival. Self-isolation is required until a negative test result is obtained. Persons who have had covid-19 in the last 180 days or who are vaccinated do not have to undergo testing, only fill in the Passenger Locator Form and provide the appropriate certificate in English with the possibility of remote verification (QR code).

Countries with a very high risk of infection (dark red countries)

Fill in the electronic Passenger Locator Form and before entering the territory of the Czech Republic, you must have written confirmation from an accredited laboratory of a negative result of the RT-PCR test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, which was performed no more than 72 hours before the start of the trip. Not earlier than the 5th day after entry into the territory of the Czech Republic, to undergo an RT-PCR test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 at your own expense. Self-isolation is required until a negative test result is obtained. Persons who have had covid-19 in the last 180 days or who are vaccinated do not have to undergo testing, only fill in the Passenger Locator Form and provide the appropriate certificate in English with the possibility of remote verification (QR code).

Countries with an extreme risk of infection

Entry is only allowed for citizens and residents of Czechia, foreign nationals with a long-term residence permit, accredited members of diplomatic missions and if the entry is in the interest of Czechia.

Fill in the electronic Passenger Locator Form and before entering the Czech Republic, you must have written confirmation from an accredited laboratory of a negative result of the RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, which was performed no more than 72 hours before the start of the trip and confirmation of booking for an RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, which will be performed within 24 hours of entering the territory of the Czech Republic.

Within 24 hours of entering the Czech Republic, you must undergo an RT-PCR test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 at your own expense and no earlier than the 10th day, but no later than the 14th day after entering the Czech Republic, a PCR test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Self-isolation is required until a negative result of the 2nd test is obtained. Persons who have had covid-19 in the last 180 days or who are vaccinated do not have to undergo testing, only fill in the Passenger Locator Form and provide the appropriate certificate in English with the possibility of remote verification (QR code).

Certificates

From August 23 groups of persons, who do NOT have the obligation to undergo testing and self-isolation after the arrival:

Persons who have had Covid-19 in the last 180 days (it is necessary to have an EU digital COVID certificate or a certificate issued by an authorized subject operating in a third country, for which was adopted an implementing act in accordance with the European Union regulation on EU digital COVID certificates)
Vaccinated persons – 14 days after application of the last dose – according to these rules:
- Vaccinated in the EU+ - it is necessary to have an EU digital COVID certificate
- Vaccinated outside of the EU+ - it is necessary to have an EU digital COVID certificate or a written confirmation of which a sample is published on the Ministry of Health website; only vaccinations approved by EMA or products produced in compliance with the patent of the approved vaccinations are accepted*
EMA approved vaccines are Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), Spikevax (Moderna), Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Janssen (Jonhson & Jonhson) and Covishield.

COVID certificates recognized in the Czech Republic: EU, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Vatican, Northern Macedonia, Ukraine, Turkey, Armenia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Malaysia, Moldova, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, USA, Serbia, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

Other countries citizens (Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Japan, Canada, Qatar, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, New Zealand, Oman, Singapore, United Arab Emirates , Citizens of Taiwan, Uruguay and Vietnam) vaccinated with EMA approved vaccination who do not have an EU digital certificate must register a national vaccination card. According to an extraordinary measure, every provider of health services in the Czech Republic, eg a general practitioner, polyclinic, hospital, can issue an EU certificate to citizens vaccinated in third countries. Holders of certificates from other third countries cannot be issued a Czech digital certificate COVID. In addition, the certificates are issued by regional hygienic stations, which can be contacted via the hotline 1221 (COVID-19 in the Czech Republic on weekdays from 8 am to 7 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 4.30 pm). To call from abroad, use the number +420226 20 1221.

A sample of an EU digital COVID certificate can be found here: https://koronavirus.mzcr.cz/vzor-narodniho-certifikatu-ceske-republiky/

Essentials of the COVID certificate:

it is a written confirmation issued at least in English by an authorized body operating in the third country in question that the vaccination has been fully completed,
the written confirmation must contain details of the person to be vaccinated, the type of vaccine administered, the date of administration of the vaccine, the identification of the subject who issued the confirmation and these data must be verifiable by remote access directly from the written confirmation,
the certificate contains a QR code that can be read by a regular reader
the certificate is accompanied by any other document that will allow remote verifiability (eg a medical report issued by the establishment which carried out the vaccination). This document must be at least in English, or translated into Czech (in case of other countries citizens listed above)

A foreigner detained by the police is obliged to undergo a PCR test.

Help us stop COVID-19. When visiting the Czech Republic, please follow basic hygiene rules: wear an FFP2/KN95 face-mask indoors and outdoors, wash your hands carefully, keep social distancing.