COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia

6 March

On 6 March, the first coronavirus case in Slovakia was confirmed. It was a 52-year-old man. It was a person-to-person spread, because the infected person had not been outside Slovakia lately, but his son had been in Venice, Italy. His son tested positive the next day, and had not shown any symptoms before.

Number of infected people on this day was 1.

7 March

On 7 March, the 52-year-old man's wife and son tested positive.

Number of infected people on this day was 3.

8 March

Ministry of Interior of Slovak Republic confirmed two more cases. The first infected person was a teacher in an infant school in Ružinov, Bratislava and the other one was an public transit bus driver from Bratislava.

9 March

The condition of the first infected man had gotten worse, and he was transported to an intensive care unit.[27] Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini confirmed that there were 2 more cases of coronavirus in Slovakia. The first case was an employee of the U. S. Steel company in Košice and the second case was his wife from Martin.[28] In a press conference, the mayor of Bratislava Matúš Vallo announced that effective from Tuesday all educational institutions: (kindergartens, schools, universities) in Bratislava (city and Region) will be closed until Friday. Later on, a nationwide school quarantine was imposed for 2 weeks (until the 27 March).

11 March

On this day, three more cases of the coronavirus were confirmed, taking the total number of infected to 10. Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini said that these people had been in contact with the infected Slovak family in Kittsee, Austria.[29]

12 March

Six new cases of patients were confirmed by the prime minister at the country's crisis meeting which started at 11AM. All of the cases happened in Bratislava, as confirmed by the debriefing of the crisis meeting.[30] Later that day, five more cases were confirmed positive, making the number of COVID-19 cases rise to 21, mostly spread around the western region of the country.[31] Starting from 7AM (CET) border control was reinstated on the borders with Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. No traveller without a permanent residence or employment in Slovakia would be admitted. The train timetable during holidays for domestic trains became valid on weekdays as well. According to Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, “Everything which is not vital will be closed for 14 days”, in order to restrict the propagation of the virus.[32] 20 health workers from the University Hospital in Ružinov were quarantined after unfair preferential admittance of a positively diagnosed patient arriving from Miami by the hospital director (case #11).

13 March

A queue of cars and trucks waiting to cross the Slovak border on 13 March

All three international airports (Bratislava, Košice, Poprad-Tatry) were closed from 7 AM for international passenger flights.[32] 9 people tested positive. Later that day, another 2 people tested positive, taking the number of coronavirus cases to 32. The IIHF cancelled the World U18 Championship Division I Group A in Spišská Nová Ves, (13-19 April).[33]

14 March

Twelve people tested positive, making for 44 cases of coronavirus in total.[34]

15 March

Ten people tested positive. Later that day, another 7 people tested positive, taking the number of coronavirus cases to 61. Slovakia officially declared a state of emergency.

16 March

People in Bratislava wearing masks on 16 March

Two people tested positive. Later that day, another 9 people tested positive, taking the number of coronavirus cases to 72.[35] 27 medical workers from the emergency department in Kramare hospital were quarantined, after a colleague of theirs - a surgeon tested positive upon returning from abroad.[36]

17 March

Twenty-five people tested positive, taking the number of cases to 97 infected out of 1913 people tested. The Institute of the Health Policy expected the number of infected to reach 10% of the country's population. This would occur around 110 days from the start of the epidemic.[37]

Distribution of 105 cases in the municipalities of Slovakia on 18th of March, 2020.

18 March

Slovakia was among the first countries in the world (and the second in Europe, after the Czech Republic) to make the wearing of masks mandatory in public.[38]

Eight people tested positive, the number went over 100, and the total number of cases was 105. On this day prime minister Peter Pellegrini announced the first death: an 84-year-old woman. It remained unknown if she had died because of the Coronavirus, because she had several other major health problems.[39] Later on, Pellegrini announced that with high probability, massive heart attack was cause of death.[40] Of the 105 cases, only 35 (34%) were hospitalised. Twice as many: 70 (66%) were in home quarantine.[41] Even though infection ward capacities were not enough as their bed numbers had been decreased. The second largest and also international train station in Bratislava - Petržalka stopped all passenger transport and also closed the underpass connecting Panónská and Kopčianska streets.[42]

19 March

Nineteen new cases of the infection were recorded on this day. At least 5 of them were in home isolation (mainly cases diagnosed in Bratislava) the remaining 14 cases were hospitalised. Lowering the number of home treatment to 60% and increasing those hospitalised to 40%. As the autopsy of the woman who had died the day before decided that a stroke was the likely cause of death, she was dropped from the total number of patients, which climbed to 123, as opposed to 124, active cases in total.[43]

20 March

Fourteen people tested positive, increasing the number of cases to 137.[34] 3 of them, 2 males: one from Humenné, the other from Michalovce and a woman from Jakubovany were placed in the Quarantine Center in Gabčíkovo.[44] In terms of hospitalisations: the total number grew to 60 (43%) of all cases. The remaining cases are under home isolation. In terms of spreading: 3 cases were identified upon return from Austria (all 3 quarantined at Gabčíkovo), one upon return from Paris and one had been in contact with a person from Austria. 7 patients who had contracted novel coronavirus have been released from hospital today.[45]

All games in Slovakia's top football league: Fortuna Liga were to be postponed till May.[46] Slovnaft donated 6 lung respirators to the University Hospital of Bratislava (UNB).[47] The infectious hospital at Kramáre set up a tent for triaging and testing in front of its ordinary entrance.[48] Late in the evening the first plane with 198 passengers on board brought Slovaks willing to return home from abroad. The plane came from the United Kingdom, all passengers were tested and underwent a mandatory quarantine in the center in Gabčíkovo.[49]

21 March

Forty-one people tested positive, increasing the number of cases to 179. That was the highest increase since the beginning of the spread. 399 tests were conducted on that day, making the total 3257 which is far behind what should have been done, according to many experts. Also only 3000 tests remain, which should barely last for 10 days. The Kardiocentrum Nitra closed on this day and the staff were quarantined after the admission of a patient suspected of having Coronavirus.[50] Also in Nitra, a second tent was raised at the hospital grounds to serve as a temporary infectious triage centre.[51] Slovak mobile operators came forward with different offers and packages to help their clients, ranging from free calls to health service numbers, increased speeds and volume of data packages, as well as entertainment channels, mainly for kids.[52] Slovaks returning home with the help of the government filled all three quarantine facilities (Gabčíkovo, Liptovský Ján, Donovaly) ran by the Ministry of Interior. A fourth one was opened in Vysoké Tatry under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence.[53] Banks announced they would allow clients to postpone payments of their monthly installments on loans.[54]

22 March

Seven more people tested positive. 235 tests were negative. Total tests: 3499. 6 of the seven cases are hospitalized: 2 in each of the hospitals of Bratislava, Nitra and Martin. One person was in a quarantine in the Gabčíkovo Quarantine Center.[55] The entire gynecological department of the University hospital in Ružinov, Bratislava was closed today, after it was discovered that a doctor has recently returned from abroad.[56] Blood reserves and blood donations were decreasing.[57] Buses with Slovaks from the UK arrived in a quarantine center in Bardejov.[58]

23 March

The new Prime Minister, Igor Matovič, announced that he wants to test 3000 people every day.[58]

24 March

The number of cases from the previous day starts to be updated in the morning of the next day.[58]

26 March

First 2 people are officially recovered.[58]

30 March

Twenty-two more people tested positive on the previous day. Total tests: 7441. Blood donations are decreasing rapidly. New Minister of Health Marek Krajčí asked all eligible people to donate blood, if possible.[58] 60-year-old man has died just hours after being released from hospital where he was treated at pulmonary department and tested for COVID-19 with positive result.[59] The cause of death was not yet confirmed to be due to COVID-19 as of 5th April.

6 April

Among the people tested positive the previous day, 34 were detected in a car convoy at the borders. They were coming home from Austria.[58]

7 April

Among the people tested positive the previous day, 24 were in state quarantine for people returning from abroad. The cause of death of the 60-year-old man who died on 30 March was confirmed to be due to COVID-19.[58]

8 April

Among the people tested positive the previous day, 31 were in isolated Roma communities Žehra, Krompachy and Bystrany.[58]

13 April

The previous day, 84 people have recovered. This sudden jump is due to cases who recovered at home without the need to be hospitalized. Regional districts did not report these cases previously.[58]