(Credit: Opera Online)

The Slovak government has declared 90-day long state of emergency due to the uncontrolled spread of SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. Additionally, the government has decided to impose a strict two-week lockdown.

People will only be allowed to leave their homes to go to the shops or to work; to take a walk in the park; to visit their doctor or go to the hospital.

“We all wish and hope that the situation will improve by then,” said Economy Minister Richard Sulík. “We will evaluate the situation again in 10 days.”

The Slovak National Theater has thus cancelled all performances during the aforementioned period, including a production of Puccini’s “La bohème.”

Slovakia has now become the second European country to enter a national lockdown. Austria entered a three-week long lockdown on Nov. 22, 2021.

Slovakia logged 10,315 new COVID-19 cases on Nov. 23, 2021, thus setting a pandemic record.