Slovakia begins two week lockdown as virus surges

Slovakia began a two-week national lockdown on Thursday amid a record surge of coronavirus infections.

Under lockdown, people can leave their homes only for certain specific reasons. These include buying essential goods in the nearest stores to their homes, travelling to work and school or to get vaccinated, tested for the coronavirus or for medical treatment.

If working from home is not possible, people will need to have a document from their employers about where their workplace is with details on their working hours.

Walking a dog is allowed within 500 meters (yards) from people's homes.

The Health Ministry said daily infections surpassed 10-thousand for the first time, with 10,315 testing positive on Tuesday. That's over 1,000 more than the previous record registered Friday.

With 13,080 infections in the last seven days per one million people, the nation of 5.5 million is facing the worst surge in the world, according to Our World In Data.

The government was mulling a two- or three-week national lockdown that is supported by President Zuzana Čaputová, who called it "unavoidable."

Ján Mikas, the government's top official leading the country's response to the pandemic, said Thursday the nation is "in a state of emergency."

"Only essential facilities remain open," Mikas said.

At 45.7%, Slovakia's vaccination rate is one of the lowest in the European Union.

Overall, Slovakia has registered 631,738 virus cases with 14,056 deaths.