Following instructions from the Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, from tomorrow all passengers arriving in Bratislava from Italy will be checked. Slovakia is thus responding to the current situation in Italy with regard to COVID-19 (new coronavirus). All flights from Italy to Bratislava will be accompanied by more stringent checks regarding passenger health. Every passenger on board an aircraft from Italy to Bratislava will have to fill out a questionnaire which will enable us to identify and, if necessary, search Slovakia if necessary after arrival. stated Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini in charge of health department management.We recommend that holidaymakers who have spent their last days in the north of Italy contact experts on telephone lines established by the resort for this purpose if necessary. There are non-stop telephone lines established at the regional public health authorities, as well as an e-mail address where consultation experts are continuously prepared, said Peter Pellegrini. If a person with symptoms similar to COVID-19 is identified on board an aircraft, in which case immediately upon arrival he will be taken by a special isolation ambulance for infectious compartments to the hospital, completed the chief sanitary officer of the Slovak Republic, Jan Mikas. Following the January meeting of the crisis staff at the Ministry of Health under the leadership of the Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, the following measures were also implemented: - exercises in selected hospitals,- exercises at selected border crossing points,- exercise at the airport M.R. Štefánik in Bratislava,- telephone infolines 24/7 and e-mail address for public questions, - laboratory diagnostics are done since 3 February already in Slovakia at the National Reference Centre, the results are known within several hours.At the request of the chief health officer at the crisis staff meeting, I instructed to reserve EUR 400 000 for the purchase of even better equipment for laboratory diagnostics, said Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini. New Coronavirus in Slovakia not yet confirmed. All 55 samples were negative. The Ministry of Health and the Public Health Office are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared, if necessary, in cooperation with

other departments to take the necessary measures. Slovakia is so closely monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19 and is ready to handle it if it is confirmed on our territory. We have the situation under control, we are taking all precautions to ensure maximum protection of people, said the Prime Minister. What else did we do: As soon as the new coronavirus was opened, I gave guidance and sent it to all regional public health authorities and key departments in order to inform the patient's proper management in case of suspected disease. At the public health office, we also developed a procedure for laboratory diagnosis of the disease and guidance for the collection of biological material, described the chief sanitary officer of the Slovak Republic, Jan Mikas. There are also information boards with the theme of prevention against the new coronavirus at the Airport M.R. Štefánik in Bratislava, while passengers also have two types of leaflets for awareness and information. The health department shall be informed of the situation at the airport and shall take operational action. Recommendations for travellers:Check your health within 14 days of arrival from the affected area (cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fever). At this time it is necessary to think about prevention. When sneezing, the nose and mouth should be covered with a disposable tissue, which should be thrown into the trash, as well as washing your hands frequently with soap and water. If a person is suspected of being infected with coronavirus and has not yet experienced any symptoms, it is possible, due to his own decision, to undergo domestic isolation for 14 days in a separate room, to increase the intensity of surface disinfection and to use protective equipment. It is also standard practice in other European countries with no need for strict quarantine measures. If clinical symptoms occur within 14 days of return, you should contact your treating doctor by phone and inform him of the travel history. If immediate medical care is necessary for a person with clinical symptoms, it is necessary to contact the operating centre of the emergency health service (the general doctor and rescue workers are following this situation with an emphasis on the necessary preventive measures as set out in the guidelines for the main hygiene of the Slovak Republic in relation to the newcoronavirus).If the doctor expresses suspicion of COVID-19, with a responsible assessment of the clinical and epidemiological criteria with emphasis on the travel history, the patient is addressed at the appropriate infectological workplace which will determine the next treatment procedure. Closed the chief sanitary officer of the Slovak Republic, Jan Mikas.