Slovak quarantine measures in Romani settlement are over, police and soldiers no longer on guard there

The Regional Public Health Authority in Trnava, Slovakia overturned the movement restrictions that were in effect for Ratnovce in Piešťany District as of Monday, 28 December and, given the expiration of the 10-day quarantine period, has stopped monitoring whether home isolation and other quarantine measures are being upheld by residents there. The measures had been instituted on the basis of COVID-19 testing results in the Romani settlement.  

Of 88 people tested there earlier this month, 28 were found to be positive for the virus. Police officers and soldiers arranged 24-hour checkpoints surrounding the settlement to prevent residents leaving and unauthorized entries. 

Since residents were unable to travel into the community to shop, municipal officials arranged for food delivery to them. The situation became exacerbated two days after the quarantine measures were imposed, when a 25-year-old man passed away in the settlement. 

Residents were greatly affected by his death and Slovak Government Plenipotentiary for Romani Communities Andrea Bučková mediated the provision of professional psychological aid to them. The Mayor of Ratnovce, Daniela Sigetová, told the Slovak news agency SITA that the situation in the community has since calmed down. 

The central public health official had instructed local representatives to arrange for the disinfection of public spaces immediately abutting the houses of those who have been afflicted by the virus, but before the municipality could implement those instructions, the quarantine was lifted. Currently about 200 people live in the settlement.