Government Restrictions of Activities inside the Czech Republic
State of Emergency was declared on March 12 and was terminated on May 17, 2020. The government announced on May 11 they were not planning to ask the Chamber of Deputies for extension of the state of emergency.
Last update on June 29, 2020.
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Eased restrictions will not apply to Moravian-Silezian region, areas of Karviná and Frýdek-Místek, as well as in Prague. In Moravian-Silesian hotspots, nose/mouth cover is obligatory, size of events was restricted to 100 partcipants both indoors and outdoors, 2 m distance between persons and strict hygienic rules have to be kept, visits are banned in hospitals and social care facilities, PCR testing of new patients, employees of these facilities is obligatory, bars and restaurants are obliged to close at 23.00 and open at 8.00, cross-border workers are obliged to undergo and submit a negative PCR test result.
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In Prague, nose/mouth cover is obligatory when using the underground/metro, as well as at indoor events for more than 100 participants.
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Nation-wide, after July 1, nose/mouth cover will be obligatory in health and social care facilities.
- Until July 1, the obligation to cover nose/mouth is still applicable in public transportation, taxis, indoor spaces (buildings, shops, restaurants, castles, theatres, cinemas, concert halls, petrol stations, indoor pavillions of ZOOs) where there is higher concentration of people and/or the distance of 2m can't be kept. Employees in manufacturing facilities and in offices are not obliged to wear nose/mouth cover (obligatory distance of 2m). The same exception applies to swimming pools from June 1, see the list of all exceptions as of June 22. After July 1, nose/mouth cover obligation will apply locally in areas with higher incidence of Covid-19 (see above).
- The elderly citizens aged 70+ or persons in risk categories are not recommended to stay at crowded places. The shopping hours 8.00-10.00 for the elderly were lifted.
- Public transportation lines resumed regular operations (nose/mouth cover is obligatory).
- The Government decided to relax measures restricting international railway and bus transportation - starting on May 11. International private passenger travel has partially resumed. The transportation companies have to follow emergency measures of the foreign countries through which they travel. Airports in Brno, Karlovy Vary, Ostrava, Pardubice re-opened.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs published updated travel recommendations, including conditions related to negative PCR test result for residents and foreigners entering the territory of the Czech Republic.
- The system of traffic lights shows the level of risk for individual countries. More about border regime here and here.
- An obligation for landlords using digital platforms (e.g. Airbnb), to inform the municipal trade licensing office, at its request, of the number of contracts concluded for tourism services, the total price for these services, as well as the address of the place where guests were staying. In the future, the data may be used to trace those accommodated in the event of the threat of the infection spreading.
- 2 m distance is not required in cinemas, concert halls, theatres, but nose/mouth cover obligation remains in place. Outdoor sports and cultural activities are allowed, given the hygienic conditions and the safe distance is met. As of June 22, events for up to 1,000 persons are allowed to take place (see exceptions above), fairs and sports events for up to 5,000 persons are allowed. Big events with thousands of participants are banned until the end of October.
- From 25 May, ZOOs, castles, aqua parks resumed operations in full scope, including interior parts (mouth/nose cover obligatory). The Government decided to further increase visitor capacity from June 1.
- From May 11, practically whole retail sector re-opened, including shopping malls. On May 25, hotels and restaurants are allowed to resume their oprerations. From July 1, bars can remain open after 23.00.
- From April 27, university students from all years can rejoin the educational process, under given conditions (consultations for up to 5 students). From May 11, there can be up to 15 university students in a group. From May 11, secondary school students preparing for their final exams will return to school. Pupils in the final year of elementary school (9th grade) can voluntarily return to school for preparation for exams in groups of up to 15 students. The same rule (up to 15 students in a group) applies to arts, language schools or leisure time activities at centers for youth. On May 25, elementary schools re-opened for classes of up to 15 pupils. From 8 June, secondary level students may return to schools in a consultation format, under given hygienic and social distancing rules (specific types of schools can open from June 1).
- Summer camps for children (300-500 persons) can tale place from June 27.
- From May 25, visits in elderly homes, hospitals are allowed, but some hospitals do not allow visits or under limited conditions (see above). Deliberate spread of new coronavirus is a crime.
- From May 25, all post offices are fully open, opening hours returned to the state prior to the state of emergency.
- Telecommunications operators and banks are obliged to assist the authorities in tracing the spread of the coronavirus; on March 30, the Government announced Smart Quarantine pilot project launch in the South Moravian region, which has traced the contacts of positively tested individuals to COVID-19 using modern information technology and is intended to help regional hygiene stations trace other potentially infected. The tracing is conducted with assistance of the Czech army and Smart quarantine was extended to all 14 regions of the Czech Republic by May 1. Ministry of Health will take the project over from the army.
- The second part of the Smart Quarantine project will include improved data sharing between laboratories and hygienic stations.
- Amendment on the powers of the Czech Police and the municipal police to penalise breaches of crisis measures was adopted. Police officers will be able to penalise (up to 10,000 CZK) on the spot any persons in breach of the crisis measures, even in cases that have to be normally dealt with in administrative proceedings.
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