Government agrees to tighten anti-epidemic measures due to the spread of the more contagious Delta mutation of the coronavirus
As of 9 July, the recognition of infection-free status after the first dose of a two-dose vaccine will no longer apply in the Czech Republic. The rules for entering the Czech Republic will also be tightened. On Thursday 1 July 2021, Andrej Babiš's government approved the modifications to the emergency measures. It also discussed other forms of aid to people and companies affected by the natural disaster in South Moravia and the Ústí nad Labem Region.
As of Friday 9 July, people who have so far received only one dose of a two-dose vaccine will again have to prove a negative test for Covid-19 when visiting restaurants, cultural events, or even when visiting a patient in hospital or a relative in a social care facility. Based on the decision of the Ministry of Health, which has been approved by the government, the first dose will no longer be recognised as sufficient to ensure infection-free status. This is due to the spread of the Delta mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, against which humans are only 30 per cent protected after the first dose.
From now on, in all cases where infection-free status is required by the adopted anti-epidemic measures, a person will be considered infection-free only 14 days after their completed vaccination. This rule shall also apply to any quarantine and isolation ordered by the health authority.
In connection with the spread of the Delta mutation worldwide, the rules for entering the Czech Republic will be tightened from 9 July, even for countries on the low-risk list. Travellers from these countries will now have to fill in an arrival form and, if they are not 14 days after their completed vaccination, they will also have to prove themselves with a negative RT-PCR test. For countries with a low and medium risk of infection, it will be possible to replace the pre-entry test with a test taken within five days of their return.
At the same time, unvaccinated persons returning from abroad will now be barred from entering their workplace without proving a negative test to their employer. It will be possible to go to work after returning from low- and medium-risk countries until a negative test is proven, but these employees will be required to wear at least FFP2 respirators at work.
The Czech Republic will also modify the list of countries with extreme risk of spreading Covid-19 disease. Tunisia will be added onto this list as of 5 July. Putting Great Britain on the list as of 12 July will be determined by the development of the epidemic situation there in the coming days. At the same time, the Ministry of Health has modified the original travel ban to a strong recommendation not to travel to these countries.
The government also addressed the current situation in the regions devastated by the severe tornado and storm a week ago. The government has approved a regulation on the use of Czech Army soldiers in the period until 31 August 2021 for the resolution of the consequences of a disaster caused by a tornado, by which up to 1,000 members of the Czech Army may be involved in the resolution of the consequences of a natural disaster at the request of the governors of the South Moravian and Ústí Regions.
The government also took note of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs' proposal to announce a targeted employment support programme called Tornádo. Employers in the affected regions in South Moravia and Louny District who have found themselves in a situation where, due to damage to their premises and their equipment, they have been prevented from working by the employer or the employee had to resolve the consequences of the disaster on their own property or help with the resolution of damage in the public interest, will be reimbursed by the state for all eligible wage costs for these cases in the period from 25 June to 31 July.
Useful information
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