Press Advisories
18. 3. 2020
The government requires the wearing of protective equipment and reserved time for pensioners to do their food shopping
At an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, 18 March 2020, the government approved several new measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus. It is introducing a ban on any movement outside one’s place of residence without protective respiratory equipment. At the same time, for senior citizens over the age of 65, a time has been reserved for food shopping, from 10.00 to 12.00. Those “commuting” to work abroad will be subject to stricter curfew rules.
16. 3. 2020
Due to the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, the government has restricted the free movement of people to the essential minimum
At an extraordinary meeting of the government on Sunday, 15 March 2020, the government of Andrej Babiš decided, as part of its precautionary steps, to take additional emergency measures against the spread of SARS CoV-2. From midnight on 16 March until March 24, 6:00, it has declared restrictions on the free movement of people with certain defined and necessary exceptions. It also extended the reintroduction of border surveillance.
14. 3. 2020
The government is strengthening preventive measures, closing shops and restaurants to the public for ten days
The government has adopted further extraordinary preventive measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus infection in the Czech Republic. From Saturday 14 March 2020 at 6:00 to 24 March 2020 at 6:00 all shops are closed except for shops selling foodstuffs, sanitary and drugstore goods, pharmacies and dispensaries of medical devices, heating materials and fuels, spectacles and contact lenses, computer and telecommunications technology, consumer electronics and household products, tobacco products, small household pets, pet food and other pet supplies, newspapers and magazines, laundry and dry cleaning services, and sales via the Internet and other remote means.
14. 3. 2020
The government has taken further extraordinary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus
Czech citizens and foreigners resident in the Czech Republic are not allowed to leave the country starting at midnight from Sunday to Monday, 16 March, with certain exceptions. At the same time, a similar ban will also apply to foreigners who would like to come to the Czech Republic and do not have permanent or long-term temporary residence. Together with other preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus, this was decided by the government of Andrej Babiš at an extraordinary meeting on Friday, 13 March 2020.
13. 3. 2020
Emergency measures in international transport will take effect on Saturday
From Saturday, traveling abroad will be restricted to passenger cars only, as cross-border bus, train and ferry passenger transport will be suspended. The new measures will also affect international air passenger transport.
12. 3. 2020
Due to the spread of the coronavirus the government has declared a state of emergency and on 12 March 2020 further tightened preventive measures
At an extraordinary meeting on Thursday 12 March 2020, the government of Andrej Babiš decided to declare a state of emergency in the Czech Republic in connection with the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus. At the same time, it announced further stricter preventive measures to limit the spread of the disease. It has for example banned travel to the most high-risk countries and has banned foreigners from those countries from entering the country. It has also radically reduced the conditions for gatherings of larger groups of people.
10. 3. 2020
Due to the spread of the coronavirus, visits to hospitals and social care institutions will be prohibited, with some exceptions
At an emergency meeting on Monday, 9 March 2020, the State Security Council again discussed the situation regarding the spread of the COVID-19 infection. It discussed further preventive measures being prepared by the Ministry of Health, this time affecting in-patient wards of hospitals and social care institutions. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš again urged Czech citizens to reconsider their travel plans to high-risk areas with an increased incidence of SARS-CoV-2.
10. 3. 2020
To prevent further spreading of coronavirus cultural, sporting and social events involving over 100 people are banned
From Tuesday, 10 March at 18:00, theatrical, musical, cinema performances and other artistic, sports and religious events, markets, trade fairs and other public and private events with an expected participation of more than 100 people are prohibited in the Czech Republic. The personal attendance of pupils and students at elementary, secondary and tertiary vocational schools, apprentice schools and at universities is also prohibited. On Tuesday 10 March 2020, Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch ruled on this on the basis of the development of the epidemiological situation concerning the spread of the coronavirus and at the recommendation of the extended praesidium of the State Security Council.
7. 3. 2020
New obligation for foreigners living in the Czech Republic
New obligation for foreigners (including EU citizens) living in the Czech Republic after their return from the Italian Republic.
6. 3. 2020
Czech citizens returning from Italy must go into quarantine, the state will arrange possible compensation for employers
All Czech citizens returning from a stay in Italy will have to spend two weeks after their return in quarantine. Based on the current spread of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus, the Ministry of Health has issued an appropriate relevant legal measure. On Friday, 6 March 2020, this approach was agreed by members of the government with the regional governors, at a meeting at the Straka Academy.
