Tightening of the government's crisis measures of 8 October 2020 with effect from 14 October 2020
On 12 October 2020, the Government of the Czech Republic announced new crisis measures, which tightened the ban on mass events, banned the public's presence in the interior of restaurants and catering establishments and restricted the operation of shopping centers. Among other things, the government restricted the functioning of schools (excluding kindergartens) and imposed work duties on students of selected universities and secondary schools. These crisis measures are generally effective from 14 October 2020 to 2 November 2020.
The Government of the Czech Republic (the “Government”) by Government Resolution No. 1021 prohibited the holding of mass events in the interiors of buildings or in exteriors, with a maximum number of 6 people. Exceptions are the performance of joint business activities, the performance of work by employees and the performance of other activities for which the joint performance above the set limit of 6 persons follows from the law. All persons participating in mass events are required to maintain a spacing of at least 2 metres. This prohibition shall no longer apply to meetings, sessions and similar events of constitutional bodies, public authorities, courts or other bodies governed by public law, with a maximum attendance of 100 persons and a spacing of at least 2 metres.
Mass events such as music, film, theater and other artistic performances, group choral singing for more than 5 people, congresses and other educational events, operation of casinos and games rooms, sports grounds, museums, galleries, exhibition spaces and others are still prohibited.
With this measure, the government restricted the operation of catering services by banning the presence of the public in these establishments. Exceptions are non-public establishments, such as staff canteens, meals for health and social service providers and prisons. In this case, the operating hours are set from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm Among other things, these hygienic measures must be observed, such as table spacings of 1.5 metres, maximum number of 4 people at one table (excluding household members), limitation of the number of customers to the number of seats in the interior of the establishment and a ban on music, dancing and access to wifi connection. This prohibition does not apply to fast food establishments with a service window or the sale of food to take away, the operation of which is prohibited between 20:00 and 6:00.
Furthermore, the activities of shopping centres (over 5,000 m2) were limited by access to groups of a maximum of 2 people and in compliance with other hygienic measures resulting from this government resolution.
By Government Resolution No. 1022, the government restricted the functioning of universities, so that, with the exception of kindergartens, full-time teaching was restricted, so schools are obliged to start distance education.
By Crisis Measure No. 1023, the government imposed a duty on students and pupils of selected schools for the purposes of protecting public health. The crisis measure also required the government to ensure the continuity of the provision of non-insurance social benefits and identity cards (Government Resolution No. 1024) and the provision of care in facilities for children requiring immediate assistance (Government Resolution No. 1027), and laid down all related hygiene measures ( Government Resolution No. 1028).