The government has once again tightened restrictions on the free movement of persons and the retail sale and provision of services

October 30, 2020  |  Crisis and emergency measures

With respect to the deterioration of the current Covid-19 epidemiological situation, the Government of the Czech Republic has issued crisis measures tightening the current ban on the free movement of persons, with effect from 28 October 2020 from 00:00 to 3 November 2020 at 23:59 and the ban and restrictions retail sales and sales and provision of services from 28 October 2020 from 00:00 to 3 November 2020 23:59.

The Government of the Czech Republic (the “Government”) adopted Government Resolution No. 1102 with effect from 28 October 2020 from 0:00 am. By this crisis measure, the Government prohibited the free movement of persons from 9:00 pm to 4:59 am. This prohibition includes journeys to work, business or other similar activities, as well as journeys back to the place of residence and urgent activities and journeys which are strictly necessary for the protection of life, health, property and other legally protected interests.

In the period from 5:00 am to 8:59 pm, the previous measures were tightened by prohibiting the free movement of persons, with the exception of travel to and from business and other similar activities and back to the place of residence. Furthermore, the exceptions include, in particular, travel strictly necessary for the provision of basic necessities, to medical facilities, for the purpose of settling urgent official matters and for the purpose of leaving the Czech Republic (under the conditions specified in this article).

In publicly accessible places, the rule of the number of two persons was newly introduced, with the exception of household members, employee and business groups, persons performing joint activities according to the law and children, or students.

The Government adopted Resolution No. 1103, which prohibited the retail sale and sale and provision of services in establishments from 28 October 2020 from 00:00 to 3 November 2020 at 23:59, with the exception of establishments listed in paragraph 1 of this resolution (in particular these are grocery stores, fuels, hygiene supplies, road vehicle repair and repair shops and computer and telecommunications equipment service shops, collection and purchase of raw materials). Furthermore, the operation of catering services and catering services located in shopping centers (over 5,000 m2), the provision of accommodation services (e.g. excluding foreigners leaving the Czech Republic, persons for business purposes, persons in quarantine or isolation and persons whose accommodation was started before of this resolution). The consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places was also prohibited.

The operation of catering services for employees and other similar facilities, the operation of social clubs (music, dance, games) and discos, the operation of shopping centers, florists and farmers' markets continued to be limited. All restrictions must be carried out under strict hygienic measures in accordance with this resolution.