Measures adopted by the Czech Government against coronavirus

23.03.2020
Office of the Government

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. At later meetings the Government adopted additional measures.

General measures

As of 12 March, the State of emergency was declared.
As of 13 March, full-time education in elementary, secondary and tertiary educational facilities, as well as universities, facilities specialised in language education and activities organised by these subjects are forbidden.
As of 13 March, 6:00 am, all sport, cultural, religious and other activities both public and private encompassing more than 30 persons are forbidden. This is does not apply to meetings of the state administration (e.g. the judiciary, Government meetings, meetings of constitutional authorities) and funerals.
As of 14 March, public access to swimming pools and tourist information centres is forbidden. The same applies to indoor and outdoor sports centres servicing (simultaneously over 30 people) and retail sales in stalls and markets. Restriction applies also to casinos, public restaurants and other eateries, including food courts in shopping malls larger than 5000 m2.
As of 14 March, retail sales and the sales of services on the spot is forbidden, with the exception of foodstuffs, electronics, ICT, fuel, pharmacies, chemists, animal welfare goods and feeds, opticians, newsagents, laundromats and e-shops. The measure is lasting until 24 March and may be prolongated.
As of 16 March, free movement is limited with the exception of travel to and from work and necessary travels to ensure basic human needs (e.g. foodstuffs, pharma shopping, helping older family members). It is forbidden to provide accommodating services.
As of 18 March, all reexports of medicines and medicinal products registered for CZ market to the EU and the export of such outside the EU is forbidden. With effect from the same day, all stores and transport operators are advised to regularly disinfect their premises, particularly areas that commonly come into contact with persons.
As of 19 March, all persons need to be equipped with a face mask or other covering of the nose and mouth while outside of their residence.
As of 20 March, access to retail stores between 7:00am and 9:00am is allowed exclusively for persons over the age of 65.

Press Conference after an extraordinary Meeting of the Government, 19 March 2020. Source: Office of the Government

Measures concerning foreigners and border crossing

As of 14 March, temporary reintroduction of internal borders with Germany and Austria – lasting until 5 April 2020 with possible prolongation. Border crossing possible only at a limited selection of 11 land borders as well as the Prague International Airport and the Prague – Kbely airport. Additional 8 border crossings available for verified cross-border workers. Land borders with Slovakia (from 13 March) and Poland (from 15 March) were closed by local Governments.
As of 16 March, the access to CZ forbidden for all foreign nationals, with the exception of foreign nationals with permanent residence or temporary residence of over 90 days and foreign nationals whose entry is in the interest of CZ.
Persons travelling from risk areas (as defined by Ministry of Health, 15 for the moment) must submit themselves to mandatory 2 weeks quarantine.
CZ citizens are forbidden from departing the country (with possibility of exceptions e.g. cross-border workers).
Foreign nationals with permanent residence or temporary residence of over 90 days may depart the country without right to return for the duration of the state of emergency.
Granting of visas and temporary residence of over 90 days and the relevant procedures at CZ consular offices have been suspended with the exception of foreign nationals whose visa application is in the interest of CZ.
Citizens already legally present in CZ are allowed to stay for the duration of the state of emergency.
As of 21 March, all cross-border workers must submit a proof of foreign employment as well as all relevant documentation when crossing the national border. Documentation will be stamped on crossing.
International air travel, rail travel, coach travel, boat travel and road travel for more than 9 persons is suspended.

Economic measures

As of 17 March, Czech National Bank (CNB) has reduced the two-week repo rate by 50 basis points to 1.75 %, the Lombard rate to 2.75 % and the discount rate to 0.75 %. From 18 March, delivery repos will be promulgated three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). CNB has revised the countercyclical capital buffer for exposures located in the Czech Republic to 1.75 %.
Extension of the deadline for the filing of tax returns until 1 July (standard deadline: 31 March) and remission of any fines stemming from the late submission of tax declarations or reports.
To keep the employment rate, State will provide 100 billion CZK in direct support and 900 billion CZK in indirect in the form of guarantees. Government will pay out (through the respective employers) 60% of the average contribution base to employees affected by the quarantine. At the same time the Government will support employers who continue, despite their businesses being shut down, to pay out 100% of the salary to affected employees by covering 80% of salary costs (all this up to 1,2 billion CZK).
As of 17 March, the Czech-Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank (CMZRB) is running a program for the promotion of business liquidity, where will be an allocation of up to 10 billion CZK for immediate granting of interest-free loans with a one-year deferral with the possibility of a two-year extension for businesses affected by the coronavirus. Businesses will also be supported from other EU operation programmes.
The state will help self-employed persons, who are taking care of a child from 6 to 13 years of age and are not able to go to work due to the coronavirus, by 424 CZK per day.
Three-month grace period introduced for the projected launch of 3^rd and 4^th wave of the Electronic Sales Record system (EET) (due as of 1 May). During the grace period controls will not be carried out and sanctions not handed out.