Some of the most important new Covid-related measures in force in March 2021 

STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PLACE FROM 5 OCTOBER 2020 UNTIL 11 APRIL 2021 (SO FAR)

You can find some more information in our leaflet regarding the new Czech anti-pandemic system (PES in Czech)

Retail sales and provision of services in establishments

• retail sales and provision of services in establishments are prohibited
• there are exceptions to the prohibition related, for example, to the sale of food, fuel, hygienic goods, cosmetics and other drugstore goods, pharmacies, dispensing and sale of medical devices, household goods and ironmongeries (hardware stores), and others; for such establishments, their operators must prevent the presence of more customers than 1 customer per 15 m2 of the sales area (see the section "Entrance to stores" below); due to stricter regulation, the scope of exceptions is narrower from 1 March to 11 April
• possibility of selling from an issuing counter if the order is ensured via an e-shop or similar means
• retail stores must be closed all day on national holidays and also on other holidays, and on other days between 9 p.m. and 4:59 a.m., with the exception of activities other than trades according to the Trade Licensing Act and petrol stations, pharmacies, shops in places of increased concentration of passengers (airports, etc.), shop in medical facilities and some catering service establishments

Restaurants, bistros, catering  facilities

• totally closed (with an exception for establishments that do not serve the public (e.g., staff catering), and establishments in accommodation establishments, provided that they provide catering only the accommodated persons; also, school meals)
• the possibility of selling food from an issuing counter is maintained, between 5 a.m. and 8:59 p.m.

Closure of markets

Schools

• universities and secondary schools are closed and have switched over to remote schooling (there are several exceptions: for universities, for example, participation in clinical and practical teaching and practice for study programmes of general medicine, dentistry or others, pedagogical practical teaching and practice, etc.; for secondary schools, for example, exceptions for practical teaching and practical training, consultations, etc.) 
• primary schools and kindergartens are closed
• there is an obligation to provide school facilities that will provide the necessary care for children aged from 2 to 10 whose legal representatives are employees of security forces, municipal police, health care providers, public health authorities, social workers, etc.

Restrictions on movement

• restrictions on movement with several exceptions, for example getting to work, necessary trips to one's family, provision of basic needs, etc.
• due to stricter regulation, from 1 March to 11 April: order to stay between 5:00 a.m. to 8:59 p.m. at one's place of permanent residence or domicile (some exceptions) + a ban on leaving the territory of  the district or capital city of Prague (Prague is considered to be one district), on the territory of which persons have permanent residence or domicile (some exceptions, such as getting to and back from work, the necessary trips in order to arrange for the necessary needs of relatives or another person, etc.)

Restrictions on movement at night

• curfew between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• there are exceptions for getting to work, the exercise of professions, the performance of activities to ensure safety, health, public transport, services for the population, including supply and distribution services, etc.; urgent travel and the walking of dogs within 500 metres from one's place of residence
  
  

Restrictions on assembly

• obligation to stay in publicly accessible places in a maximum of two persons, with some exceptions (e.g., household members, employees performing work for the same employer, etc.)
• the meeting can only take place outside the interior of buildings and may be attended by a maximum of 100 participants, namely in groups of up to 20 participants and while maintaining spacing between groups of participants of at least 2 metres

Face masks indoors, in public transport and at stops/stations

• respirators or similar means (always without an exhale ventil) fulfilling at least all technical conditions and requirements for products, including filtration efficacity of at least 94% according to the applicable norms (FFP2, KN 95) and medical face masks or similar means fulfilling at least all technical conditions and requirements for products in accordance with the norm CSN EN 14683+AC prohibiting the spread of air-borne infection, must be worn almost everywhere
• respirators are obligatory in stores, service premises, public transport and taxis, public transport stops, hospitals, etc.        
• in other inner premises and most outside ones, wearing a medical face mask is obligatory
• at the workplace, appropriate protective means are obligatory, except for people staying in one place without the presence of any other person

Remote work

• remote work shall be ordered where possible

Compulsory testing of employees

• applies for now to employers employing 50 and more employees
• it is strongly recommended for employers employing fewer than 50 employees
• prohibition of the presence of an employee at the workplace without passing a test in the last 7 days from 12 March 2021 for employers in the private sector employing 250 and more employees; from 15 March for employers in the private sector employing 50 to 249 employees, from 17 March for employers in the public sector employing 50 and more employees, from 26 March employers in the private sector employing 10 to 49 employees, from 30 March for employers in the public sector employing 1 to 49 employees, and from 6 April for employers in the private sector employing 1 to 9 employees
• a negative test result is required for presence at the workplace
• both employer and employee may be sanctioned for failure to proceed with compulsory testing

Restrictions on shopping centres with a a sales area exceeding 5,000  m2

• wireless Internet access will not be provided to the public
• instructions for compliance with the relevant measures and a distance of 2 metres, information boards
• the operator shall provide at least 1 person to supervise compliance with the rules and measures related to the coronavirus and to make customers and other persons comply with them
• prevention from crowding, especially in all places where this can be expected
• food courts must sell from an issuing counter only or as take away, children's corners closed
• only stores that are exempted from the operating ban (i.e., grocery stores, drugstores, pharmacies, etc.) will be open in shopping centres

Entrance to stores

• for those establishments allowed to be open, the operator must prevent the presence of more customers than 1 customer per 15 m2 of the operating area
• spacing between customers must be at least 2 metres (with an exception for customers from the same household)
• organizational and systemic measures
• queue management inside and outside the store 
• disinfectants must be placed on frequently touched objects (especially handles, handrails, shopping carts)

Culture, sport

• a ban on concerts and other musical, theatre, film and other artistic performances with the presence of spectators
• music, dance, games and other social clubs and discos are closed to the public
• prohibition of operation and use of sports grounds in indoor areas and of indoor areas of outdoor sports grounds, gyms, fitness centres, etc.

Offices, public administration

• restriction of personal contact between civil servants, employees and other officials and users of the public administration system
• limitation of work and civil service, especially for those agendas, the performance of which must be unconditionally provided continuously. 

The document reflects the status as of March 29, 2021.
We are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you updated. This document is for informational purposes only and may not be considered a legal opinion or advice on how to proceed in a particular case.