Further Restriction of Free Movement

As of 28 October 2020, 00:00 a.m. until 3 November 2020, 11:59 p.m., the government has restricted the free movement of persons in the Czech Republic, during the night between 9:00 p.m. and 4:59 a.m., with certain exceptions, such as:

• Travel to work;
• Performance of work activities;
• Performance of activities with the aim of ensuring
  • Safety, order and crisis solving;
  • Protection of health, provision of health and social care;
  • Public transportation and other infrastructure;
  • Services for the general public including supply and delivery services;
• Urgent journeys that are necessary due to protection of life, health, property or other protected interests;
• Walking dogs within 500 meters of one's own place of residence.

The restriction of free movement as of 28 October 2020, 00:00 a.m. until 3 November 2020, 11:59 p.m. during the day – from 5:00 a.m. until 20:59 p.m. – has remained the same, whereas the following activities in particular have exceptions: 

• Travel to work;
• Necessary visits by relatives;
• Journeys necessary to meet basic necessities of life: purchases of food, medicines, sanitary and medical supplies or animal feed (including volunteering); 
• Journeys in relation to financial, postal services and waste disposal;
• Journeys for the purpose of: provision of health and social care;
• Supply, and delivery services;
• Urgent official matters, including the escort of close persons;
• Journeys/recreational activities/visits to the countryside, parks and one's own recreational facilities;
• Journeys with the aim of leaving the territory of the Czech Republic.
• In addition, the government has adopted further restrictions in order to minimize public gatherings:
• Minimizing time spent/activities in publicly accessible places;
• Staying at one's own place of residence;
• Restricting social contact with other persons to the necessary minimum;
• Limiting the number of people in publicly accessible places to two persons while maintaining at least a 2 meter distance from other persons (exceptions: household members, employees of the same employer, students); and
• Restricting the right of public assemblies.

Request to Employers to Use Remote Working

The government has ordered Employers to use remote working where the nature of the work and the operational conditions allow their employees to perform work from home. The government request goes beyond the recommendation which applied previously, nevertheless, the final decision on whether the nature of work and the operational conditions allow for home office remains with the employer. Note that for the purpose of implementation of home office, the employer and employee must agree on the change of the place of work.

Recommendation for Employers

Beside the request to use remote working, the government recommendations for the employer to allow vacation and paid leave for the employees and similar measures implemented by the relevant Collective Bargaining Agreement (if any), and to cease activities that are not crucial for the employer's operations continue to apply.

Further Closure of Retail Stores and Service Providers

All stores and service providers (except for groceries, drugstores, pharmacies, petrol stations, post offices, banks and several other minor exceptions) will remain closed until 3 November 2020, 11:59 p.m.

In addition, on Mondays through Saturdays between 8:00 p.m. and 4:59 a.m. and on Sundays, all stores and service providers (with very minor exceptions such as petrol stations and pharmacies) need to be closed as of 28 October 2020, 00:00 a.m. until 3 November 2020, 11:59 p.m.

Governmental Financial Support for Employers

In addition to the “Antivirus A” scheme which supports businesses that had to be closed to the public due to a government shut-down order, the government has also decided on prolongation of the financial support provided under the “Antivirus B” scheme until 31st December 2020. The eligibility criteria and the terms of the scheme will remain the same. 

Antivirus B aims at employers who pay salary reimbursement to employees to whom they cannot assign work as a result of (i) a significant portion of their employees being quarantined or taking care of children, (ii) limited supplies necessary for the business operations, or (iii) a limited demand for services or goods produced by the employer. The amount of financial contribution provided by the state is equal to 60 % of the paid salary reimbursement, including health insurance and social security charges, and is capped at CZK 29,000 per employee per month.

The government did not comment on a potential reintroduction of the "Antivirus C" scheme (waiver of social security payments for employers with under 50 employees).