Coronavirus in Czechia: New State of Emergency with Stricter Restrictions on Movement between Districts

Due to a rapid number increase of confirmed cases of coronavirus and shortage of capacity in hospitals in the Czech Republic, the local government was compelled to announce another state of emergency and tighten the rules in the country. Stricter measures that are effective from March 1 ban traveling between districts and order the wearing of proper respiratory protection.  

The New state of Emergency

The Chamber of Deputies restricted the request for the extension of the current state of emergency. Yet the Government announced the new state of emergency. The new state of emergency is operative from February 27 for three weeks, until March 28.

Restrictions on Freedom of Movement

The main restrictions on freedom of movement are related to prohibited movement between districts of the country. Brno-City and Brno-Outskirts count as one district, as well as Prague itself.

Movement between districts is prohibited with the exception of work reasons or emergency care. In this case, the evidence is necessary, in the form of either a permit from their employer, work contract, or other documents confirming the reason for your travel. Another exception applies to leaving the country.

As for returning to the Czech Republic, non-EU citizens are not allowed to enter the country if they do not have a residence permit.

Additionally, walks, exercises, and other outdoor activities are limited to within the municipality where you live. Those who walk their dog at night must keep in mind to stay within 500 meters of their place of residence. 

Shopping is also allowed only within your home district. 

Visiting friends and relatives is prohibited (also within the same district) other than in order to provide urgent care.

The night curfew remains the same – between 9 pm and 5 am. 

In summarization, movement is restricted to travel to work, necessary visits of relatives, exercise, medical reasons, and work.

 

APPLY FOR YOUR RESIDENCE PERMIT NOW

 

Respiratory Protection

From now on, wearing respirators or nano filter masks is mandatory in:

  • public transport
  • all train platforms, bus stops/stations, and public transport waiting rooms
  • all vehicles (excluding people from the same household)
  • shops and service establishments
  • medical facilities and facilities providing outpatient care and social services
  • international airports

At least one surgical mask required in:

  • all interiors of buildings except the place of residence
  • in the workplace, unless the employee is alone in the room
  • outside the built-up area of a village
  • outside the built-up area of a municipality, if there are persons from a different household in a distance of a minimum of 2 meters
mandatory respirators
Doubling surgical masks is no longer accepted as a substitute for respirators.

Restrictions on Retail

Shops and services which remain open are:

grocery stores, shops selling fuel, drugstores and domestic goods stores, take-out windows, pharmacies, animal feed, and pet stores, shops selling spectacles and contact lenses, towing and vehicle repair shops, print shops, tobacconists, newsagents, pick-up points for goods and packages, gardening supplies stores, ticket offices, florists, electronics and computer services, funeral services, unstaffed launderettes, taxi services, and psychotherapists. Stationery shops and shops selling children’s clothes and shoes will be closed.

 

APPLY FOR YOUR RESIDENCE PERMIT NOW

 

Schools

Kindergartens, primary and secondary schools have been open so far. From now on, these will be closed as well. There are exceptions only for children of key workers e.g. medical staff.

Workplace 

In all workplaces respirators, FFP2 are required unless staff is alone in the office or is working from home. Employers are obligated to provide respirators for their employees.

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Quarantine

The length of quarantine and self-isolation has been extended to 14 days due to the rapidly spreading very contagious British mutation of coronavirus, the newly-declared South African mutation of the virus, and a critical shortage of capacity in hospitals. 

Are you an expat in the Czech Republic with no residence permit? We will help you with that so you are always safe when you want to return.

Sources: Dominik Feri’s Instagram, covid.gov.cz, mvcr.cz, brnodaily.com, denik.cz
Image source: pexels.com

Viktoria Solarova

Hello! I am Viki and practically I am expat, too. I am from Slovakia but I study here, in Prague. I hope you enjoy reading my articles, at least as much as I enjoy creating them :)

6 thoughts on “Coronavirus in Czechia: New State of Emergency with Stricter Restrictions on Movement between Districts

  1. Hi my name is Estela, I am a filipino citizen currently living in the Philippines. I am a Czech longterm residence card holder, and it’s about to expire on September 11, 2021. I am aware that all borders of Czech is currently on a lockdown, do you have any suggestion on how I can renew my long term residence card while being in the Philippines? Thank you.

    1. Hi Estela!
      Thank you for commenting. We at Foreigners offer full immigration services, so I would encourage you to contact our immigration specialists for this particular question, depending on where in the Czech Republic do you stay when you’re here.

      -For Prague, you can email Martin Faů at martin.fau@foreigners.cz or Oleksandra Stefanska at oleksandra.stefanska@foreigners.cz
      -For Brno, you can email Oldřich Lang at oldrich.lang@foreigners.cz.
      -If you’re staying in a different city or if you’re not sure who to email, you can simply contact us at info@foreigners.cz and someone will help you.

      Hope this helps!

      Best,
      Tereza

    1. Hello Honey! Thank you for asking – we at Foreigners offer full immigration services, so I would encourage you to contact our immigration specialists for this particular question, depending on where in the Czech Republic you’re planning to stay (or are already staying).

      -For Prague, you can email Martin Faů at martin.fau@foreigners.cz or Oleksandra Stefanska at oleksandra.stefanska@foreigners.cz
      -For Brno, you can email Oldřich Lang at oldrich.lang@foreigners.cz.
      -If you’re staying in a different city or if you’re not sure yet, you can simply contact us at info@foreigners.cz and one of my colleagues will help you.

      Best,
      Tereza

    1. Thank you for the link, Dwight! Mask-wearing should definitely be promoted as much as possible!
      As someone who lived in Texas for a time… I am not surprised its leadership has this attitude.

      Best,
      Tereza

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