COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Information
May 5, 2020

Czech Republic has 7,841 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (cumulative), 252 fatalities and 3,816 recovered persons. Czech Republic has performed over 269,093 tests.

Czech authorities declared a state of emergency on March 12 and recently extended the measure through May 17, 2020.

Quarantine Information:

Czech authorities are gradually lifting bans on free movement and gatherings, but many restrictions remain in place. From April 24 groups of up to 10 individuals are allowed to gather. As of April 27, establishments which are up to 2,500 square meters not located in shopping malls and several other types of establishments (e.g. gyms, zoos, botanical gardens, libraries, certain universities) have reopened. The next wave of re-openings is scheduled for May 11. For information on planned gradual re-openings of commercial and other facilities in the Czech Republic, see https://koronavirus.mzcr.cz/uvolnovani-opatreni/

A mandatory 14-day quarantine or negative COVID result is now compulsory for everyone (Czech citizens/EU nationals/other foreigners) returning from abroad. This does not pertain to transit through the country and several specific exceptions.

Any individual outside her/his residence must wear a mask covering nose and mouth, except children under the age of 2, drivers alone in their vehicles, and individuals engaging in sports that remain 2 meters away from others. The Czech government has imposed fines for violating the mandate. People should also maintain a safe distance of at least two meters.

Public Transportation:

Public transportation continues to operate with limits on the number of people per vehicle. Larger cities such as Prague, Brno and Ostrava have announced that they will be disinfecting trams and buses daily and in Prague all metro and tram doors will automatically open at all stops. A protective mask is MANDATORY and the front doors will remain closed to create a safe distance for drivers. It is no longer possible to purchase bus tickets directly from drivers, tickets must be purchased beforehand. For the current schedule, visit: www.dpp.cz

Ban on all public and private events:

Ban on most public events remain in place, for any changes see Czech Ministry of Health “Development of Events Over Time”: koronavirus.mzcr.cz

Hotels/Accommodations Services:

Hotels/Accommodation services will be provided to foreigners who have permission to work in the Czech Republic and to foreigners waiting to leave the country.

Eateries:

Restaurants and bars are closed. Purchase of food and drinks is still available at many stores that sell food over the counter (e.g., contain no seating areas) and some restaurants are offering food and drinks for take away.

Legal Status of Foreigners in the Czech Republic:

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on May 4 that all foreigners who were in the Czech Republic legally on March 12, 2020 (declaration of the state of emergency) will be allowed to remain in the Czech Republic up to 60 days after the expiration of the state of emergency. Currently, the state of emergency is set to expire on May 17, 2020. For more information, see the MFA web site at https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/cz/informace_pro_cizince/aktuality/pobyt_cizincu_v_cr_po_ukonceni_nouzoveho.html

Travel Restrictions in the Czech Republic:

Travel restrictions are being lifted by the Czech Government and details are still being released. For the most up-to-date information, go to the Czech Ministry of Interior site at https://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/koronavirus-informace-mv.aspx or dial +420 704 844 583 for information in English. In general, foreigners without permanent or long-term residence (permit to reside for more than 90 days) are prohibited from entering the Czech Republic – with the exception of citizens of EU member states traveling to the Czech Republic for business. Czech citizens and foreigners with a permanent or temporary residence permits in the Czech Republic may now leave the Czech Republic and upon re-entry to the Czech Republic must remain in 14-day quarantine or produce a negative COVID result. Additionally, foreigners without permanent or long-term residence in the Czech Republic may enter to visit certain family members in the Czech Republic. For specific information about exceptions to travel restrictions, including the list of documents that must be presented to Czech border officials, visit the Czech Ministry of the Interior web site at https://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/article/coronavirus-information-of-moi.aspx and follow link entitled “Exceptions to travel restrictions.” For general information about the Czech state of emergency, please visit the Czech MFA Emergency FAQ and Czech MFA Recommendations for Travel.

For transportation information to get Czech citizens into the Czech Republic, go to: www.mzv.cz

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends you check with airlines directly regarding the cancellation of connecting flights.

Travel Restrictions in the United States:

On March 11, the President of the United States decided that effective from Friday, March 13, foreigners who have been in the Schengen area at some point in the past 14 days would not be allowed to enter the United States. This measure applies to Czech citizens and foreigners who are in the Czech Republic or in another country that is part of the Schengen area. On March 14, the measure was extended to those in the UK and Ireland. Given the measures taken, air transport is subject to frequent change. These measures do not apply to US residents and family members of US citizens. For further information about the Presidential Proclamations, please visit travel.state.gov.

The Czech MFA recommends that citizens of the Czech Republic, currently located in the United States, maintain contact with the airline with which they purchased tickets and to consider the possibility of early return. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that all travelers register in the DROZD application and in the event of an emergency contact the nearest embassy or consulate of your home country.

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