COVID-19 Information

April 15, 2020

Czech Republic has 6,151 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 163 fatalities and 676 recovered persons. Czech Republic has performed over 137,409 tests.

Czech authorities declared a state of emergency on March 12 and have extended measure through April 30. Borders remain closed subject to limited exception. On April 14, the Czech authorities announced that they do not expect to re-open borders until June 2020 at the earliest.

Quarantine Information:

On March 30, the Czech government extended the quarantine that include a limitation on free movement and mandatory closure of most shops and restaurants. From March 31, a mandatory 14-day quarantine 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.

As of March 26, people may be outside of their residences only by themselves or in groups of two. Exemptions are families and individuals performing work.

On March 12, the Czech government declared a state of emergency and implemented quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This concept is distinct from any self-isolation or quarantine applicable to those who traveled to high-risk countries or have symptoms. The general quarantine applies to every individual located in the Czech Republic. People are required to stay home, except for going to work and carrying out essential duties. Under the quarantine, free movement is prohibited EXCEPT FOR:

o commuting to and from work or conducting business

o necessary trips to visit family

o trips to medical facilities and escorting relatives to medical facilities

o provision of necessities such as food, medicine, sanitary goods, animal feed

o carrying out banking, postal services, and refueling of vehicles

Those working in security, healthcare, social care, public transport, and delivery services will be exempt from the free movement ban for those purposes. People at high risk should work from home. Those at 70 years of age and older are recommended to stay at home.

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.

Most businesses and public institutions have been closed since the declaration of the state of emergency. On April 14, the Czech government introduced a plan to gradually re-open businesses and public places. For a detailed list of planned re-openings, which is subject to change, visit the Czech Ministry of Health “Development of Events Over Time”: koronavirus.mzcr.cz.

Only individuals older than 60 years and disabled individuals older than 50 years can shop between 8am and 10am in large supermarkets and stores. Shopping at other times in large stores and shopping at any time in smaller stores is not subject to restrictions. Several online sources provide delivery of groceries, including www.rohlik.cz and www.kosik.cz. Several online sources provide delivery from restaurants to homes, including www.damejidlo.cz, www.ubereats.cz, www.wolt.cz.

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.

Travel Restrictions in the Czech Republic:

Travel restrictions will remain in place until further notice. In general, foreigners without permanent or long-term residence (permit to reside for more than 90 days) are prohibited from entering the Czech Republic. Czech citizens and foreigners residing in the Czech Republic are also generally prohibited from leaving the Czech Republic. As of April 14, 2020, Czech citizens and foreigners with a permanent or temporary residence permits in the Czech Republic may leave the Czech Republic in order to perform “necessary travel” (e.g., work, visit family, medical appointments) and upon re-entry to the Czech Republic must remain in 14-day quarantine. 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. For 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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