At an extraordinary session on Sunday, February 14, 2021, the government of Andrej Babiš declared a state of emergency for the territory of the Czech Republic due to the spread of the coronavirus SARS CoV-2. It will enter into force on 15 February at 00.00 and will last for fourteen days, ie until 28 February. It will follow up on the state of emergency, which ends at midnight on Sunday, February 14.
The Government of the Association of Regions of the Czech Republic requested the government to declare a new state of emergency after a series of negotiations. According to the governors, declaring a state of emergency is key to managing the covid-19 pandemic.
"I have good news for our citizens, and that is that the government, on the basis of negotiations with the governors, has declared a state of emergency from Monday on the basis of a different factual nature than the state that applies to this day or until midnight. I am very glad that common sense has prevailed over the politicking we have experienced in this House. Thank you to all the governors who understood that it is very important that we cooperate and do our best to protect the lives of our citizens, " said Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. "Ending the state of emergency would de facto loosen it, and we really cannot afford that," the prime minister said.
At the same time, the government reaffirmed the government's crisis measures and approved the measures of the Ministry of Health , which have so far been linked to the duration of the state of emergency. In contrast to the anti-epidemic measures in force in the current state of emergency, there have been only a few partial adjustments and changes.
In a measure restricting the operation of retail sales and services, the government from Monday restricted the activities of libraries so that they will be able to serve readers in the form of issuing pre-ordered loans and returning them through the issuance window or contactlessly. It is recommended to use a respirator without an exhalation valve of at least class FFP2 or KN95 for noncontact delivery of loans. It will also be possible to provide accommodation services to persons who are accommodated in order to be provided with health services and to their necessary escorts.
The measures restricting the free movement of persons now include, with exceptions, travel for the purpose of elections and meetings of bodies of legal persons and their holding . In the event that more than ten persons participate in such elections or meetings, they must wear at least surgical drapes, observe the spacing and prove a negative test result. With a few exceptions, a maximum of 50 people may attend the meeting.
The government has also decided to lift restrictions on the opening hours of public authorities and administrative bodies . It remains the case that the authorities should limit work to the necessary agendas and keep personal contacts of employees with the public to a minimum.
In the field of education , the possibility of holding commission corrective and commission substitute examinations at secondary schools and conservatories has increased.
There were also adjustments to the protective measure of the Ministry of Health regulating entry into the Czech Republic . They concern, for example, professional athletes and representatives or workers in critical infrastructure.
The complete results of the government's negotiations can be found at http://www.vlada.cz/cz/mediacentrum/aktualne/vysledky-mimoradneho-jednani-vlady-14-unora-2021-186625/ .
