Press Advisories
26. 3. 2021
Speech by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš at a videoconference of members of the European Council
Speech by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš at a videoconference of members of the European Council on 25 March 2021.
22. 3. 2021
Government to ask the Chamber of Deputies to extend the state of emergency, mandatory testing for the self-employed and non-profit organisations
At a meeting on 22 March 2021, Andrej Babiš’s government decided to ask the Chamber of Deputies to extend the duration of the state of emergency in the Czech Republic by 30 days, i.e. until April 27. It also agreed to extend the scope of the mandatory testing of employees to include the smallest employers with up to ten employees, self-employed persons and all non-governmental non-profit organisations, and it released funds for extraordinary remuneration for employees of public health offices and institutes of public health.
18. 3. 2021
The government has extended the measures up to 28 March and expanded the mandatory testing to public employers with less than 50 employees
The valid anti-epidemic measures will be valid in the Czech Republic with small modifications a week longer, up to 28 March. The government of Andrej Babiš decided to extend them in an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, 18 March 2021. It also approved the further expansion of the mandatory testing of employees for the remaining employers in the private sector.
15. 3. 2021
Mandatory employee testing even for small companies, the government decides
From 26 March 2021 at the latest, small companies employing at least ten persons will also have to participate in the mandatory testing of employees. The relevant extraordinary measure of the Ministry of Health was approved on 15 March 2021 by Andrej Babiš’s government.
11. 3. 2021
Prime Minister Babiš talks with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on vaccination and cooperation in vaccine production
On 11 March 2021, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš, held talks in Israel with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the vaccination of citizens and on vaccines. During his visit to Jerusalem, the Czech Prime Minister also inaugurated a new branch of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the capital of the State of Israel.
8. 3. 2021
The government approves bonuses for healthcare and social services workers, new programmes to help entrepreneurs
Doctors and other medical staff in facilities providing inpatient care for patients with Covid-19 will receive up to CZK 75,000 in the form of an extraordinary bonus. Bonuses for working during the epidemic will also be awarded to workers in the non-medical professions and social services. At a meeting on 8 March 2021, Andrej Babiš’s government also approved two new support programmes for entrepreneurs affected by the coronavirus crisis in 2021. The allocation for the Antivirus programme will also be increased.
5. 3. 2021
The Government has imposed the work obligation on pupils and students of medical schools, testing will be mandatory for employees in the public sector
From Monday 8 March, the work obligation is imposed on pupils and students of medical faculties and medical schools who have reached the age of 18. The Government approved the crisis measure, which will enable regional governors and the mayor of Prague to use them for work in medical facilities, at an extraordinary meeting on Friday 5 March 2021. At the same time, the Cabinet also decided to start mandatory blanket testing of employees of public employers.
3. 3. 2021
The government calls outpatient physicians to arms in the battle against covid-19, obliging them to perform certain duties
From 4 March 2021, the presidents of regions and the mayor of Prague will be able to call outpatient physicians and other health professionals from private medical facilities to hospitals to help cope with the onslaught of coronavirus patients. This will be made possible by the crisis measure on the imposition of work duties, which was approved by Andrej Babiš’s government at an extraordinary meeting on 3 March 2021.
2. 3. 2021
Employees will be allowed to eat in company canteens provided they keep a safe distance from each other
Babiš’s government approved amendments to several anti-epidemic measures at an extraordinary meeting on 2 March 2021.
1. 3. 2021
The government will ask the Parliament to increase the compensation for persons in quarantine, employees to face mandatory testing
Quarantined employees could receive a wage compensation equal to one hundred percent of the daily assessment basis for a fortnight. The relevant bill on increasing the income compensation for those in quarantine was approved by Andrej Babiš’s government at a meeting on 1 March 2021. The government also decided to call for more soldiers to help the Police of the Czech Republic and it approved an extraordinary measure of the Ministry of Health introducing regular covid-19 testing of employees in companies.
