More services to open in the Czech Republic on May 10, rules for face masks likely to be relaxed

More services will open May 10 across the Czech Republic, in addition to the already announced reopening of shops, and face masks are likely to be required outdoors only if two or more people not from the same household meet and can’t keep two meters of distance.

Shoe repairs, used-cars sellers, translation services, photographic services, rentals, craft services, shooting ranges, and solariums can open as of May 10, Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček said on Twitter after today’s government meeting. Watchmakers, jewelry shops, cabinet makers, frame shops, and travel agencies can also resume business and cable cars can operate. Day care services for children under three years of age will also be able to function again.

Havlíček said last week already that as of May 10, the rest of shops would reopen.

Face masks will be obligatory outdoors only if two and more people meet with shorter than a two-meter distance, unless they are from the same household, in the Czech Republic as of May 10, Health Minister Petr Arenberger announced after the government meeting. On Twitter, he added that the change will need to be confirmed on Thursday.

Since late February, people have had to wear respirators or at least surgical masks outdoors in municipalities. FFP2 respirators or nano masks have been mandatory in public transport, shops, and other frequented public interiors within the measures to curb the coronavirus spread.

“This is the same we experienced here in the autumn. If you are moving in open space and no other people are around, you need not wear any mouth protection, but if you come, for instance, to a tram or bus stop and there are more people there, you will put on a mask,” Arenberger said. The duty to have nose and mouth covered indoors will remain valid.

People inoculated against Covid-19 will be able to go to the spas as self-payers, Arenberger said. Right now, only those who underwent the disease in the past 90 days can do so.

“However, it is still valid that these must not be any wellness stays, but recovery stays of self-payers,” Arenberger said. Spas can accept self-payers as of today. Along with this group of private payers, recovery stays can also be used by those who have them fully or partially covered from the public health insurance.

The spa industry is the segment of the health care that was most hit by the coronavirus epidemic. The spas must not receive foreign clients yet, even after today’s relaxation. They accounted for about 44 percent of all guests.

The government is relaxing the restrictions on the basis of the six packages announced April 22. the movement to each new package is guided by a decrease in the number of the newly infected per 100,000 population in the past seven days. Right now, the figure stands at 134 in the Czech Republic.