Government eases obligation to wear face masks in public from 25 May based on favourable epidemiological situation
Based on a proposal from the Ministry of Health, the government decided today on further exemptions to the wearing of face masks, and stipulated that the rules for their wearing in public would be eased from 25 May.
Since 12 May, the
obligation to wear a face mask outside of one’s home has no longer applied to
participants in acceptance examinations and members of examination committee in
schools if a distance of at least 1.5 metres is maintained; to students,
participants in acceptance examinations, academic workers, members of
examination committees for state examinations and acceptance examinations at
universities if a distance of at least 1.5 metres is maintained and there are
no more than 15 people in the room; and to patients and healthcare workers for
the necessary period of time, if required to provide medical care.
If the favourable epidemiological situation continues, the mandatory wearing of
protective respiratory equipment when moving around and staying outside of
one’s home will be cancelled as of 25 May. The government has made this
decision with respect to the recommendations of the working group for the
easing of quarantine measures under the Ministry of Health, which has evaluated
the current epidemiological situation as favourable. However, the mandatory use
of face masks will continue to apply inside buildings other than one’s home; in
means of public transport including taxi services; and at all other locations
where there are at least 2 people at a distance of less than 2 metres from each
other, unless these are exclusively members of the same household. “The favourable
evolution of the epidemic is continuing. In fact, it is better than we
expected. Therefore, the epidemiological group of Doc. Maďar met during the
weekend and recommended easing the wearing of masks in public earlier. It must
be emphasised that this step will only be taken if the situation does not
worsen. We will also see how today’s major wave of easing measures will affect
the number of infected individuals,” said Minister of Health Adam
Vojtěch.
Today’s government session also approved an emergency measure to address occupational
medical services. On its basis, the affidavits which replace the medical
assessment of persons seeking employment pursuant to the Act on Specific Medical
Services will apply until the end of the state of emergency. If periodical occupational
medical examinations were not conducted during the state of emergency, the
validity of medical examinations for work issued on the basis of preliminary
medical examinations, periodical occupational medical examinations or
extraordinary occupational medical examinations which would otherwise expire during
the declared state of emergency will be extended until the end of the state of
emergency.