Face masks to be mandatory in restaurants except when eating or drinking, says Czech Health Minister

Prague, May 15 (CTK) – In Czech restaurants, face masks will be mandatory for personnel and guests who can take them off for eating and drinking only, while the establishments must close from 23:00 to 6:00, the Health Ministry announced today.

Additionally, face masks or other nose and mouth coverings will be obligatory at Czech public indoor and outdoor swimming pools except when in the water and at deckchairs and towels. Their operators must secure ten square metres per person.

Guests in restaurants will have to wear face masks when moving around and going to washrooms, for instance. Strict sanitary rules, including the use of disinfectants, must be observed in pubs, bars and restaurants, including their outdoor seating areas, the Health Ministry said.

Also, the interior premises of pubs, restaurants, bars, and night clubs, which can reopen from May 25, will have to be closed between 23:00 and 6:00, but they can provide take-away sales, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) said at a press conference today.

His ministry decided to issue such limitations since the future development of the coronavirus epidemiological situation is still uncertain. Vojtěch pointed out that the reopening of night clubs in South Korea has led to a resurgence in COVID-19 infections.

As it is difficult to keep social distancing rules, such as a two-meter distances between people, in night clubs and at discotheques, their night opening might worsen the epidemiological situation in the country, Vojtěch added.

Hand disinfectants for guests must be available at the entry to a catering establishment or among its outdoor seating. The personnel will have to disinfect tables and chairs before seating a new group of guests.

Operators must prevent people from gathering and enforce the obligatory distancing. If possible, the personnel should keep such distancing, too, the ministry said.

Except for wearing face masks, people at outdoor and indoor pools will also have to keep a two-meter distance from each other. They also must use hand disinfectant before entering the premises, under the conditions for reopening outdoor and indoor pools, saunas and wellness centres that the Health Ministry released to reporters today.

People will be allowed to use showers as well as dressing rooms, but only every other locker in them.

Pool operators must delegate a person to be responsible for the observance of the rules. They must disinfect all facilities that visitors use at least twice to three times a day.

Water slides are allowed, but people must keep a 1.5 meter distance while waiting in line, while other water attractions remain banned.

Pool capacity will be limited to five square meters per person in the area for swimmers, and three square meters in the area for non-swimmers.

Except for the pools for babies, water must be chlorinated to the maximum allowed extent. The capacity in whirlpools must be modified to keep a 1.5-metre distance, while in saunas, there must be four square metres per person.