Czech Republic: Testing Employees Twice a Week

he Czech Ministry of Health has increased the frequency of testing to twice a week, with at least 3 days between tests. It has also removed the exceptions from testing for vaccinated employees, wherein at least 14 days have passed since the completion of their vaccination schedule as well as employees who have recovered from Covid-19 (laboratory-confirmed) less than 180 days ago.

Employees need not be tested only under certain circumstances: if they have tested negative using a RT-PCR test in the last 72 hours or an antigen test in the last 24 hours, performed by a healthcare professional; or if the employee undergoes testing via another employer (where he/she is an employee) or via another company, where he/she is a member of a statutory body. The employee must prove these facts to the employer by producing the respective documentation.

Employees who refuse to take the test at the employer’s facility are still expected to adhere to strict epidemiologic measures. The employer is required to adopt measures for limiting the employee’s contact with other persons, to the extent necessary, when the employee is physically present in the workplace. The employer is also duty-bound to report such matters to the local public health protection authority.

Employers are further obligated to keep and maintain records of the tests performed for 90 days, for control purposes. Employers also have an obligation to send (electronically) a list of persons who tested positive to the local public health protection authority.

Key Action Points for Human Resources and In-house Counsel

Effective as from 17 January, employers are obliged to:

• test their employees using rapid antigen tests, designed for self-testing at the employer’s workplace, twice a week; and
• keep records of the tests performed for 90 days for control purposes and send (electronically) a list of persons who tested positive to the local public health protection authority.

Only employees who tested negative for Covid-19, in a test performed by a healthcare professional, or employees who were tested via another employer/company need not be tested.