The government approved new measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic

(17th Government Meeting)

Prishtina, 28 July 2020

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Government, a corresponding meeting (electronic meeting) was held, at the request of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti, where the Decision on taking measures was reviewed and approved, for the purpose of preventing the spread of, and controlling, the COVID-19 infection.

After analysing the epidemiological situation in the country, the Minister of Health, Armend Zemaj, has accepted the recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health to take new measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection.

Since there is an increase in the number of citizens who have been tested positive for COVID-19, the Ministry of Health has requested, and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo has approved, the following Decision:

Pursuant to Article 55 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, pursuant to Article 89 of Law no. 04/L-125 on Health, pursuant to the provisions of Article 41 and Article 50 of Law no. 02/L-109 for Prevention and Fighting against Infectious Diseases, based on Article 4 of Regulation no. 06/2020 on Areas of Administrative Responsibility of the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministries, as amended and supplemented by Regulation no. 07/2020, as well as pursuant to the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo no. 01/11, dated 15.03.2020, on the Declaration of Public Health Emergency, after discussion with the relevant units pursuant to the recommendation of the NIPHK, in accordance with Article 17 and 19 of the Rules of Procedure of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo no. 09/2011, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, in the meeting held on 28 July 2020, issued the following:          

D E C I S I O N

1. All citizens of Albania, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who enter the territory of the Republic of Kosovo (RKS) must prove that they are negative for COVID-19, with the RT-PCR test in SARS COV-2, according to the principle of reciprocity, with the following exceptions:

1.1.            Upon entry through the International Airport “Adem Jashari” there is no need to have a certificate for negative RT-PCR test, given that the foreign national will only pass through the territory of RKS, and provided that at the entrance they will sign a statement that within 3 hours they will leave the territory of RKS;

1.2.            When entering the land border-crossing points, in order to exit through the air points from the International Airport “Adem Jashari”, there is no need to have a certificate for RT-PCR test, but foreign nationals are required to present the plane ticket and sign the statement that within 3 hours they will leave the territory of RKS;

1.3.            Professional transporters (drivers) are not required to have a PCR test certificate, provided that the international transport protocol is followed;

1.4.            For organized transport by bus or regular international transit line, the RT-PCR test is not required, provided that a statement is signed that they will leave the territory of the RKS within 5 hours;

1.5.            Citizens of Albania, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have a temporary or permanent residence permit in the RKS, upon entering the RKS must present a certificate for a negative RT-PCR test, done 72 hours before entering the RKS;

1.6.            Foreign diplomats from the countries mentioned in this decision, who are accredited in the RKS, like their family members, do not need to have a certificate for the RT-PCR test;

1.7.            Citizens of Albania, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have scheduled appointments for treatment at RKS health institutions, may enter, provided that they present a certificate for a negative RT-PCR test, done 72 hours before entry into the RKS and a certificate for the scheduled appointment issued by the hospital;

1.8.            Holders of personal documents issued by RKS, but with a residence address in one of the states mentioned in this decision, upon entering the RKS, must present a certificate for negative RT-PCR test, done 72 hours before entering the RKS.

2. Starting from 22:30 to 05:00, any movement of natural persons outside their houses/apartments in the municipalities of Prishtina, Prizren, Peja, Podujeva, Gjakova, Ferizaj, Lipjan, Drenas, Vushtrri, Mitrovica South, Gjilan, Fushe Kosove and Shterpce is prohibited, except:

2.1. In health emergencies;

2.2. In case of the need to take care of the sick, for people with special needs, only if the sick or people with special needs are not able to take care of themselves;

2.3. In case of seeking help from relevant institutions, as in cases with victims of domestic violence;

2.4. In case of death of a family member;

2.5. In case of the need to go out of the house/apartment for the physiological needs of animals, but not further than 500 meters from the house/apartment (but, it is not allowed to use these cases to perform any other work or for any purpose other than the one specified above).

3. All residents of the Republic of Kosovo are obliged to wear face masks in all activities outside their houses/apartments and to maintain a physical distance of 2 meters in joint areas outside their houses/apartments, and the employing institutions are obliged to create conditions for this distance to be applied in work environments.
4. All public and private institutions are obliged to keep hand sanitizers and face masks in accessible places at the entrance of the facility, which can be used by employees of institutions and visitors.
5. All public and private institutions are obliged to establish rules with visible signs at each entrance of the facility (including the prohibition of entry without masks, the obligation to respect the distance, etc.) in accordance with the Manual for protection against the spread of COVID-19.
6. The gathering of citizens in a number of more than 5 people in public squares, parks etc. shall be prohibited.

   7.    All public gatherings, including private family gatherings, are prohibited.

7. Recreational, cultural and sports activities in indoor and outdoor environments shall be prohibited throughout the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, including football schools and other sports, training in all areas, etc.

   9.      Only fitness gyms, indoor swimming pools and individual sports are allowed, in accordance with the Manual for protection from the spread of COVID-19.

8. All entities that provide public transport (buses, vans, taxis) must work with half of their capacity in terms of the number of passengers they carry to allow the necessary space for each passenger.
9. Public and private institutions in the Republic of Kosovo are obliged to manage the attendance of staff at work in accordance with the Manual for protection from the spread of COVID-19 (relevant institutions will explain in separate circulars what necessary staff constitutes for them), including special rules that apply to staff in public and private institutions of vital interest.

   12.  Public and private health institutions are recommended to reduce non-essential health services.

10. All municipalities are required to fully reactivate their local headquarters.
11. The activity of public markets of vehicles and animals in the entire territory of the Republic of Kosovo is prohibited.
12. The slaughtering of animals is prohibited in any open or closed environment, except in the premises authorized for the slaughter of animals.

16. Physical participation of citizens in all religious ceremonies and activities throughout the territory of the Republic of Kosovo is prohibited.
17. Exercising the activity of public and private kindergartens in the entire territory of the Republic of Kosovo is allowed after evaluation and supervision by the municipal authorities, in accordance with the Manual for protection against the spread of COVID-19.
18. All entities that provide gastronomy services (restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, etc.):

    18.1. Are prohibited from operating from 22:30 to 05:00 in the entire territory of the Republic of Kosovo;

    18.2. Outside this time, they can only operate in open spaces, respecting the distance of 2 meters between the tables, as well as with take-away services, always in accordance with the instructions set out in the Manual for protection against the spread of COVID-19.

    19.  Elderly citizens (over the age of 65) and citizens with chronic diseases (diabetes, arterial hypertension and heart diseases, chronic lung diseases, patients with kidney diseases, patients with suppressed immunity, oncology patients, etc.) can go out to public places only in the early morning hours (from 05: 00-10: 00) and evening hours (from 18: 00-21: 00).

19. Municipal, financial, electronic and postal service operators are obliged to provide services with minimum staff, according to the measures in force for public health emergencies.
20. The National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo is obliged, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Municipal Education Directorates, by 15 August 2020, to draft the Guide for the way of organizing teaching in the new school-academic year 2020-2021.
21. All residents of the Republic of Kosovo are obliged to implement the preventive measures and recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health and the Ministry of Health.
22. The competent bodies are obliged to exercise strict control, in order to implement the measures (relevant inspectorates and law and order bodies).
23. The relevant institutions of the Republic of Kosovo are obliged to take the necessary actions for the implementation of this Decision.
24. All Municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo are instructed, based on the legal competencies of local self-government, to reduce vehicle traffic, in order to avoid overcrowding.
25. Decision No. 01/11, dated 08.07.2020, shall continue to be implemented until another decision.
26. This decision will be re-evaluated depending on the epidemiological situation in the country, in consultation with the National Institute of Public Health, experts and other line ministries, to assess the effectiveness and necessity of the measures taken, as well as to decide whether or not to continue the relevant measures.
27. The following Government Decisions shall be repealed:

    28.1.  Point 2. of Decision No. 01/04 dated 06.07.2020;

28.1. Point 5, point 6, point 7, point 8, point 9 and point 10 of Decision No. 01/10 dated 05.07.2020;

28.3. Decision No. 01/13 dated 13.07.2020;

28.4. Decision No. 02/13 dated 13.07.2020;

28.5. Decision No. 04/13 dated 13.07.2020.

29.  The Ministry of Health is obliged to report every week on the implementation of these measures.

30. The decision shall enter into force on the day of its signing, with the exception of point 8 of this decision, which shall enter into force on 30 July 2020.