The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Transport of the Czech Republic approved a plan to fully remove movement restrictions in the country by June 8. As one of the first countries in Europe to lift the travel ban, the country released a timetable for the resumption of business and other activities.
According to the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Transport Karel Havlicek, the government's plan is divided into five stages. The first lifted restriction would be implemented by April 20 where craft shops, farmers' markets, second-hand stores, and automobile showrooms would be allowed to reopen. More shops and events would also be allowed to reopen in the next stages.
Outdoor training activities of athletes and professionals in smaller groups are included in the lifting of the restriction but are obliged to precisely define their conditions including small weddings that can only cater to up to 10 people.
By June 8, 2020, large shopping centers may be fully reopened in the country and events may be held. These events may only be allowed, 50 participants. If the pandemic would be rendered under control in the country, the plan would be enacted according to schedule. There may also be some shifts involved as developments push through.
Last Tuesday evening, about 6,111 people tested positive of COVID-19 in the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, the government is set on approving the concrete plan as announced during a press conference.
Hyundai Motor began resuming its operations at Eurasian plans after braving shutdowns for weeks. The South Korean automaker restarted its Russian assembly plan in St. Petersburg this week and has rebooted its factory in the Czech Republic. The company plans to recommence its activity at its Turkish plans on April 21, 2020, as well.
The company was forced to remain idle in its multiple offshore plants due to travel restrictions and government-implemented shutdowns in several jurisdictions. Considering the relatively fewer cases in the Czech Republic compared to other parts of Western Europe, the car manufacturer decided to reopen its plants in the country to boost revenue and recover from its losses in the past months.
The plan in European plants signaled the company's plans of restoring operations globally with facilities in the US and India as the only exceptions. Hyundai also halted production at domestic plants for about a week in February to abide by the problems resulting from electrical components shipped from China. The company also plans to lift its output while conducting close monitoring with its sales and procurement plans.
