Who must I test, and how often?

Mandatory testing applies to employees who are not working from home and attend the workplace. From 6.4.2021, you must not have at the workplace an employee without a negative test that is no more than 7 days old; in other words, testing is required at least once a week. Employees working from home do not need to be tested until they are due to attend the workplace. The same rule then applies: they may only enter if they have a negative test taken within the last 7 days.

For self-employed people, the situation is slightly different. Regular testing is not required. However, if they meet other people in the course of business (a client, supplier or accountant), they must also have a negative test no more than 7 days old. 

Who does not need testing?

An exemption from mandatory testing applies to those who have officially had the illness within the last 90 days and currently have no symptoms. A second exemption applies to those who completed their vaccination more than 14 days ago, having received the full vaccine course (the second dose, or the first for a single-dose vaccine), and again have no current symptoms. 

Which tests should you use?

The list of antigen tests recommended by the Ministry of Health is on its website. There are several types: shallow or deep nasal swabs, saliva or blood tests (blood should be taken by a professional). The price of one antigen self-test ranges between CZK 80–200. 

There is also a Self-testing Guide for companies and self-employed people, explaining what to do if an employee tests positive and how to handle used tests. 

Will anyone reimburse the tests?

Health insurers will contribute up to CZK 240 per employee per month. With weekly testing, that works out at CZK 60 per test.

You can apply for this contribution using a unified electronic form to be published on the Covid Self-testing website. To access the application, you need a code that will be sent to every employer and business owner’s data box. You can only apply after the end of the month for which you are claiming. So you can apply for the contribution towards April testing at the beginning of May. 

What options are there for larger companies? 

Larger companies can also arrange for their occupational doctor to carry out tests on site each week. These tests are then free for the company, as the health insurer reimburses the doctor in full. 

There is no need to worry about self-testing: taking saliva samples or shallow nasal swabs requires no specialist experience and really is something anyone can manage. 

For further information, I recommend the article from the Chamber of Commerce, which sets out all the important information very clearly. 

If you are unsure what to do, please get in touch and we can look at it together. 🙂