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COVID-19 Tracker

Get an overview of pandemic related restrictions impacting Shopping Places in European markets

Last update: 25 February 2021

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  • Non-essential shops closed
  • Non-essential shops open with restrictions
  • Non-essential shops open without restrictions

EU

Last updated on 25/02/2021

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Shop owners & tenants

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Restaurants

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Culture

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On 28 January 2021, the Commission announced to extend the Temporary Framework for State Aid until 31 December 2021. Given the persisting economic uncertainty, the Commission also decided to increase the aid ceilings.

This Temporary Framework provides for different types of state aid:

  • Direct grants (or tax advantages) of up to €1.8 million (previously €800,000) per company
  • Member States will be able to convert repayable instruments (guarantees, loans, repayable advances) granted under the Temporary Framework into other forms of aid, such as direct grants.
  • Subsidised State guarantees on bank loans
  • Public and private loans with subsidised interest rates
  • Additional flexibility to enable short-term export credit insurance to be provided by the State where needed.

For companies especially hit by the coronavirus crisis (recording turnover losses of at least 30% during the eligible period compared to the same period of 2019), the State can contribute to the part of the fixed costs of companies that are not covered by their revenues, in an amount up to €10 million per company (previously €3 million).

More information here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_26

Austria

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks are mandatory in indoor public areas. FFP2 masks are required in public transport and shops.
  • Internal travel: From 12 February: Austrian state Tirol to become a restricted zone for 10 days, with travellers leaving the state needing a negative COVID-19 test.
  • External travel: From 10 February: Border controls tightened to all neighbouring countries; requirement to register with the authorities and present a negative PCR test result once a week for cross-border workers employed in Austria but residing in another country.
  • Curfew: Stay at home order from 20:00 to 06:00, exceptions for work, food-shopping, immediate danger, important family matters, exercise.
  • Home office: Indefinitely: Working from home recommended.
  • Services: From 8 February: all services reopen with strict hygiene measures.
  • Non-essential shops: From 8 February: Non-essential shops and leisure facilities reopen, under strict hygiene guidelines (including a negative test requirement for customers at hairdressers). Opening times are restricted to 6:00 to 19:00.
  • Restaurants: Indefinitely: closed.
  • Cultural institutions: From 8 February: Museums, libraries, libraries and archives are open. Animal parks, zoos and botanical gardens are open.

Shop owners & tenants

  • Since 2021, a so-called “Ausfallsbonus” will enable businesses whose turnover dicrease by 40 % or more, to get reimbursed. The reimbursement will amount to 30 % of the discreased turnover.
  • Rental reduction: if leased premises cannot be used or utilized at all due to extraordinary circumstances, the tenant does not have to pay rent for the duration and to the extent to which the premises is unable to be used pursuant to sections 1104 et seq ABGB. (Here there is only a judgement over a hairdresser in first instance)

Restaurants

  • Covered by the “Ausfallbonus”

Culture

  • Covered by the “Ausfallbonus”

Comprehensive help package for companies:

  • Tax payments deferrals or reductions (€10 billion allocated): With a simple form, companies can either ask for a complete deferral of their tax payments or for a reduction. No default interest will be charged for the deferrals.
  • Emergency aid (€4 billion): This finances, among other things, short-time work program and aids to small companies.

Belgium

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks are mandatory in public transport (including at stops and stations), in shops and shopping malls, cinemas, public buildings, etc. It is mandatory to wear a facemask in all outdoor and indoor public spaces in Brussels.
  • Internal travel: Non-essential trips are discouraged.
  • External travel: Non-essential leisure travel to and from Belgium is prohibited. Only necessary trips to and from Belgium are allowed.
  • Curfew: Indefinite stay-at-home order from midnight until 5:00 except for essential trips.
  • Home office: compulsory wherever possible.
  • Services: 13 February: Hairdressers reopen with hygiene measures in place.
  • Non-essential shops: Food-shopping and non-essential shops are open with hygiene measures in place.
  • Restaurants: Gastronomy sector remains closed. Deliveries are possible until 22:00.
  • Cultural institutions: Leisure centres are closed, with the exception for museums, libraries, and indoor playgrounds.

Shop owners & tenants

  • The federal government developed a payment delay and loan guarantee scheme for households and businesses hit by the coronavirus crisis.
  • The Flemish government
    provides a loan to tenants (of commercial leases) of a maximum two months’ rent up to €35,000.
  • The Belgian Cour de Cassation has emphasized the good faith principle in the performance of lease
    agreements. An interest claim or an eviction request of the tenant due to possible delaysbecause of the Coronavirus outbreak will not be successfully granted before the courts.

Restaurants

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Culture

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  • Companies/organisations can obtain postponement of capital repayments for existing credits for maturities in January, February and March 2021 until 31.03.2021 at the latest. This measure should give companies/organisations the necessary oxygen to meet their (other) financial obligations now that their income is diminishing or has completely disappeared
    In total, the payment deferral granted for a business loan, under the First and Second Charter, may not exceed 9 months.
  • For every employer all temporary unemployment resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19 will still be considered as temporary unemployment due to force majeure from 1.10.2020 to 31.03.2021
  • On the 19.02.21, Commission approved the €149 million Belgian scheme to support uncovered fixed costs of companies (except the financial sector) in Flanders. The public support will take the form of direct grants to companies that have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 60% during the period 1 April to 31 December 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The beneficiaries will receive grants up to a maximum of 10% of their turnover during this period in 2019. For medium and large companies, the aid will be limited to a maximum of 70% of their uncovered fixed costs during the same period in 2020. For micro and small businesses, it will be limited to 90% of the uncovered fixed costs during the same 2020 period. Grants will not exceed €2 million per beneficiary and are subject to a further variable ceiling based on employment and turnover decline of the beneficiary

Bulgaria

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks are mandatory in all indoor public places. Outside, masks should be worn at places with larger gatherings of people (i.e. bus stop, queue at a shop, etc.)
  • Internal Travel: No restrictions.
  • External Travel: From 2 February to 30 April, Bulgarian citizens and permanent residents are required to demonstrate that they have taken a PCR Test 72H prior to entry and remain in quarantine for 10 days. Quarantine can be terminated with a second PCR test taken 24 hours after arrival. Exemptions are available for students.
  • Curfew: N/A
  • Home office: Advised where possible, offices can reopen at 50% capacity.
  • Services: Open
  • Non-essential shops: Open
  • Restaurants: From 1 March reopening
  • Cultural institutions: Cinemas at 30% occupancy, gyms at 50% occupancy, group dance classes at 30% occupancy from 1 February

Shop owners & tenants

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Restaurants

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Culture

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Croatia

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: There is a variety of measures for transport such as masks, distancing, and temperature measuring in train/planes.
  • Internal Travel: N/A
  • External Travel: Non-green list arrivals must present a PCR test (not older than 48h) or do a test as soon as they enter the country (not reimbursable) and stay in quarantine until the (negative) results are back. 10 day-quarantine mandatory if they cannot be tested. Exceptions for cross border workers, journalists and diplomats.
  • Curfew: N/A
  • Home office: Recommended, where possible.
  • Services: Hairdressers, cosmetic salons remain open.
  • Non-essential shops: Open
  • Restaurants: Closed from 18 December with delivery and takeaway available. Cafes opened on 15 February for takeaway (no seating). Some measures will be eased from 1 March.
  • Cultural institutions: Open

Shop owners & tenants

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Restaurants

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Culture

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Czech Republic

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: The usage of a facemask is mandatory in public places as well as within territorial clusters (for example in healthcare and social service facilities, on public transport, when travelling by subway etc.), and in vehicles with people who do not belong to the same household.
  • Internal Travel: Movement between districts permitted provided that the purpose is listed under exceptions
  • External Travel: Indefinitely: Non-essential travel to Czechia prohibited for many non-residents; requirement for exempt travellers to show a negative result or get tested upon arrival; negative test requirement and 10 days’ quarantine for arrivals from the UK, with the option to take a ‘release test’ after five days. Hotels remain closed except for people traveling for business purpose and who must prove with an official certificate from employer.
  • Curfew: From 15 February: Curfew between 21:00 and 5:00
  • Home office: Indefinitely: Working from home recommended
  • Non-essential shops: From 15 February: Non-essential shops remain closed. This includes: children’s clothing shops, stationaries, opticians, garden centres, launderettes, and pet shops
  • Restaurants: Indefinitely: Restaurants and leisure facilities remain closed
  • Cultural institutions: Indefinitely: closed

Shop owners & tenants

  • A COVID – Rent program has been put in place and applies to all entities that have been banned from operating. Tenants whose shops have been closed will get 50% of Q3 rent as State Aid. Landlords need to sign an affidavit in which they confirm the existence of the lease during Q3, the amount of rent and that at least 50 % of the Q3 rent has been paid.

  • More details available here: https://www.mpo.cz/cz/rozcestnik/pro-media/tiskove-zpravy/opatreni-na-pomoc-podnikatelum-a-zivnostnikum–253690/

  • On the 24.02.2021, Commission approved the €115 million Czech rent compensation scheme to support retail businesses and service companies. The public support, which will take the form of direct grants, will cover 50% of the original rent due for the months of October, November and December 2020. The purpose of the scheme is to mitigate the sudden liquidity shortages that companies are facing due to the measures introduced by the Czech government to limit the spread of the coronavirus.   

Restaurants

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Culture

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  • Businessmen who have had to close their premises since October as a result of the government decree will receive additional financial assistance from the state to the value of CZK 400 per employee. This was approved by the government on the 04.01.2021.

  • Support for closed premises will be provided in the form of a subsidy for operating costs, applied retrospectively to the period from 14.10.2020 to 10.01.2021, with the option that this final deadline may be extended if the epidemic situation continues to require the closure of these establishments; it will be paid out only for those days when business operations were directly restricted on the basis of the crisis measures, primarily through a ban on the presence of the public in premises, but also in other ways.

  • The first call of the subsidy programme named COVID – Gastro – Closed premises will have 2.5 billion crowns made available. Employees will include both those directly employed and any self-employed persons.

  • The Antivirus Program was introduced for the protection of employment. This program mainly consists of subsidies for wage payments, which are paid to the employees by the employers affected by COVID-19 and related government measures. The subsidies will be provided up to 100% of the wage compensation, up to the maximum amount of CZK 50,000 / month / employee, until the 29-02-2021.

Denmark

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: All domestic travellers are required to wear masks on public transport (except children under 12 and people with special needs). Recommended to wear masks when shopping.
  • Internal Travel: From 1 March to 5 April: Restrictions for flight and ferry passengers travelling to Bornholm, who will be denied entry if they cannot show a negative test.
  • External Travel: From 1 March to 5 April (option to be extended): Restrictions for inbound flight passengers from all countries, who will be denied entry if they cannot show a negative test that is maximum 24 hours old when boarding the flight (except children under 12). Passengers are also required to self-isolate, as a starting point, 10 days after arrival. 
  • Home office: All public employees are required to work from home where possible. Authorities advise employers to allow personnel to work from home and facilitate this
  • Non-essential shops: From March 1 to April 5: Non-essential shops up to 5000 sqm are reopened with restrictions on number of customers allowed in the shop at the same time. Non-essential shops over 5000 sqm are open for bookings. 
  • Until 5 April: Services, liberal professions, restaurants, and indoor leisure facilities closed. (Bornholm is excepted from this with regional restrictions).

Shop owners & tenants

  • Companies affected by restrictions in the period from November 1 to February 28, 2021 can apply for compensation. Here, the compensation period will depend on which restriction (s) the company is affected by. To seek compensation, the company must be able to document that one or more restrictions are the cause of a revenue loss.

Restaurants

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Culture

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  • Companies across the country can seek compensation for the period from December 9, 2020 to January 17, 2021. Companies affected by restrictions in the period from November 1 to February 28, 2021 can apply for compensation. Here, the compensation period will depend on which restriction (s) the company is affected by. To seek compensation, the company must be able to document that one or more restrictions are the cause of a revenue loss.

France

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: Masks are compulsory in enclosed public places. Furthermore, wearing a mask is also compulsory for anyone over 11 years old in all public spaces, public transport, in crowded areas, taxi, restaurants, cafés, bars (compulsory for staff and customers when moving around), at school (compulsory for teachers, educational staff and students – not recommended in kindergartens), in casinos, and in case of vulnerable people.
  • Internal Travel: N/A
  • External Travel: Indefinitely: Negative PCR test requirement and 7-day quarantine for all arrivals
  • Curfew: Indefinitely: Nationwide curfew between 18:00 and 06:00
  • Home office: Indefinitely: Working from home recommended

  • Non-essential shops: Indefinitely: Leisure facilities closed. Shops (except for large non-food malls) and services, including public libraries, are open but must close at 18:00. From 23 February the Alpes-Maritimes region announced 15-day closure of businesses more than 5,000 m2, excluding pharmacies and food shops

  • Restaurants: Until 4 April: Restaurants and bars closed

  • Cultural institutions: N/A

Shop owners & tenants

Announced on the 31.01.2021:

  • Closed businesses (in shopping centers) will benefit from the reinforced solidarity fund, with a right of option between compensation for loss of turnover up to €10,000 or compensation of 20% of turnover capped at €200,000 per month.
  • For network stores, particularly large integrated retailers for which the €200,000 compensation would be insufficient, the scheme to cover 70% of fixed costs will be open to them. This aid will enable shopkeepers to meet their rent and charges.

Restaurants

  • More than €10 billion have yet been dedicated to the F&B sector, throgh tax exoneration, 100% furlough scheme coverage, and up to 10k€/months can be deployed for each structure proving more than 50% loss of sales.

Culture

  • €385 million have been destined to support to the cultural sector.
  • Solidarity Fund: Businesses with fewer than 50 employees that are administratively closed will be able to receive monthly compensation for lost turnover of up to €10,000. For the month of December, administratively closed businesses will be able to access the Solidarity Fund regardless of their size: aid of up to €10,000 or compensation of 20% of their 2019 turnover. For all other businesses with fewer than 50 employees that can remain open but suffer a loss of more than 50% of their turnover, Solidarity Fund aid of up to €1,500 per month is restored in November and December.
  • Partial activity: For totally or partially closed businesses, all employees, including the head of the business if he is an employee, benefit from the partial activity scheme, with zero remaining at the expense of the business. Employees receive an indemnity of 84% of their net remuneration, with the State and Unédic paying the equivalent amount to the companies. For companies that are open but with a reduction in your activity: All employees benefit from the partial activity scheme, with zero remaining at the expense of the company for companies in the tourism, events, culture, sport or related sectors, with 10% remaining at the expense of the company in other sectors. The employee still receives 84% of his net remuneration.
  • Reinforcement and extension of exemptions from social security contributions: For companies with fewer than 50 employees that are administratively closed, if you are an employer, you will benefit over the period concerned from total exemption from your employer’s social security contributions, excluding supplementary pensions, as well as assistance with the payment of social security contributions of 20% of the wage bill.
  • Referral of social contributions: Employers may defer all or part of the payment of employee and employer contributions for the deadlines of 5 and 15 December 2020, simply by making a prior online request on the URSSAF website. If there is no response within 48 hours, this request will be considered as accepted. Contributions that are not paid are automatically deferred. The collection bodies (URSSAF, MSA funds) will contact employers at a later date to propose a plan for settling their debts.
  • A tax credit to reduce rents: The Government has proposed that a tax credit be introduced in the finance bill for 2021 to encourage landlords to cancel part of the rents due by their tenant businesses that are administratively closed or particularly affected by the health restrictions implemented. The Government has obtained a commitment from the main representatives of landlords to cancel rents from tenant companies for the month of November 2020.
  • Reinforcement of state-guaranteed loans and direct state loans to businesses: All businesses will be able to take out a state-guaranteed loan until 30 June 2021 by contacting their usual bank advisor. Repayment of the state-guaranteed loan may be spread over a further one to five years, with rates for small and medium-sized businesses negotiated with French banks ranging from 1 to 2.5%, including the state guarantee. Companies that so wish may request a further one-year deferment of capital repayment, i.e. a total of two years of deferment.

Germany

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • General note: Regulations may differ from federal state to federal state. Specific measures for each state are available here: https://tourismus-wegweiser.de/
  • Face masks are mandatory in all indoor public places. Surgical masks or FFP2 masks are required in public transport.
  • Internal Travel: Until 7 March: movement restricted to a 15km radius in highly affected areas.
  • External Travel: Until 3 March: Entry ban for travellers (non-German citizens) from UK, South Africa, Brazil, Tirol (Austrian state) and Czechia (exception of medical personnel, transport of goods). Indefinitely: Negative test requirement and 10 days’ quarantine for most travellers, with the option to take a ‘release test’ after five days. Quarantining rules dependent on different states. Need for e-registration if entering from a risk area 10 days prior to entry.
  • Curfew: Until 7 March: State-level curfews and other restrictions
  • Home office: Until 15 March: Employers required to allow staff to work from home where possible. Home-office strongly recommended.

  • Services: From 1 March: Hairdressers allowed to open under strict hygiene measures.

  • Non-essential shops: Further measure relaxations possible if a 7-day incidence of less than 35 is reached for non-essential shops, and leisure facilities.

  • Restaurants: Indefinitely: Restaurants remain closed

  • Cultural institutions: Further measure relaxations possible if a 7-day incidence of less than 35 is reached for leisure facilities

Shop owners & tenants

  • According to a law, which entered into force on 1 April, the non-payment of rents due for April, May and June 2020 does not entitle the landlord to terminate the lease until June 30, 2022, provided that the non-performance is due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although, the non-payment does not lead to a termination right of the landlord, the claim of the landlord for the payment of the rent remains in place.

Restaurants

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Culture

  • EUR 0.4 billion will support the cultural sector (assuming 40% of total EUR 1 bn allocated to 2020).

Between January and June 2021, the German government will deploy €130 billion under its “Überbrückungshilfe III” package to stabilise the economy:

  • Short-term aid (available since June 2020): €25 billion in grants are currently available which will not have to be repaid.
  • Extraordinary economic assistance: Companies affected are eligible for a one-off lump-sum payment of up to 75% of the revenue they generated in November 2019. A total of up to €10 billion is available for this purpose.
  • Extended tax loss carryback (to stay solvent despite revenue losses): For 2020 and 2021, the maximum basic amount will be upped to €5 million or, in the case of a joint assessment, to €10 million.
  • Reduction of the electricity surcharge: The federal government will be subsidising a reduction of the surcharge on electricity consumers: it will be 6.5 ct/kwh in 2021, and 6.0 ct/kwh in 2022.

More information available here: https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Web/EN/Issues/Priority-Issues/stimulus-package-for-everyone/stimulus-package-for-everyone.html#t-companies

Greece

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: As of 3 November 2020, the use of face masks is mandatory both indoors and outdoors.
  • Internal Travel: Travel between regions allowed only for specified reasons. On 19 February, more regions were added into the red category.
  • External Travel: Until 8 March all travellers subject to mandatory 7-day quarantine and must present negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival. UK travellers must take PCR test on 7th day to revoke quarantine.
  • Curfew: 24-hour restriction on movement. Movement allowed only by sending text message. New stricter forms for movement restrictions. Until 28 Feb: In the red regions weekend curfew hours are increased to 18:00-05:00, for all regions curfew 21:00-5:00.
  • Home office: Working from home encouraged.

  • Services: Supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations open.

  • Non-essential shops: Until 28 February all retail stores, except grocery stores and pharmacies are closed.

  • Restaurants: Closed

  • Cultural institutions: Closed

Shop owners & tenants

  • Rental reduction: All leased premises are entitled to 40% discount on November’s.
    All residential premises leased by employees whose business was forced to shut down are entitled to 40% rental discount for the month of November.

  • The government will give directly to all employees of businesses that are forced to close, €800 net for the month of November. The businesses forced to be closed need to declare their employees and in return the government will cover their social security costs but they will not be able to let them go until 31 December 2020.

Restaurants

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Culture

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  • Employees, self-employed workers, businesses, and real estate owners affected by the pandemic will be the beneficiaries of cash assistance from the state in December. Benefits will be disbursed to workers on furlough, businesses will be paid the returnable advance while property owners will be paid half their losses from a mandatory rent reduction, ANA reports. For landlords, the government will pay out 50% of the losses they incurred through a mandatory 40% rent reduction, which will be paid directly into their accounts after they submit a statement of income loss via TAXISnet for November.
  • Concerning the Christmas bonus salary paid by private-sector employers, the state will pay businesses for the period that employees have been on furlough but not calculated on their nominal monthly salary but at a fixed rate of 534 euros.
  • On the 10.02.2021, Commission approved the €500 million Greek scheme to support small and medium-sized businesses. The aid will be open to SMEs active in all sectors except the financial, primary agriculture, tobacco and fisheries sectors, and will take the form of direct grants. The amount of the grants corresponds to the interests beneficiaries would have had to pay on existing loans for the months of January, February and March 2021. 

Hungary

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks Throughout Hungary, masks remain obligatory in many public locations such as public transport, stores, markets, shopping centres, cabs, as well as at events in closed rooms. There is a tendency for a general mask obligation. However, different local rules may apply.
  • Internal Travel: No restrictions
  • External Travel: Only Hungarian citizens and their relatives can enter Hungary. A 10-day quarantine is currently required for all international arrivals, exceptions exist for travellers with 2 negative PCR tests performed in Hungary, Schengen Countries, US or Canada with at least 48 hours difference between them. The exit from Hungary is not subject to any restrictions.
  • Curfew: As of 11 November, the curfew is extended. From 20:00 – 5:00 everybody is required to stay indoors, whether at home, at a temporary home, or an accommodation. The only exceptions are for commuting to and from work, and in case of health needs or health emergencies.
  • Home office: Employees are encouraged to work from home
  • Services: N/A
  • Non-essential shops: Shops, hairdressers and private industry service providers must close at 19:00
  • Restaurants: Restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs are closed. Only take-out and delivery service us permitted. Factory canteens may be open
  • Cultural institutions: Leisure facilities are closed, including museums, theatres, gyms, swimming pools, cinemas and zoos

Shop owners & tenants

  • N/A

Restaurants

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Culture

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N/A

Italy

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • General note: Regulations may differ according to the epidemiological level of each Italian Region.
  • Face masks are mandatory in indoor public areas and public transport.
  • Internal Travel: Ban on travel between different regions extended until 27 March.
  • External Travel: Arrivals from Europe must provide a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours of their arrival and are asked to fill in a self-declaration form and report to the local health authorities. People arriving from the approved non-EU countries must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. Any arrivals traveling for essential reasons, from countries which are normally barred from entry, must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
  • Curfew: Until 5 March country-wide curfew between 22:00-5:00. In ‘red’ zones, people can only leave their homes once a day and with a maximum of one other person (not counting children under 14).
  • Home office: Recommended until 5 March

  • Services: Hair salons, barbershops, laundry shops open. Beauticians also open except in ‘red’ zones. Ski lifts open in ‘yellow’ zones.

  • Non-essential shops: Open in ‘yellow’ and ‘orange’ zones; shopping centres closed on weekends.
  • Restaurants: Until 5 Mar, restaurants and bars open only in ‘yellow’ zones (until 18:00).
  • Cultural institutions: Museums open Monday-Friday only in ‘yellow’ zones.

Shop owners & tenants

  • EUR 1.5 billion worth of tax credit on rent, lease or concession of non-residential properties (60% per month) for SMEs.

Restaurants

  • EUR 2.4 billion in reduced taxes and contributions for all firms in severely affected sectors (including restaurants and bars) and all firms below €2 million, which include (a) suspension of VAT payments and contributions in March, (b) 60% tax break of on commercial rents, (c) 50% tax break for sanitization costs, (d) Deducibility of donations for Covid19, (e) Suspension of expiring tax payments demands and tax declarations.

Culture

  • EUR 0.25 billion in funds to support education and culture, including funds for additional teacher and endowments to the arts.

Stimulus package in place:

  • Recapitalization of large enterprises (€45 billion allocated) through convertible and/or subordinated loans (via new CDP fund “Patrimonio Rilancio”).
  • Deferred taxes and contributions (€10,7 billion) for all firms in severely affected sectors and all firms below €2 million.
  • Deferral of VAT payments (€4,6 billion) for April and May 2020. This deferral applies to companies with revenues below €50 million if their fall income is above 33% of their total income, or companies with revenue of more than €50 million if their fall in income is larger than 50% of their total income.
  • Keeping people employed as well as supporting the unemployed (€35.4 billion).

For 2021, Italy is currently considering a new stimulus package worth €24 billion.

On the 23.02.2021, Commission approved a €61.4 million Italian scheme to support private employers in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The public support will take the form of an exemption from the payment of employers’ compulsory social security contributions (except for contributions to insurance for accidents at work), for a period of four weeks, until 31 January 2021. The scheme will be open to employers registered in Italy and active in all sectors, with the exclusion of the financial and agriculture sectors. 

Lithuania

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: Masks may not be worn in open spaces when there are no persons other than family members within 2 metres.
  • Internal Travel: Until 16 March: Restrictions on the movement of persons between municipalities are slightly eased, allowing movement between some bordering city and district municipalities. 
  • External Travel: Arriving passengers from all countries (EU and non-EU) need to fill in passenger locator form and have a negative test and regardless of the test result to quarantine for 10 days (shortened from previous 14 days requirement) with a possibility to shorten quarantine to 7days upon repeated negative test result. Since 22 February: carriers (crew and crew members working in companies or engaged in international commercial transport) are obligated to quarantine when arriving in Lithuania. 
  • Curfew: N/A
  • Home office: Remote working except in cases when the relevant functions (work) need to be performed at the workplace
  • Services: From 15 February: Beauty or massage salons allowed to open
  • Non-essential shops: From 15 February: non-grocery stores of up to 300 square metres, marketplace traders are allowed to open
  • Restaurants: Until 31 March closed, only take-away and delivery services
  • Cultural institutions: Until 31 March: Prohibition on all commercial and noncommercial cultural, entertainment, sporting events, celebrations, fairs, festivals or other organized gatherings of people in a public place for a certain period of time at a predetermined time, which are organized in open and closed spaces in public

Shop owners & tenants

  • N/A

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • N/A

Governments partially covered tenant payments, sharing the burden between landlords, tenants and government, based on fixed allocation percentages. Currently only applicable for the first wave of lock-downs. Second wave of lcokdowns on-going.

Luxembourg

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks are mandatory in indoor public areas and public transport.
  • Internal Travel: N/A
  • External Travel: Since 7 February: IntraEU travel possible for citizens from EU and Schengen area, regardless of purpose of stay. Quarantine and testing not needed. For people entering Luxembourg via plane obligation for a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding the plane.
  • Curfew: Until March 14: Curfew in place between 23:00 to 6:00, with an exception for travel.
  • Home office: Indefinitely: homeworking recommended.
  • Services: Sports facilities (indoor/outdoor) are open under strict sanitary conditions.
  • Non-essential shops: Since 11 January: Shops are open accompanied with strict sanitary rules.
  • Restaurants: Until 14 March: Restaurants, bars and cafes are closed.
  • Cultural institutions: Since 11 January: Cultural institutions are open accompanied with strict sanitary rules.

Shop owners & tenants

  • No legislation or regulation been passed to suspend payment obligations. The government prefers to provide financial help to debtors rather than imposing payment suspensions.

  • A bill of law tabled by several deputies aims to suspend the obligation to pay rent that is due or will become due under commercial or professional leases for the duration of the state of crisis. This bill of law aims to deprive the lessor of the right of termination with respect to non-payment of rent due or set to fall due during the period of the state of crisis, to establish the possibility for both parties to the lease contract to revise downwards the rent due during the state of crisis or the possibility for the lessor to waive the rent in question. To date, this bill of law is still under discussion by the Chamber of Deputies; however it is likely that it will not be adopted.

Restaurants & Culture

  • Assistance for uncovered costs was initially intended for the tourism, hotel and catering, events, culture and entertainment sectors and for managers of continuing vocational training organisations. It will be allocated in the form of monthly capital grants calculated on the basis of uncovered costs to companies which, during all or part of the period between 1 November 2020 and 30 March 2021, will have suffered a loss of monthly turnover of at least 40% compared to the corresponding month of the year 2019. The maximum assistance available is 70% of the non-covered eligible costs for medium and large enterprises and 90% of uncovered eligible costs for micro and small businesses. The amount cannot exceed €20,000 per month for a microenterprise, €100,000 per month for a small business and €200,000 per month for a medium or large business.

Netherlands

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: Everyone aged 13 and over must wear a face mask in indoor public spaces and on public transport.
  • Internal Travel: People advised to stay at home as much as possible and only travel by public transport for essential travel.
  • External Travel: Until 31 Mar, people advised to not book trips abroad. Requirement for both a negative PCR and a negative rapid test result for all travellers from high-risk areas. From 3 March, rapid test no longer necessary if travellers show a negative NAAT test done within 12 hours before. Negative test requirement and recommendation to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival for most other travellers.
  • Curfew: Until 2 Mar, country-wide curfew between 21:00 and 4:30 – exceptions apply to people with valid reasons to movement (essential professions).
  • Home office: Recommended indefinitely
  • Services: Supermarkets, drugstores, greengrocers and petrol stations remain open. Ban on alcohol sale after 20:00. All contact professions (except sex workers) to reopen as of 3 March.
  • Non-essential shops: Shopping by appointment possible from 3 March.
  • Restaurants: Until 2 March, food and beverage outlets closed; ordering from restaurants possible.
  • Cultural institutions: Museums, theatres, cinemas, concert halls and libraries closed.

Shop owners & tenants

  • TVL Stock Support Closed Retail: retail businesses that have had to close their doors during the lockdown of 15 December – 19 January, and that have applied for TVL, will receive a supplement for the stock they have been unable to sell.

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • The government allots €454 million to providing extra support for cultural organisations and events.
  • There are several economic support measures in place for businesses affected by the corona crisis. Measures such as NOW, Tozo and TVL will continue to be expanded and amended as seen fit by the government. Businesses and self-employed professionals who have been hit hard by the recent measures will continue to receive support.
  • NOW3: Employers with more than 20% turnover loss can apply for the Temporary Emergency Bridging Measure for Sustained Employment to receive compensation of their employees’ wages from October 2020 – July 2021.
    Tozo3 and 4: Self-employed professionals can apply for Tozo, the temporary benefit to bridge the loss of income over the months October 2020 – July 2021 in the municipality where they live. Check with your municipality how to apply.
    TVL: The Reimbursement Fixed Costs Scheme for SMEs and self-employed professionals aims to compensate SMEs for fixed costs other than wage costs.

Poland

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks are mandatory across the country.
  • Internal Travel: Children and adolescents up to 16 years of age must no longer have to move under adult supervision. Calls for limiting the movement of seniors – especially people over 70.
  • External Travel: Until 28 February: There is currently no air traffic ban. Border traffic within the internal borders of the European Union is allowed. Arriving passengers with a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result are released from mandatory 10 days quarantine. People vaccinated against COVID-19 are exempted from compulsory quarantine (on the basis of a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19). Poland will not introduce border controls with Czech Republic and Slovakia but is introducing the obligation to have a negative coronavirus test when entering.
  • Curfew: None
  • Home office: Recommended
  • Services: Until 28 February: Beauty salons, tattoo salons, hairdressers and beauticians operate under the sanitary regime. Under the strict sanitary regime, the hotels resumed operation up to 50% of the occupancy rates. Under strict sanitary regime, the swimming pools and slopes resumed operation.
  • Non-essential shops: Shopping centres and malls are open and operate under strict sanitary regime.
  • Restaurants: Until 28 February: The restaurant is forbidden to operate. It is only possible to provide take-away and delivery services
  • Cultural institutions: Until 28 February: Art galleries, museums and libraries can be open and operate under strict sanitary regimes. Cinemas, theatres, operas and philharmonics have also resumed their activities with max 50% capacity.

Shop owners & tenants

  • During the period of prohibition of certain activities in shopping centers of more than 2,000 sqm of sales area (which was in place at the beginning of the pandemic and again starting from November 7, 2020), the mutual rights and obligations of the tenants and landlords affected by such prohibitions expired (which in particular means that no rents are payable during that period).
  • Until June 30, 2020, the landlord could not terminate a lease or a rent amount under the lease, except if the tenant violated the provisions on permitted use or the building in which the premises are located has to be demolished or renovated.

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • N/A

The anti-crisis shield 4.0 was signed by the President on 23 June. The main purpose of the act is to protect Polish enterprises, jobs and consumers against the negative effects of COVID-19. The new act includes the following updates:

  • Temporary, increased protection of Polish companies against hostile takeovers by investors from outside Europe and OECD
  • Financial support for local governments between June and December 2020 (for example relaxation of fiscal rules, doubling of the shares of counties (powiaty) in revenues from the state treasury companies)

From Nov 6th, fiscal stimulus aimed at supporting covid-impacted businesses proposes to co-finance 70% of fixed costs not covered by revenue, and subsidies to leasing costs and business.

More information can be accessed here:
https://polen.um.dk/da/eksportraadet/coronavirus-and-the-economy/

Poland announced its Financial Shield 2.0 stimulus package in late 2020, estimated to be between 35 billion and 40 billion Polish Zloty (between 9 billion and 10.5 billion U.S. dollars), aimed to help 40 sectors particularly impacted by the second wave of the COVID-19. Businesses active in, among others, transport, retail, tourism and gastronomy, can apply for funds needed to pay employees and avoid bankruptcy.

Portugal

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: Mandatory in indoor public areas and public transport.
  • Internal Travel: There is no Internal travel due to the curfew imposed by the State of Emergency; in the weekends it is prohibited to travel through councils
  • External Travel: Until 1 March: Portuguese Citizens are prohibited of leaving the country in any way (with some exceptions for people living in foreign countries or essential workers that need to cross the border with Spain) Additionally, every person that arrives to Portugal must do a 14-day quarantine
  • Curfew: Until middle March (the prediction is for around 20 March): Curfew with exceptional restrictions such as a walk near habitation with one person, or essential shopping
  • Services: Until middle March (prediction 20 March): Services of all kinds are closed. Supermarkets and pharmacies are open.
  • Non-essential shops: Until middle March (prediction 20 March): Non-essential shops are closed
  • Restaurants: Until middle March (prediction 20 March): Restaurants are closed to eat on the spot but they have the possibility to be open to sell on a take-away basis
  • Cultural institutions: Until middle March (prediction 20 March): Cultural institutions and leisure facilities are closed

Shop owners & tenants

  • Suspension of rents for vulnerable households and cash-strapped small firms during the coronavirus outbreak. The measure suspends rents until a month after the state of emergency ends. After that, renters are expected to repay what they owe in monthly installments for up to a year.

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • N/A
  • Council of Ministers’ decision no. 41/2020 sets up the Program for economic and social stabilisation (“Programa de Estabilização Económica e Social” or “PEES”). Measures include exemptions and reductions of employer’s Social Security contributions, simplifications of public administration procedures or payment in instalments of tax and Social Security debts.
  • Further information are detailed here: https://www.bruegel.org/publications/datasets/covid-national-dataset/#portugal

Romania

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: Mandatory to wear inside public places & outside
  • Internal Travel: No restrictions
  • External Travel: Some countries in the Yellow Area, meaning 14-day quarantine upon entry into Romania. Citizens from the red zone entering the country with a negative PCR test taken within the last 72 hours need to quarantine for 10 days. Without a negative Test quarantine needed for 14 days.
  • Curfew: Nighttime curfew from 23:00 to 5:00
  • Home office: Teleworking or staggered hours for employees. If work between 23:00 and 5:00, statement from work required, explaining necessity.
  • Services: Businesses open, masks required inside but not mandatory except for cities in quarantine.
  • Non-essential shops: Stores open from 5:00-21:00.
  • Restaurants: Restaurants are open, with capacity usage varying based on number of cases/thousand inhabitants in their respective cities.
  • Cultural institutions: Museums, art galleries and cinemas can operate if they respect certain sanitary conditions and (in the case of cinemas) the incidence rate in the country is not over 3/1000 inhabitants.

Shop owners & tenants

  • N/A

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • N/A

A state aid scheme aimed to support retailers was submitted to the European Commission for approval, proposing a grant for 50% of the rent due between mid-March and mid-June 2020 (the first wave lockdown)

Serbia

Last updated on 11/02/2021

  • Face masks are mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public places.
  • No curfew in place
  • Non-essential shops: restricted opening hours for shopping centres

Shop owners & tenants

  • N/A

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • N/A

N/A

Slovakia

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face Masks: Wearing face masks mandatory in public (i.e., in exteriors), in interiors, public transport. Masks are not required for certain groups of people (e.g., people with specific disabilities).
  • Internal Travel: Travelling between counties depends on the division of counties based on epidemiology situation (I-IV. categories). Stay in the nature within the county is permitted (IV. -the worst category). In other categories, stay in the nature is permitted within the county (outside of the county with the test). 
  • External Travel: As of February 17, passengers arriving in Slovakia from abroad will have to undergo mandatory quarantine – quarantine will be mandatory for incoming travellers from all countries. The returnees can undergo PCR testing on the eighth day of their quarantine at the earliest and if the test result is negative, their quarantine ends. Cross-border commuters will need a certificate about a negative antigen or PCR test result not older than seven days, as well as confirmation that they are commuters.
  • Curfew: in place; since 8 Feb state of emergency prolonged until 20 March; further prolongation of the state of emergency will be discussed in Parliament this week.
  • Home office: Home office ordered by the Government (if the nature of job allows it). The National Labour Inspectorate will carry out controls on fulfilment of the home office rule. If the home office is not possible, an employee can go to work on the condition of negative test – AG/PCR for III. and IV. alert groups, employees are required to have the test no older than 7 days, for II. alert group no older than 14 days, for I. alert group not older than 21 days (however, there is currently no county in I. alert group).
  • Services: Certain groups of shops open (food stores, drug stores, pharmacies, shops with pet food etc.) –negative test is not required.
  • Non-essential shops: Certain group of services open – e.g., banks, pickup points, telecom services, laundries) – test is required.
  • Restaurants: closed, take away possible.
  • Cultural institutions: Libraries may be open. 

Shop owners & tenants

  • N/A

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • N/A
  • Employers (including self-employed persons employing others) who had to close their operations due to the decision of the Slovak Public Health Authority may apply for a contribution to the wage compensation of their employees. The amount of the contribution is 80% of the total price of work, up to EUR 1100.
  • Employers (including self-employed persons employing others) who retain jobs even in the event of interruption or limitation of their activities during a declared emergency situation may apply for a contribution to the wage of their employees. The contribution can be provided either in the form of an employee’s wage compensation of up to 80% of the total price of work, up to EUR 1100, or as a lump-sum allowance to cover part of the wage costs for each employee (EUR 270 – 810). The employer can choose only one of the options for the whole period of the contribution.

Spain

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face Masks: compulsory indoors and outdoors.
  • Internal Travel: Most regional borders and many municipal borders closed.
  • External Travel: Ban on travel from South Africa or Brazil for anyone without Spanish nationality or residency. Indefinitely: Negative test requirement for entering the country and flying to the Canary Islands and Baleares (even from Mainland Spain).
  • Curfew: Until May: regional curfews between 23:00 and 6:00 (although it can be extended or reduced by one hour, currently in most of the regions the curfew goes from 22:00 until 6:00).
  • Home office: Indefinitely: Working from home recommended.
  • Services: Situation widely varies between regions, from limited opening hours to complete closures (the latter especially regarding bars and restaurants). 
  • Non-essential shops: Nonessential shops are open in most of the regions, although with capacity restrictions.
  • Restaurants: Maximum efforts are often made to keep hostelry open, even if it means limiting capacity or closing early (18h or only opening during a certain time frame). Tendency to reduce these restrictions (longer opening hours, less capacity restrictions etc), especially on terraces.
  • Cultural institutions: open in most regions with capacity restrictions.

Shop owners & tenants

At local level in Catalonia :

  • Trade aid plan – Consorcio de Comercio, Artesanía y Moda de Catalunya, with a total of 7 lines of aid to help mitigate the crisis caused by Covid-19, 5 of them related to commerce below.
  • Support program for representative entities of the commercial sector: support for the most representative entities of the commercial sector that have a proven territorial representation or entities that group multisectoral entrepreneurs.
  • Support program for the associative network of commerce, crafts and fashion: promoting the Support Program for associations defined in the framework of the 20/21 Commerce Agenda, responding to the COVID-19 health crisis in the commerce, crafts and fashion in Catalonia.
  • Support program for municipalities in the field of commerce and crafts: In the field of commerce, creation of a Plan for the occupation of empty premises and the Program to promote areas of special interest, to achieve the opening of empty premises in defined and determined areas, stimulate trade and attract commercial supply.
  • Program for the reactivation of commerce: with the aim of reactivating commerce in the face of the effects caused by the declaration of the state of alarm on March 14, subsidies were provided for self-employed professionals and companies of retail trade and services of establishments at the foot of street and municipal market stalls.
  • Investment support program for the new establishment of businesses and commercial improvement of establishments: support to boost commerce through recovery projects for empty premises located in the consolidated urban fabric of municipalities or in historic neighborhoods, and for reduce the number of trips within towns and cities by installing collection systems in establishments (“Click & Collect”)

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • N/A

Actions at national level

Tax on Digital Services

  • The Tax on Certain Digital Services, approved by the Government and the Courts, levies the provision of certain digital services. Specifically, these are digital services in relation to which there is a user participation that constitutes a contribution to the value creation process of the company that provides the services, and through which the company monetizes those user contributions.
  • The tax rate is 3% and is applied to three concepts: the provision of online advertising services; online intermediation services; and the sale of data generated from information provided by the user.
  • The sale of goods or services between users in the framework of an online intermediation service is excluded; and the sales of goods or services contracted online through the website of the supplier of those goods or services in which the supplier does not act as an intermediary.

The General State Budget project announces the “Selective control and investigation actions” in relation to electronic commerce

  • The logistics activities linked to electronic commerce are interesting both for their taxation and to the extent that they serve as catalysts for the activity of other national operators that, from these platforms, achieve large commercial penetrations, not always accompanied by correct taxation, for which is necessary to carry out the corresponding control actions.
On the 19.02.2021, European Commission approved the modification of the existing Spanish ‘umbrella’ scheme to support the economy. Spain notified the following modifications to the scheme: (i) an amendment that allows the provision of limited amounts of aid through financial intermediaries; and (ii) a new measure to support the uncovered fixed costs of companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Under the new measure, the public support will take the form of direct grants, tax and payment advantages, repayable advances, guarantees, loans and equity. The measure will be accessible to companies of all sizes active in all sectors, excluding the financial one. 
 

Actions at the local level (specific for Barcelona city)

“Amazon” rate in Barcelona (pending on processing and approval)

  • The Barcelona City Council has recently stated that it wants to introduce a tax on those electronic commerce platforms that operate in Barcelona without, in its opinion, paying taxes to the city. The Consistory is preparing a preliminary report that would tax said platforms by occupation of public space. The main target seems to be Amazon, but naturally it would also affect other e-commerce platforms. In addition, there is a clear majority in the plenary session of the Barcelona City Council for a proposal of these characteristics to prosper.

 

Sweden

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face Masks: On working weekdays between 7:00–9:00 and 16:00–18:00, people should wear a face mask when travelling on public transport where a seat reservation is not offered
  • Internal Travel: N/A
  • External travel: Until 31 March: Entry ban on most arrivals from the UK, Norway, and Denmark; negative test requirement for exempt travellers from the UK who are not Swedish citizens Until 15 Apr: Advice against non-essential international travel 6 Feb – 31 Mar: Negative test requirement for nonresidents/citizens prior to arrival
  • Curfew: N/A
  • Home office: Is recommended for all who can. Employers are encouraged to enable homeworking for all employees who are able to.
  • Services: Services such as hairdressers etc. are included in the new pandemic law which stipulates that visitors, taking into account that each visitor should have at least 10sqm space
  • Non-essential shops: Shops should decide on a maximum number of visitors, taking in to account that each visitor should have at least 10sqm space
  • Restaurants: Restaurants are currently not allowed to serve alcohol after 20:00, meaning most restaurants and bars close at 20:00
  • Cultural institutions: State owned museums are closed

Shop owners & tenants

  • A rent support system has been set up, with the lessor for 50% of the reduction granted (up to a limit of 25% of the initial total rent), for sectors identified as affected by health measures (restaurants, shops, health, welfare, etc.), for an amount less than or equal to 800,000 euros per lessor. This aid is thus conditional on the lessor’s consent to a reduction in the rent.

Restaurants

  • Business subsidy-schemes such as short-term layoffs and revenue support have been put in place.

  • Short-term layoff schemes will continue to at least June 2021.

Culture

  • N/A
  • On the 12.02.2021, Commission approved an approximately €1.4 billion Swedish scheme to support the uncovered fixed costs of companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak (except the financial sector). The scheme covers three eligible periods: August–October 2020, November–December 2020, and January–February 2021. The aid will be granted to companies that suffered a turnover decline exceeding 40% in the period August-October 2020 or 30% in each of the periods November-December 2020 and January-February 2021, compared to the same periods in 2019. The beneficiaries will receive grants covering up to 70% of their uncovered fixed costs during the eligible periods. In the case of micro and small enterprises, the grants will cover up to 75% of the uncovered fixed costs with regard to the period August-October 2020, or 90% in the other periods.
  • Some liquidity supports are also prolonged (postponement of tax payments)
  • Ability to put staff on partial activation is prolonged and can be used up to 80%. This has limited impact for retail since business is still in operation.

Turkey

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face masks: The wearing of masks is mandatory in all public areas
  • Curfew: Nightly curfew between 21:00 and 5:00, Monday to Friday
  • Face masks: The wearing of masks is mandatory in all public areas
  • Non-essential shops: Shopping centers, supermarkets, groceries, barbershops, hairdressers and beauty salons shall only operate between 10:00 and 20:00
  • Restaurants: Food & beverage lounges such as restaurants, eating-houses, patisseries, cafes and cafeterias shall operate between 10:00 and 20:00 only for “take-away” and “home-delivery” services. 
  • Cultural institutions: Movie theaters, soccer fields, coffee houses, tea gardens, internet/electronic game halls, billiard halls, hookah lounges, Turkish baths, saunas, massage salons, swimming pools, and amusement parks are closed.

Shop owners & tenants

  • N/A

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • N/A
  • Companies with cash flow disruptions can delay payment of principal and interest on their bank loan for at least 3 months and additional financial support will be offered if necessary. Craftsmen and related workers financed by the public bank Halkbank and whose activity is very slowed down can defer the payment of principal and interest on their loans for the months of April, May and June for 3 months and without interest. The three public banks Ziraat, Halk and Vakif have announced measures allowing companies and individuals to defer the repayment of their loan instalments (principal and interest). Employers will also be able to benefit from an increase in their loan limit, up to 3 months of salary payments to their employees, provided that they do not lay off their staff.
  • Limit of the Credit Guarantee Fund (Kredi Garanti Fonu) increased from TRY 25bn (EUR 3bn) to TRY 50bn (EUR 7bn). Companies and SMEs that have liquidity needs and do not benefit from loan guarantees because of the current situation will be given priority to benefit from the interventions of this fund. An omnibus law provides that the TFV Sovereign Fund may buy or take stakes in strategic companies in difficulty due to the health situation. Revision of the SME support scheme of the KOSGEB (the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Development Agency). A three-month deferral of the repayment of loans granted to some 136,000 SMEs under the KOSGEB support programmes (TRY 713 million or almost EUR 100 million). The deferral will be made automatically, without the need to apply for it. Repayments may also be deferred in the event that the crisis situation continues.

UK

Last updated on 25/02/2021

  • Face Masks: Masks required in indoor settings where social distancing is difficult (e.g., shops, places of worship, public transport) and when you come into contact with people you don’t meet normally.
  • Internal Travel: Cannot leave home without a reasonable excuse (e.g., work, education, visiting support bubble, healthcare, shopping, exercise), even then need to stay local (i.e., not leave the village, town or part of the city where you live). From 8 March the Stay at Home restriction will continue but will be amended to allow for exercise with your household, support or childcare bubble or one person from another household. From 12 April, overnight stays away from home permitted in self-contained accommodation. From 17 May, domestic overnight stays allowed
  • External Travel: Travelling from the UK: can only travel if fulfilling one of the reasonable excuse criteria for leaving your home Travelling to the UK: From 15 Feb: UK and Irish residents arriving in England who have been in red list countries in the previous 10 days need to quarantine in a hotel room for 10 days on arrival and take a test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8. For arrivals from other countries, 10-day home quarantine remains. Fine for non-compliance have also been increased, most noticeably anyone attempting to conceal that they have travelled in a red list country could face a £10,000 fine or prosecution and up to 10 years in prison.
  • Curfew: General stay-at-home orders apply throughout the UK (until 8 Mar in England; end-ofFeb in Scotland; 5 Mar in Northern Ireland; 19 Feb in Wales)
  • Home office: From 21 June, return to normal.
  • Services: Businesses which may remain open include those providing food shops, repair services, petrol stations, vehicle repair services, bike shops, banks, post offices, money transfer services, laundry services, funeral services, medical and dental services, vets, animal rescues, agricultural supplies and mobility support services and shops. From 12 April, personal care and self-contained accommodation to reopen. From 21 June, all businesses to open.
  • Non-essential shops: Nonessential shops, restaurants, leisure facilities and cultural institutions closed as part of the stay-at-home orders From 12 April, retail to reopen. From 21 June, all businesses to open.
  • Restaurants: Hospitality venues can provide food and non-alcoholic drinks for takeaway until 11pm and can be provided by delivery. From 12 April, outdoor hospitality to reopen. From 17 May, indoor hospitality to reopen.
  • Cultural institutions: Outdoor grounds of cultural institutions may remain open for exercise. Community centres and halls can remain open for exempt activities. Libraries can remain open to provide IT and digital services for those who do not have access at home. From 12 April, outdoor attractions, libraries and community centres to reopen. From 17 May, indoor entertainment, and attractions to resume.

Shop owners & tenants

Restaurants

  • £11.8 billion for a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses.

Culture

  • £0.27 billion in loan support for the cultural sector
  • Government loans and grants: measures in support of payment of employees, taxed, business rates relief, support for small, medium and large businesses; VAT deferral.
  • A previously announced emergency help for the economy worth £280 billion, including a massive job protection scheme that will run until the end of April.
  • On 5 January 2021, the British government offered a £4,6 billion support package for businesses.

UKRAINE

Last updated on 16/02/2021

Starting from the 25th of January, 2021 until 28th of February, 2021 it is restricted:

  • holding festive events, banquets, public events in entertainment establishments and public catering establishments;
  • reception of visitors in museums, at exhibitions, in galleries if in halls there are more than one person on 10 sq.m.;
  • holding mass cultural (concerts), sports, social, advertising events in which more than 20 people take part and the distance in 1.5 meters between the participants is not observed;
  • operation of cinemas and cultural institutions with more than 50% of seats in one hall;
  • transportation in passenger transport more passengers than the number of seats;
  • holding discos, nightclubs;
  • accommodation in restaurants more than 4 adults at one table and when the distance between the tables is less than 2 meters;
  • work of public catering establishments from 23:00 to 7:00 (except delivery). Settlement operations are terminated after 22:00;
  • activities of accommodation establishments (except hotels, sanitary establishments);
  • work of gyms and fitness centers, if there is more than one person per 20 sq.m.;

Starting from the 25th of January, 2021 until 28th of February, 2021 it is restricted:

  • holding festive events, banquets, public events in entertainment establishments and public catering establishments;
  • holding mass cultural (concerts), sports, social, advertising events in which more than 20 people take part and the distance in 1.5 meters between the participants is not observed;
  • operation of cinemas and cultural institutions with more than 50% of seats in one hall;
  • holding discos, nightclubs;
  • accommodation in restaurants more than 4 adults at one table and when the distance between the tables is less than 2 meters;
  • work of gyms and fitness centers, if there is more than one person per 20 sq.m.;

Shop owners & tenants

  • If leased premises cannot be used or utilized at all due to COVID-19 circumstances, the tenant does not have to pay rent for the duration and to the extent to which the premises is unable to be used.

Restaurants

  • N/A

Culture

  • N/A

Minor financial help for the entrepreneurs, which were mostly affected by the COVID-19 circumstances

ECSP strives to ensure all information on its website is accurate and up to date. However, the content of this website is naturally subject to change from time to time. Therefore, we cannot always guarantee the accuracy of all information on this page. Users are responsible for checking the accuracy of facts and opinions given on ECSP’s website before entering into any commitment based upon them.

If you notice inaccuracies on the measures indicated, or if you would like to share further information with ECSP, please contact info@ecsp.eu