As of today, the new anti-COVID-19 measures enter into force in the entire territory of Kosovo, where, among other things, nightclubs, weddings, engagements, family parties are banned.

The measures will be in force until September 1st. DECISION For general and specific measures to control, prevent and combat COVID-19 pandemic A.[Territorial application] 1. This decision will be implemented throughout the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. B. [Entrances and exits of foreign citizens from the Republic of Kosovo] 2. All citizens entering the Republic of Kosovo, including those with temporary or permanent residence permits in Kosovo, and who come from high-risk countries according to the official list of the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo (NIPHK), must have a negative RT-PCR test for COVID-19 done in the last 72 hours. 3. The following are excluded from point 2: 3.1. Citizens entering Kosovo via an airport or land border crossing point and leave Kosovo within three (3) hours via an airport or land border crossing point, provided that he/she signs a statement at the entrance that he/she will leave Kosovo within three (3) hours; 3.2. Citizens working as professional transporters (drivers), provided they adhere to the international transport protocol for protection against COVID-19; 3.3. Citizens passing through Kosovo by organized bus or regular international transit line, provided that they sign a statement that they will leave the territory of Kosovo within five (5) hours; 3.4. Foreign diplomats accredited in Kosovo and their families; 3.5. People who have a certificate of complete vaccination against COVID-19; 3.6. Persons with a positive serological antibody test -IgG, issued at most thirty (30) days prior to arrival. 3.7. Children under the age of eleven (11) years. C. [Protection and safety at work] 4. Pregnant women are exempt from the obligation to be physically present at work. Public or private employers are instructed to create, to the extent possible conditions to enable them to work from home. Ç. [General protection and hygiene measures] 5. Public and private institutions and other entities are obliged to keep hand sanitizers and face masks in accessible places at the entrance of the building and indoors. 6. Public and private institutions and other entities are obliged to place visible signs of the rules of conduct for protection from COVID-19 at the entrance of each building including the sign prohibiting entry to the building without masks, respecting the distance. 7. Officials of public and private institutions and other entities are obliged to carry out disinfection and ventilation of indoor spaces. 8. It is forbidden to enter the closed premises without a mask. 9. Wearing a mask covering the nose and mouth is mandatory in all cases, except: 9.1. When walking outdoors, alone; 9.2. While driving the vehicle alone or in a group with no more than four (4) persons; 9.3. When running, cycling and exercising; 9.4. While eating or drinking. 10. All public and private institutions are obliged to appoint an employee to monitor the implementation of the measure set out in point 8. D. [Educational institutions] 11. Public and private institutions of all levels of education will continue teaching according to the relevant guidelines for the education sector. 12. All public and private institutions of all levels of education are prohibited from organizing excursions and group walks. Dh. [Showing up for social and pension schemes] 13. The Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers is instructed to release all beneficiaries of social and pension schemes managed by the MFLT from showing up regularly at the relevant offices for recording purposes as required by the relevant laws. E. [Restriction of public and private gatherings] 14. Indoor gatherings are allowed (meetings, seminars, trainings), provided that 30% of the space capacity is used. The organizer is obliged to maintain a physical distance of at least 1 meter between persons, according to the evidence set out in point 17 of this Decision. 15. Outdoor gatherings, social gatherings (festivals, concerts, etc.) are allowed, provided that 50% of the space capacity is used, according to the evidence set out in point 17 of this Decision. F. [Nightclubs and parties] 16. Activity of nightclubs, weddings, engagements, family parties and proms in the entire territory of the Republic of Kosovo is prohibited from 20th of August 2021 until 1st of September 2021. G. [Entry, use and organization of certain activities] 17. From 20 August 2021 until 01 September 2021, entry into the premises where gatherings, mass gatherings (festivals, concerts), sports and cultural activities are held, which have a capacity of over 100 people, and organization of these activities is allowed, only if customers/participants possess one of the following evidences: 17.1 Vaccination certificate for complete vaccination or receiving a dose of COVID-19 vaccine; 17.2 RT-PCR negative test for COVID-19, not older than 72 hours; 17.3 Evidence that the person has passed COVID-19 (positive RT-PCR test issued not less than 21 days and not more than 180 days or positive result of serological antibody test - IgG, issued no more than 30 days ago; 17.4 Rapid negative antigen test not older than 48 hours. 18. From 20 August 2021 to 01 September 2021, one of the evidences mentioned in point 17 must be possessed by all employees within the businesses/activities mentioned in point 17, who are in direct contact with customers. 19. Responsible persons of the businesses/activities mentioned in point 17, are obliged to appoint a person who will check the possession of at least one of the evidences according to point 17. 20. Persons under the age of 16 are not obliged to possess any of the evidence referred to in point 17. Gj. [Gastronomy] 21. Gastronomy services including restaurants and similar hotel spaces are allowed to work until 22:30h and carry out their activity in accordance with the relevant guideline. Up to 50% of the space capacity is allowed in indoor spaces. Up to 70% of the space capacity is allowed in outdoor spaces. The area is calculated for the area, where food and drinks are served. 22. Premises’ managers must ensure that the distance between customers at different tables, is at least one (1) meter. 23. The back of one chair and the back of the other chair should have at least one (1) meter distance. 24. Up to 4 people are allowed in indoor tables. In case the tables are bigger than two (2) meters, then the precondition is to use the space respecting the limitation of five (5) people in 10 m2. 25. In the indoor spaces, food and beverage service is allowed only for guests who are sitting or standing at a table or at the counter. 26. In the outdoor spaces, up to six (6) persons are allowed at the table, counter or standing tables. 27. Each table should be equipped with disinfectants containing at least 60-70% alcohol. 28. Instructions should be placed in the outdoor areas of the premises regarding informing the clients about the measures protocol against COVID-19. H. [Shopping centers and other economic operators] 29. The activity of shopping centers is allowed in accordance with point 8 of this Decision and according to the relevant guidelines. 30. All operators who have wholesale and retail trade as their economic activity are obliged to set the maximum number of customers in the premises, while respecting the rule - 1 person per 8 m2. These operators are obliged to indicate at the entrance the maximum number of customers allowed inside at the same time. The area is calculated for the area where customers are allowed to stay. I. [Working with parties] 31. The responsible person of the public or private institution and of the economic operators is obliged to stop lining up or gathering inside and outside the work/business environment unless they keep a physical distance of at least 1.5 meters from other groups of persons. J. [Public transport] 32. Using public transport without a mask is prohibited. 33. Passenger Road transport operators are allowed to work, utilizing the full capacity of the seats, provided that staff and passengers wear masks at all times. Operators of transport cannot have more passengers on the bus than the capacity of the seats. 34. Taxis are allowed to work with up to two (2) passengers. K. [Theatres, libraries, etc.] 35. Theatres, libraries, orchestras, galleries, ensembles, ballet, cinemas, youth centers, museums, cultural centers with groups or other similar institutions, subordinated to the MCYS or municipalities are allowed to work using 50% of the space/area of the respective facilities for all activities (both in performances and exercises), according to point 17 and according to the evidence set out in point 21 of this Decision. L. [Sport and recreation] 36. Organization of sports competitions and exercises is allowed in accordance with the protocols and recommendations of world organizations for the organization of sports events and the protection measures of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. 37. In indoor competitive activities, the presence of spectators is allowed up to 15% of the capacity of the sports facility or space (sports halls, swimming pools, other indoor spaces) respecting the distance measure of 1.5 meters and other protective measures, according to point 8 and according to the evidence set out in point 17 of this Decision. 38. In outdoor competitive activities, the presence of spectators is allowed up to 30% of the capacity of the sports facility or space (stadium, swimming pools, other indoor spaces) respecting the measure of 1.5 meters distance and other protective measures, according to point 8 and evidence set out in point 17 of this Decision and relevant guidelines. 39. The organizers of the competition are obliged to undertake specific measures, in accordance with international protocols, for the management of the crowd (spectators) before, during, and after entering the sports space. 40. It is allowed to use gyms, sports centers and similar spaces for individual recreational activities, according to the evidence defined in point 17 of this Decision and relevant guidelines. 41. The use of gyms, sports centers and similar spaces is done in the proportion of 1 client in 8m2, according to evidence defined in point 17 of this Decision and relevant guidelines. 42. It is obligatory to place information signs and disinfectants (or other means for cleaning), in each gym device for the purpose of awareness and disinfection of them by each client after use. Ll. [Guidelines and clarifications] 43. The Ministry of Health is obliged to issue temporary, general and special guidelines for preventing and combating COVID-19, as follows: 43.1 Temporary Guideline for the application of general measures for preventing and combating COVID-19; 43.2 Temporary Guideline for the sector of personal services and businesses, industry, public administration and NGOs; 43.3 Temporary Guideline for educational institutions of all levels; 43.4 Temporary Guideline for gastronomy, hospitality, sales sector and shopping centers; 43.5 Temporary Guideline for religious gatherings, funerals, workshops and cultural activities, 43.6 Temporary Guideline for gyms, sports halls and other recreational and sports activities; 43.7 Temporary Guideline for public transport; 43.8 Temporary Guideline for health care institutions; 43.9 Temporary Guideline for civil aviation; 43.10 Temporary Guideline for correctional institutions, asylum centers and foreigner detention centers; 44. The guidelines referred to in point 43 are mandatory for all persons and sectors to which they apply. 45. The Ministry of Health is obliged to issue clarifications, when needed, on the points of this decision. M. [Implementation] 46. The Ministry of Health, FVA and the Kosovo Police, in cooperation with the municipal emergency headquarters, are obliged to monitor the implementation of this decision and to submit a weekly report to the Office of the Prime Minister (every Friday until 16:00). 47. The Ministry of Health, HUCSK and NIPHK will be obliged to submit to the Office of the Prime Minister the weekly report (every Friday, at 16:00h), on the implementation of measures, the situation in health institutions, the epidemiological situation and forecasts for the next two weeks. 48. The Ministry of Health will be obliged, based on Law No. 07/L-006 on Preventing and Combating COVID-19 Pandemics in the Territory of the Republic of Kosovo, to issue operational decisions, depending on the epidemiological situation and the recommendations of the NIPHK. 49. The Kosovo Police and the responsible inspectorates shall be obliged to supervise the implementation of the measures, other decisions and relevant guidelines pursuant to Law No. 07/L-006 on Preventing and Combating COVID-19 Pandemics in the Territory of the Republic of Kosovo. 50. For violators of the measures, the competent bodies will be obliged to impose punitive measures according to Law No. 07/L-006 on Preventing and Combating COVID-19 Pandemic in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo and other applicable laws. 51. The only authority that can provide an opinion on this decision is the Ministry of Health, while any other institution can provide clarifications on the respective categories to which this decision applies, only after the approval of that clarification by the Ministry of Health. N. [Repeal of decision no. 01/25] 52. Government Decision no. 01/25 dated 12.08.2021 is repealed. Nj. [Entry into force] 53. The decision enters into force on its publication day on the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo and will be valid until 01.09.2021.