Press Releases

With the aim of protecting Public Health and in the face of non-compliance and proper observance of the provisions of Regulations and Protocols in catering premises, as verified by the competent State authorities, the Ministry of Health has reviewed the Protocol concerning the functioning of catering premises.

More specifically, the following are modified in the updated Protocol regarding the maximum number of persons that can be served in catering outlets:

- Notwithstanding the fact that the social distancing measure of three (3) square meters  for indoor spaces and two (2) square meters for outdoor spaces per person continues in force, regardless of the area of the premises in square meters, the maximum number of persons who may be served cannot exceed 75 persons in an indoor space and 150 persons in an outdoor space.  For example, if an outlet has 400 square meters in an outdoor area and on the basis of the measure for observing a distance of two (2) square meters per person, it could serve up to 200 persons, under the new decision the number of customers cannot exceed 150. If an outlet has 300 square meters in an outdoor area and on the basis of the measure for observing a distance of three (3) square meters per person, it could serve up to 100 persons, under the new decision the number of persons cannot exceed 75.

- The above restriction is valid only for the following categories of catering outlets stated in the Decree of the Minister of Health, dated 5 June 2020:

• Restaurants
• Hotels and tourist accommodation
• Taverns
• Cafeterias
• Pizzerias
• Pubs, snack-bars and bars
• Coffee shops
• Canteens or/and refectories of schools, sports clubs, cultural groups, societies, associations etc.

- The measure for a maximum number of 10 persons per table continues to be in force.

- The public can only be served exclusively at seating tables. If bars are functioning in the above enterprises, it is prohibited to serve the people directly at them, their use being limited to the preparation of food and drinks by the staff of the premises.

It is clarified that the above arrangement will be in force until 30 June 2020 inclusive, whereupon it shall be reassessed on the basis of the epidemiological data as modified at the given moment.

DC