As of Jan. 8, 2022, the state of emergency is extended for 30 days throughout the country. In addition, as of 8.01.2022, by Decree Law 30/2022, it was established the obligation to wear a 3-layer medical mask or FFP2 to cover the mouth and nose, all enclosed and open public spaces. Therefore, textile and/or plastic fabric masks are considered non-compliant.

Certain categories, such as lonely people in the office, people who perform strenuous physical activity and/or severe working conditions, people with cognitive disabilities, etc., are exempt from wearing a face mask.

People suffering from certain diseases may also be exempted from wearing a protective mask in the workplace, subject to a risk assessment by the occupational physician.
1. Obligations of the employer/head of the institute regarding mask wearing:
 The employer will develop its own procedures based on the risk assessment;
 Occupational physicians will carry out the risk assessment and determine the exempted persons
from the measure of wearing a protective mask;
 The occupational safety and health officer will train employees regarding SSM health safety measures and procedures.

2. Treatment at the entrance of a venue of public institutions and agencies, private business operators and professionals.

2.1 For employees:

 Epidemiological treatment and hand disinfection are mandatory when entering a venue.

 Epidemiological processing does not involve the recording of personal data and consists of:

– Temperature measurement by non-contact thermometer,

– Observation of respiratory signs and symptoms,

-If the temperature remains above 37.3°C and/or the presence of other respiratory symptoms, the person is referred to the family doctor for consultation;

 Persons with management positions in each unit (facility managers) are responsible for ordering observational monitoring of directly subordinate employees.

2.2 For individuals other than employees:

 Entry into a premises is allowed only to people who reasonably have justified reasons for being in those premises.

 If it is only necessary to deliver certain documents, packages, etc., this will be done off the premises, directly to the person for whom they are intended, in compliance with precautionary measures.

 If access to the premises is necessary, epidemiological treatment and hand disinfection is mandatory.

 If the recorded temperature does not exceed 37.3°C and the person has no other respiratory symptoms, he/she is allowed to enter only accompanied by a person from the premises and after registering the office/room/department where he/she will go.

3. Organization of employees’ activities with teleworking or home work.

It remains the obligation of employers to arrange for employees to telework (telemunca) or work at home for at least half of the employees.

The obligation applies to both private employers, as well as for public bodies and institutions, and wholly or partially state-owned companies with more than 50 employees.

If the employer’s business does not allow it (e.g., production), the program should be postponed and divided, starting from 07:30 to 10:00 a.m., or with division into groups/shifts. The mention of the hours of the start of the postponed program is the first of its kind. Previously, there was a requirement to arrange the program so that staff could start the program at least one hour apart.