STA, 28 April - The government is further relaxing restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus by reopening museums, galleries and libraries and by allowing real estate agents and chimney sweepers to resume business tomorrow. As of 4 May, bars and restaurants will also be able to reopen, yet serving guests only at outdoor facilities.
Outdoor bar and restaurant facilities reopening is the first easing of restrictions for the hospitality sector, the government noted after Tuesday's correspondence session.
Given that the recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health are taken into account, all the latest exceptions to the 16 March temporary ban on the sale of goods and services allow for a minimum contact between people, the government explained its decision on the relaxation of measures.
Small businesses such as shoe repair shops, key cutters, clothing shops, photographers, photocopy services, watchmaker shops and jeweller's will also reopen on Monday.
While the government announced that hairdressers and beauty parlours will reopen on 4 May some time ago, it now also added massage and pedicure services to the list.
Excluded are however still saunas, wellness centres, piercing and tattoo shops and other similar shops where it believes Covid-19 could be contracted more easily.
People older than 65 as well as other vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and disabled will be able to do their shopping also outside the dedicated hours, that is not only between 8am and 10am. The elderly will also no longer have to present a document to prove their age.
Nevertheless, the vulnerable groups are still recommended to do their shopping during the hours which are designated especially to them.
While even shops which have remained open during the lockdown had to close on Sundays, shops selling mostly food can be open on Sunday, 3 May, between 8am and 1pm.
This is to avoid crowds just before and after the May Day holiday weekend, when shops would otherwise be closed for three full days, from Friday to Sunday.
Union calls for permanent closure of shops on Sundays
STA, 28 April 2020 - The Trade Union of Retail has called for the permanent closure of shops on Sundays. "Over this past month we have proved as a nation that Sunday shopping is not urgently needed," it said in a message circulated ahead of Labour Day.
The union says Sunday shopping was a great burden for employees and ate into the time they could otherwise spend with their families. It also distracts the families of shoppers from spending quality time together.
Several European countries have put in place limits on Sunday shopping and "their retail systems are functioning despite such restrictions."
Slovenia closed shops Sundays as part of lockdown measures that took effect in mid-March, with exemptions only for petrol stations and small independent grocery shops.
Before the pandemic, working time was almost fully liberalised and many shops were open Sundays.
