Legal Update COVID-19
Measure
Date Introduced
Albanian Government introduced new measures to reactivate economic and other activities, in two new phases: 1. As of 11 May 2020, hairdressers, dental clinics, and shops inside shopping centers may exercise their activity under strict security protocols. Use of private vehicles without prior authorization is allowed only within counties from 05.00 AM 0 05.30 PM. 2. As of 18 May 2020, bars, and restaurants with terraces and outdoors areas may exercise their activity until 05.30 PM, under strict security protocols.
4 May 2020
Eighteen other municipalities are classified as “Green Areas”. As of 4 May 2020, inter country transport is allowed only with two passengers per vehicle, who should be members of the same family.
4 May 2020
Eleven municipalities are classified as “Green Areas” (i.e. low risk areas with zero cases of citizens infected with COVID – 19).
The administrative restrictions are changed as follows in these municipalities starting 27 April 2020: - Retired people are allowed to leave their houses from 06.00 AM – 08.30 AM; - All citizens can go out from 09.30 Am – 05.30 PM, accompanied by no more than one person; - Use of private vehicles shall be from 09.30 AM – 05.30 PM only within the designated municipalities area and only with one passenger inside the car.
27 April 2020
The Albanian government will put in place eased lockdown measures regarding the movement of the citizens as of 27 April 2020. Citizens who are granted with the authorization to leave their houses, can go out for two hours a day, instead of 90 minutes.
27 April 2020
The following businesses are allowed to exercise their activity within 05.00 AM – 05.30 PM as of 27 April 2020: (i) stores selling clothes, textile, shoes and leather products (ii) furniture, lighting and home products stores; (iii) flower stores; (iv) electronics, children toys, sports equipment, telecommunication stores; (v) taxis.
27 April 2020
The list of businesses which can re-open is extended (i.e. meat processing; call centers etc.). In the following link you may find the entire business activities allowed to perform their economic activity under strict security measures during 5.00 am to 5.30 pm https://e-albania.al/PopupBizneset/Lista_e_aktiviteteve_te_hapura.pdf
20 April 2020
The Albanian Criminal Code was amended aim coping with the spread of epidemic situations. The amendments inter allia include (i) Violating restrictions during a state of natural disaster, when an administrative measure has already been taken, incurs a fine or a prison sentence up to 6 months; (ii) Commercial activity in violation of the restrictions during a state of natural disaster incurs a prison sentence up to 2 years; (iii) Breaking quarantine when the person has been mandated to self-isolate by health authorities incurs a 2-3 years long prison sentence; (iv) Intentionally spreading the disease by someone who has been diagnosed with it incurs a 2-5 years long prison sentence; (v) Unintentionally spreading the disease by someone who has been diagnosed with it incurs a fine or a prison sentence up to 2 years; (vi) Violation of preventative measures, that has serious consequences for the health and life of the population, incurs a 3-8 years long prison sentence.
16 April 2020
The Government announced the extended financial plan to deal with the outbreak of COVID – 19 pandemic.
The government has reserved USD 70 million in funds for this extended plan. The extended financial plan provides inter allia tourism, employees who have been suspended by big businesses and employees of small businesses who have not profited from the first financial plan. Each employee in the above categories shall profit a one – time payment of ALL 40.000.
Further, according to the extended financial plan, tourism industry and manufacturing businesses shall be able to profit USD 150 million sovereign guarantee and push their profit taxes until after December 31, 2020.
The Government announced the extended financial plan to deal with the outbreak of COVID – 19 pandemic.
The government has reserved USD 70 million in funds for this extended plan. The extended financial plan provides inter allia tourism, employees who have been suspended by big businesses and employees of small businesses who have not profited from the first financial plan. Each employee in the above categories shall profit a one – time payment of ALL 40.000.
Further, according to the extended financial plan, tourism industry and manufacturing businesses shall be able to profit USD 150 million sovereign guarantee and push their profit taxes until after December 31, 2020.
13 April 2020
As of Monday, 13th of April, the curfew hours shall be reduced as follows: 05.30 PM – 05.00 AM.
10 April 2020
Government adopts Normative Act no. 277/2020 on approving the state loan guarantee in the value of ALL 11 billion, with second level banks for the salaries of businesses whose activity has been affected due to the administrative measures taken against COVID–19 out-break.
7 April 2020
Based on the Normative Act no. 13/20, all bailiff service procedures and bankruptcy procedures are suspended until no further notice (i.e. the end of COVID – 19 outbreak).
2 April 2020
Based on the Normative Act no. 12/2020, rent payments are suspended for the months of April and May for all individuals and small businesses who are facing financial losses due to the administrative measures taken against COVID – 19 outbreak. Landlords who require the payment of the rent fee for the months of April and May, shall be fined five times more of the value of their respective monthly rent.
2 April 2020
All the restrictive measures taken due to the outbreak of COVID – 19 (i.e. the suspension of the academic year in both private and public institution; the closure of all facilities which provide night club services; indoor entertaining activities; bars and coffee shops and any other facility that provides customer services countrywide) are extended until no further notice.
1 April 2020
Three more businesses are allowed to stay open during quarantine. Stationery shops, libraries and tire repair shops shall exercise their trading activity only between 05.00 AM –13.00 PM
31 March 2020
Government publishes Normative Act on procedures and documents for benefiting for financial aid for employees of business entities with annual income up to 14 million LEK during the emergency of COVID-19.
28 March 2020
As of 30 March 2020, only one member per family is allowed to leave the house upon authorization issued by the Police of State after online application. Elder people that are retired are in mandatory curfew any time of the day until further notice.
27 March 2020
Government adopts Normative Act on certain amendments to Income Tax Law based on which legal entities and other taxpayers registered for Corporate Income Tax (CIT purposes are entitled to submit the Annual Financial Statements of 2019 by 31 July 2020 however the submission of the annual CIT return for 2019 is still due by 31 March 2020. The settlement of the annual CIT liability for the year ended 2019 is required no later than: 31 March 2020 for the CIT registered taxpayers having an annual turnover exceeding ALL 14 million; within second half of 2020 for the CIT registered taxpayers having an annual turnover of less than ALL 14 million. No relief is announced for the payment of the CIT installments for 2020 for the CIT taxpayers having an annual turnover which exceeds ALL 14 million. CIT advance payments for 2020 for registered taxpayers having an annual turnover of less than ALL 14 million should be paid no later than 31 December 2020.
26 March 2020
Albanian Government declares ‘state of emergency’
25 March 2020
Upon the publication of Normative Act no. 9 dated on 25.03.2020, all court activity and services in Albania are suspended until at least 7 April 2020 except for urgent court proceedings such as ordering of security measures etc.
24 March 2020
All wholesalers of food products and other products necessary for facing the epidemic crisis are obliged to ensure reserves for a period of at least 3 months or in accordance with the shell life of the product. Also, all wholesale suppliers and manufacturers of medicines/medical equipment and undertakings offering health services should undertake the necessary measures to ensure supply and to offer necessary health services to face the epidemic crises. Penalties of 5 million LEK (approx. 40K EUR) apply otherwise.
24 March 2020
Some businesses will be closed, except manufacturing industries, grocery stores, pharmacies, etc, which shall be permitted to exercise their trading activity only between 05.00 AM –13.00 PM. A full list of businesses that can stay open is in the following link: https://www.tatime.gov.al/d/8/45/45/1282/lista-e-aktiviteteve-qe-do-te-lejohen-te-ushtrojne-aktivitetin-e-tyre-dhe-aktivitetet-te-cilat-do-te-ndalohen-te-ushtrojne-aktivitetin-ekonomik-duke-filluar-nga-data-24-mars-2020
23 March 2020
All international flights from Tirana International Airport “Rinas” are canceled, except flights to and from Istanbul with “Air Albania”, humanitarian flights and flights which have as an object the international transportation of goods.
23 March 2020
Curfews hours change: all individuals can go out for work and essential need only 05.00 AM –13.00 PM. Police Officers and the Military shall monitor the streets starting 21 March 2020. Also, authorized vehicles (through self-declaration) can only be used during 5 AM – 8 AM and 12– 13 PM.
21 March 2020
First financial plan is presented by the Albanian Prime Minister which is aimed at coping with the situation caused by the outbreak of the COVID – 19 within the Republic of Albania. Such financial plan allocates funds for small businesses and individuals by helping them with the salaries of their employees, by postponing the consolidated financial statements, canceling the penalties of the energy bills, rescheduling the payment of taxes for businesses with an annual turnover from ALL 2 million to ALL
20 March 2020
The suspension of the academic year in both private and public institution is extended until 3 April 2020.
19 March 2020
Employees of state administration are prohibited to use their authorized private vehicles until further notice.
18 March 2020
Curfew is extended as follows: Citizens can leave their house only between 06.00 AM – 10.00 AM and 04.00 PM – 06.00 PM.
18 March 2020
The General Directorate of Taxes has suspended all the services provides near the regional tax directorates’ service desk and offices, by providing their services online only until further notice.
17 March 2020
It is issued a joint Order by the Bank of Albania and the Prime Minister aim postponing the payment of the installments for individual and business loans until 31.05.2020, for those borrowers who have faced difficulties due to the situation created by COVID-19.
17 March 2020
Visiting public spaces (i.e. parks, lakes, etc.) is prohibited for every citizen during every hour of the day/night.
16 March 2020
Curfew is introduced for all person from 06.00 PM – 06.00 AM.
16 March 2020
All flights to and From United Kingdom are suspended until further notice.
16 March 2020
Normative Act no. 33/2020 is published in the Official Gazette of Albania, which establish the relevant penalties for any subject that are in breach of the administrative measures (i.e. a penalty of ALL 5.000.000 for any private entity or individual which organize public gathering events; a penalty of ALL 1.000.000 for any entity or individual which exercise their indoor activities etc.).
15 March 2020
All the terrestrial borders are closed until a further notice. All the terrestrial borders shall be open only for the purpose of the transportation of goods.
15 March 2020
Authorized vehicles shall be used only for transportation of employees until 08.00 AM and between 04.00 PM – 05.00 PM.
15 March 2020
All the private entrepreneurs who carry out the activity of manufacturing, shall accredit online with the Police of State the list of their employees which shall use private vehicles only for business purposes.
14 March 2020
All the private entrepreneurs who carry out the activity of manufacturing, shall accredit online with the Police of State the list of their employees which shall use private vehicles only for business purposes.
14 March 2020
Mandatory self-quarantine for all the citizens of the Republic of Albania who have returned from Italy in the last 14 days.
14 March 2020
All the companies that carry out the activity of the international transport of goods shall accredit online the list of their drivers with the Ministry of Transport, in order to proceed with their daily activity.
14 March 2020
All the private entrepreneurs, shall accredit online with the Police of State the list of their employees which shall use private vehicles only for business purposes.
13 March 2020
The temporary suspension (lockdown) of Tirana, Durres, Shkoder, Lezhe, Elbasan, Lushnje, Fier and Vlore. It is prohibited for the citizens of the above cities to use their private vehicles. The lockdown consists with the suspension of the urban transport within the above cities and the interurban transport that connects the above cities, until 15 March 2020.
13 March 2020
The temporary suspension of the urban transport in the cities of Tirana and Durres.
12 March 2020
Recommended work from home. The Government of Albania strongly recommended that employers should organize work from home for their employees. If this is not possible, the employers should undertake all necessary measures to ensure H&S at work considering the COVID-19 (limited number of persons in the same room – especially in call centers, personal protective equipment and similar).
11 March 2020
The closure of bars, coffee shops, restaurants, fast foods and any other facility that provides customer services countrywide, until 3 April 2020. Bars and restaurants services places in accommodation facilities shall offer their services only to their clients who are accommodated in the relevant accommodation facilities and shall not offer such services to citizens not accommodated within the relevant accommodation facilities until 3 April 2020.
11 March 2020
The closure of all facilities which provide night club services; facilities which provide indoor entertaining activities to children and youth; gyms, sport centers, swimming pools; internet centers; all centers that provide cultural and entertainment activities until 3 April 2020. Bars, coffee shops and restaurants shall exercise their activity only by respecting a distance of at least two meters between tables in sitting areas and a distance of at least one meter between individuals.
10 March 2020
The temporary suspension of the air traffic and as well as the sea traffic from Italy.
10 March 2020
The temporary suspension of the air traffic from Malpensa Airport, Bergamo Airport, Ancona Airport, Bologna Airport, Firenze Airport, Genoa Airport, Perugia Airport, Pisa Airport, Rimini Airport, Turin Airport, Venezia Airport, Verona Airport.
9 March 2020
The suspension of the academic year in both private and public institution until 23 March 2020.
9 March 2020
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