According to the preliminary data, the state budget deficit in the first two months of 2021 was EUR 661 million, which is almost a quarter of the projected deficit for the whole of 2021. The deficit would be smaller (EUR −128 million) without considering COVID measures.
The monthly cost of COVID measures with a direct effect on the state budget balance was EUR 65 million in February, which is one of the lowest monthly costs since the beginning of the COVID epidemic. In the first two months of 2021, the total direct effect of COVID measures totalled EUR 538 million, mostly on the expenditure side (EUR 522 million).
The total direct effect of COVID measures since March 2020 has been EUR 2.963 billion, and the total cost of such measures, taking into account the potential effect of guarantees on the state budget results, liquidity loans and deferred credit payments, EUR 3.494 billion.
In December 2020, 71,200 employees were involved in job retention measures, which is 8.9% of all employees and less than a half compared to April and May. Basic income was disbursed to 33,600 self-employed, which is around a third of all self-employed, while the share was around 45% in spring last year.