Czechia further tightens coronavirus restrictions

The crisis measures enter in force on October 14

Starting Wednesday, October 14 new anti-epidemic measures will be enforced in the Czech Republic, the Health Ministry announced. Their scope was approved in the evening of Monday, 12 October following long consultations with experts, social partners and opposition representatives.

Czechia faces a second wave of Covid-19

Due to the unfavourable development of Covid-19 in Czechia, the government of Andrej Babiš agreed on a new set of crisis measures. The country has been registering some of the highest infection rates worldwide, hence the new enforcements.

They are in effect from Wednesday, 14 October and will last until the state of emergency ends on 3 November or in case there is a drop in the reproduction number (the R-number) below 0.8 (it currently stands at 1.5).

As of Wednesday, it will not be possible for more than six people to gather in one place, whether it is outdoors or indoors, organized or not. Bars, restaurants and other catering establishments should close to visitors. customers will not be allowed inside; they will be served through a dispensing window providing takeaway services and only until 8 pm. Exceptions concern catering establishments at hotels, weddings and funerals, as well as family members.

All music, dance, game and other social clubs and discos must close, too. It will be completely forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages in public.

There will also be changes in the operation of school facilities – there will be a considerable reduction in physical teaching at universities and secondary schools. All schools apart from kindergartens, which remain operational, are expected to open again on 2 November, explained the Prime Minister.

Furthermore, university dormitories, youth homes and boarding schools will be prohibited from accommodating students and pupils, except in cases imposed by the government. Work obligation will apply to certain students from medical faculties, pharmacy, dentistry and higher vocational and secondary medical schools. The requirement to weak mask or other respiratory protective equipment extends to bus stops, platforms and in public transport waiting rooms.

The government appealed for understanding as the country wants to avoid a catastrophic scenario like the one in Italy. Prime Minister Babiš expressed his confidence that the society will succeed in defeating the virus as successfully as they did in the first wave. “We have the experience, we have clear plans, we have a clear vision, but now the priority is for our hospitals to cope with the onslaught of people who are hospitalized with covid-19, " concluded the Prime Minister.