An overview of the new measures: Curfew, shops closed on Sundays and mandatory work from home
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš already mentioned over the weekend that the numbers in connection with the covid-19 disease are catastrophic and that people are not following the established measures. He had in mind, in particular, restrictions on movement and contact, and as an example he showed a picture of a crowded Prague embankment during Saturday's farmers' market. The government therefore resorted to tougher restrictions. It newly ordered a mandatory curfew, banned retail sales on Sundays or ordered mandatory work from home. The new measures have also affected the aforementioned markets.
Roman Prymula's last act as Minister of Health?
Roman Prymula was probably attending the meeting as the current Minister of Health for the last time. President Miloš Zeman should meet the new candidate Jan Blatný tomorrow. According to current information, Roman Prymula should continue to work as a government expert. The last anti-coronavirus measures were introduced by the government last week, when they restricted the free movement of persons and in-person contact, and ordered the closure of most retail stores and services with effect from Thursday.
Night curfew
Effective from Wednesday, October 28, 12:00 AM to Tuesday, November 3, 11:59 PM there is a new night curfew. With a few exceptions, people will not be able to leave their homes from 9 PM to 04:59 AM. The exceptions are trips to and from work, urgent trips because of protection of life, health or property or walking the dog no further than 500 meters from home. People should also restrict travel and free movement during the day and go to work and back at best, and for the necessary purchase of food, medicine, hygiene items, etc., or to take only the necessary trips to see family.
Prohibition of retail sales on Sundays and after 8 PM
Retail sales in brick-and-mortar stores on Sundays and from Monday to Saturday from 8 PM to 5 AM are now prohibited. There are exceptions for restaurants that can serve food to go, gas stations, pharmacies or shops in places such as airports and railway stations or shops in medical facilities.
Prohibition of sales in markets
Sales in markets, marketplaces and mobile establishments are prohibited. An exception is the sale of fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy products, eggs, bakery and confectionery products or honey. Food consumption is prohibited in the markets. Furthermore, the stands must be at least two meters apart and there can be a maximum of twenty people per 400 square meters in one place.
Mandatory work from home
Employers are also obligated, if their profession allows it, to order their employees to work from home.
Prague also canceled Christmas markets
The number of newly infected hasn't really decreased in recent days. There were 12,472 new cases on Saturday and 7,301 on Sunday. A total of 158,515 people are being treated for the coronavirus to date. As a result, Prague also canceled the classic Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
