From tomorrow, restrictions on the free movement of people and services will be in place. Most stores will close
The Czech Republic holds the first place within the EU
The number of new Covid-19 cases isn't decreasing, on the contrary, it has been breaking records in recent days. The Czech Republic currently holds a sad first place within the European Union in the number of new cases per million inhabitants. Even the Minister of the Interior, Jan Hamáček, tested positive for coronavirus. To complement a number of measures already in place, such as the blanket closure of restaurants, schools, cultural facilities, sports grounds, the ban on gatherings of more than 6 people, and the obligation to wear face masks in public transport, indoors, outdoors or in the car, the government decided to tighten the belt again. From tomorrow, restrictions on the free movement of people will be in place, and most shops and services will have to close.
"People still get too much in contact with each other. That makes it logical that we will probably have to present stricter measures to the government,"
the Minister of Health Roman Prymula outlined yesterday.
Retail stores and services will close
After this morning's session, the government decided to close retail stores and services. This measure doesn't apply to stores with essential products. Wholesale remains unrestricted. In large shopping centers, only food stores, drugstores, pharmacies and other places of business listed in the government resolution will remain open.
Restrictions on movement and contact
The government has also taken measures to restrict movement and contact between people for as long as is necessary. The exceptions are traveling to work, necessary visits to a family, purchase of essential goods or doctor's appointments. Walks in nature, in parks, and traveling to cottages and chalets will remain allowed.
Work from home
The government also recommends that employers support work from home, limit the performance of work that is not strictly necessary for the operation of the company, and limit direct contact with customers.
Change of office hours and restriction on contact with the public
One of the last measures is the maximum restriction of direct contact of the public administration with the public. Office hours will be limited to a maximum of 5 hours, 2 days a week.
Hospitals filled to a capacity of 80%
At the press conference, Roman Prymula also said that the current measures have not yet succeeded in reducing the reproduction number, which is currently 1.36. He informed that hospitals have filled to a capacity of 80%.
It's not a lockdown, says Prymula
The Minister of Health refuted the claim that the newly introduced measures should represent a lockdown.
"Lockdown means shutting down the whole country. In the sense that even industry and trade are severely curtailed. In essence, everything but for critical infrastructure ceases to exist and people are confined to their homes, from which they cannot go farther than, say 300 meters. That's a lockdown. And that is definitely not happening here, "
