The Czech Republic will stop requiring COVID passes for entry to restaurants and other service or entertainment venues starting next week, opening them up to unvaccinated people, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said.

As Novinky.cz reports, the change will take effect on February 9, following a decision by Czech cabinet ministers on Wednesday evening.

Measures requiring mask wearing indoors and limits to the number of people at public events will remain.

The moves follow easing planned in other European countries. Neighbouring Austria will allow shops and restaurants to remain open longer and also ease restrictions on the unvaccinated from next week.

“Taking into account current developments, the government will abolish the obligation to prove with a certificate of vaccination or negative test when entering restaurants, services, cultural and sports events on February 9,” said Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS).

Those who have not suffered from covid-19 or are not vaccinated will also be able to enter restaurants and hotels.

According to Fiala, the obligation to wear respirators indoors will remain in force. “According to experts, it proves to be highly effective and at the same time minimally restrictive,” he said.

The limit on the number of participants in mass events will also continue to apply, added Fiala.

Compulsory wide-ranging coronavirus testing at work and in schools will also end on February 18.

For schools, this effectively means that the last series of tests that pupils will take will be on February 14, Education Minister Petr Gazdík told the Czech News Agency.

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