The Czech biotechnology company Bioinova has completed new test kits for COVID-19 that can be used not only for nasopharyngeal but also for mouth or saliva sampling. The use of the tests has already been approved by the Czech State Institute for Drug Control. As a result, tests should be faster, cheaper, and more patient-friendly. “The test is called Bi-Cov. The name suggests that it offers two possible ways to use them, firstly for swabs from the nasopharynx but also the oral cavity,” explained Peter Bauer, director of Bioinova. Some laboratories, for example, in one of Prague’s hospitals, have already started using them. The test kit consists of a sampling brush and a small test-tube with a clear solution. After the swab, the sampling brush remains in the test-tube, and the kit then goes to the laboratory for a classic PCR test. Isolation of viral RNA begins immediately after the swab. When the laboratory employees open the test-tube, they can immediately proceed to the PCR test. The Bioinova company does not want to give any details on the contents of the solution, though. “That solution is our ‘gold’ which we have created. We will have it patented soon,” said Bauer....
Xvideos faces backlash as the site contains videos of sexual abuse against women and children. Xvideos, one of the largest adult content platforms on the internet, will be seriously dealt with by Czech police and authorities over the revelation that the platform enables and allows the streaming and sharing of pornographic videos depicting sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation of children and minors. It has been revealed that any user on the Xvideos’ server can upload content, with little to no restrictions. Consequently, this is the main reason why many videos on the site go unchecked before it’s too late. Additionally, the police suspect that the site provides illegal content, which could be directly sourced from these shared videos containing child pornography. It has been reported that the criminal police of the Czech Republic, along with the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office, are investigating Xvideos’ server. Petr Malý, a spokesman for the Chief Prosecutor, has stated that the case has been referred to the Criminal Police Service and Investigations for further action. This is a critical case for the Czech authorities to tackle, as the outcome has serious implications. The company that operates the Xvideos server, WGCZ Holding, has a turnover of...
Airlines and travel agencies have been hard-hit by the economic consequences brought upon by the pandemic. Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reveals that the Czech Republic’s airline industry has been one of the most affected by the Covid-19 crisis and restrictions. There has been a 78% drop in passengers in the Czech Republic, according to their statistics, and this has caused a huge decline in profit and revenue of around USD 1.7 billion. Many airlines and travel agencies have suffered and reported large losses. For example, Czech Airlines, a member of the Smartwings Group, reported an estimated decline of 90% in the year 2020, compared to 2019. Kiwi.com announced that only half the number of people bought tickets to go abroad this year, again in comparison to 2019. Another travel agency, Invia.cz, a huge and domestic travel agency in the Czech Republic, reported a decline from a 6.6 billion revenue during 2019 to 1 billion in 2020. However, even with ongoing difficulties experienced by many of these companies, most are looking to make positive comebacks in the year 2021. Additionally, some reports have shown that Czechs still have an interest in going on holidays and traveling abroad....
“There is a concrete suspicion of the British virus strain in the country,” Czech authorities said today in a statement. The National Reference Laboratory for Influenza (SZÚ) detected the new variant of the coronavirus during the analysis of PCR test results. “We need to be cautious and monitoring how the epidemic will continue to spread, the mutation is spreading faster,” commented Roman Prymula, epidemiologist and health adviser to the Prime Minister. “It is not necessary to tighten the anti-epidemic measures. However, there is a certain risk that more contagious mutations will place an even greater burden on hospitals and the health care system.” “In most European countries the British virus strain is already circulating,” adds Prymula. The ‘UK variant’ A new variant was reported by U.K. health officials to the World Health Organization on Dec. 14 that is now known formally as “VOC 202012/01” (which stands for “variant of concern, year 2020, month 12, variant 01″). The variant was first detected in a patient in Kent, southeast England, in September. It then quickly spread to London. Researchers who’ve measured and modeled the U.K. variant’s powers have found no reason to believe it makes people sicker once it invades their bodies. Nor...
It would appear that an agreement in principle has been reached but key negotiations on certain elements continue. No official announcement has been made by either company. Colt, one of the oldest and most venerable names in US firearms manufacturing, may be on the verge of being acquired by Česká Zbrojovka, better known as CZ, which is known for its classic CZ 75 pistols. The details of a possible acquisition have yet to be made official. In November, CZ informed its investors via a letter of intent that the company was launching efforts to acquire “100% of the outstanding equity interest in Colt Holding LLC, a Delaware entity and indirect owner of the Colt Manufacturing Company LLC operating business.” The deal was anticipated to be “ready for execution by the end of 2020.” Last week, CZ issued a statement to its investors giving an update on the progress of the acquisition, saying that it has agreed with Colt on the extension of the exclusivity period to complete its due diligence until the end of January 2021. The Firearm Blog website reported that it would appear that an agreement in principle has been reached but key negotiations on certain elements continue....
Denmark leads the way in Covid-19 inoculations in the European Union, having already given 2% of its population the shot. This far outstrips other EU countries: the closest runners-up are Italy on 1.3 percent, Spain on 1.24 percent, and Slovenia on 1.2 percent. At one point last week, Denmark’s rate of vaccination made it look like it could even catch up with the UK, despite the latter’s three-week head start. Health authorities expect all priority groups — health-care workers and the elderly — to be vaccinated by April, and to offer shots to the rest of the population soon thereafter. Estonia and Lithuania have also vaccinated more than one percent of the population. With 0.66 percent, the Czech Republic ranks 18th out of 27 EU countries. The data is pulled together from official government sources and media reports. There is no central collection of vaccine figures and not all countries publish figures at this early stage. There is also the possibility of some inaccuracies in the data because some countries may report a vaccination as one jab, while others may count it as the two required to be inoculated against COVID-19. Further afield, Israel leads the world in its vaccine effort. It has already given...
In the third quarter of 2020, house prices, as measured by the House Price Index, rose by 4.9% in the euro area and by 5.2% in the EU compared with the same quarter of the previous year. In the second quarter of 2020 house prices rose by the same annual rates, 4.9% and 5.2% respectively. These figures come from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Year-on-year growth in house and apartment prices in the Czech Republic rose by 8.4 percent between July and September last year. Among the European Union countries, the Czech Republic shows the fifth-highest growth. Compared to the second quarter, prices increased by 2.6 percent. “If we calculate the average growth from 2017, apartments in the Czech Republic are growing at the second-fastest rate in the long run, by 9.7 percent per year. Only Hungary outperforms us with an average annual growth of 12.4 percent,” said analyst Petr Bartoň. “We will probably not see a significant cooling in the real estate market this year. Due to limited construction, it is unlikely that developers will overwhelm the market with new offers,” added ČSOB analyst Petr Dufek. Among the Member States for which data are available, the...
The anti-epidemic risk index (PES) in the country decreased to 75 points, which corresponds to the fourth level of risk. The only exception is Prague, which switched to the third level since the risk score has been stable at 60 points. The third level in the PES anti-epidemic system would allow: All stores and services may reopen. Stores may be open on Sundays. All restaurants may reopen from 06:00 until 23:00. A maximum of 4 people can sit at one table. The nighttime curfew will be lifted. Alcohol may be consumed in public. Museums and galleries may reopen with one-quarter of their capacity. Libraries may reopen. It is now possible to play amateur sports indoors with a maximum of 10 people in the room. It is necessary to wear a face mask. Church services may be attended by a larger number of people, depending on the capacity of the church (15 m2/person). The gradual decline of the score has started on January 9, moving from 89 to the current 75 points in the last five days. It is currently higher in only four regions. The worst situation is registered in the Karlovy Vary region, where the index remains at 81. In the Liberec, Hradec Králové and Olomouc regions, the risk score is stable at 76 points. The share of...
Amid rising case numbers, Austria is closing its 42 border crossings with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Smaller border crossings will be closed completely from Thursday, January 14, while fixed controls will be put in place at larger border crossings. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) described the situation in Slovakia and the Czech Republic as “extremely tense”. The country is concerned about the situation in both countries, which are currently one of the most affected by coronavirus infection. Ongoing checks took place at the Austrian border before the Christmas holidays. Austria has carried out more than 770,000 checks since the mandatory quarantine regulation came into effect on December 19th. The conditions for a trip to Austria do not change. Upon arrival, a ten-day quarantine is required. After five days, it is possible to undergo a test and in case of a negative result, terminate the isolation. In addition, at the border, passengers must fill in a form and specify the reason why they are coming to Austria. Cross-border commuters will be allowed to enter and to avoid the quarantine requirement, however all cross-border workers will need to show evidence that they have an employer in Austria. ❗️9. ledna obnovilo...
Global deliveries by Volkswagen’s Škoda Auto fell 19.1% to 1.005 million vehicles in 2020, hit by the COVID-19 pandemic which caused production outages and closures of dealerships, the Czech carmaker said on Tuesday. The carmaker delivered more than 1 million vehicles for the seventh year running but suffered like many peers as the pandemic hit output and sales, largely in the second quarter. The company saw its biggest drop in China, its largest single market, where deliveries fell 38.7% in 2020, shrinking for a second straight year. Škoda said the second half of the year saw improvement and its board member responsible for sales, Alain Favey, said he viewed the coming months with moderate optimism, despite a surge in COVID-19 infections. While the Czech Republic and other countries in Europe have been hit harder by a growing number of infections, factories have kept their gates open, unlike near the outset of the pandemic. Czech industrial output grew on a year-on-year basis in October and November, according to the latest data available, after crashing in April and May. Škoda is the country’s biggest exporter, shipping the vast majority of its cars abroad. In Europe, Škoda said its market share increased to...
The European Medicines Agency said Tuesday that AstraZeneca and Oxford University have submitted an application for their COVID-19 vaccine to be licensed across the European Union. The Czech Republic is therefore expecting the delivery of 200,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in February, and 3 million by the end of the year. “Thanks to the easier handling and storage, vaccination will become more accessible. It is another step so that we can return to normal life,“ said State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) director Irena Storová. The EMA, the drugs agency for the 27-nation EU, has already approved two other coronavirus vaccines, one made by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech and another made by U.S. biotechnology company Moderna. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to be a key vaccine for many countries because of its low cost, availability, and ease of use. It can be kept in refrigerators rather than the ultra-cold storage that the Pfizer vaccine requires. From January 15, people of 80 years and older will be able to register themselves for COVID-19 vaccination, for the rest of the Czech population, it will open from February 1. Latest statistics The number of deaths related to COVID-19 rose by...
Entering the 2021 EU Year of Railway, the European Commission has approved today an investment of over €160 million (more than 4 billion CZK) from the Cohesion Fund to replace the single line between Sudoměřice u Tábora and Votice with a new 17 km-long double-track railway. This will enable the passage of long-distance, high-speed trains, and more freight and regional trains. Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira said: “This project will modernize rail transport in the Czech Republic making its railway network more competitive and attractive compared to other more polluting and dangerous transport modes.” “This will greatly benefit people and businesses not only in the Czech Republic but also in the rest of Central Europe,” she adds. The project will contribute to the greater capacity and competitiveness of railway transport. This should encourage a shift from road to rail transport, which will bring environmental benefits, in the form of less noise and air pollution, while contributing to socio-economic development in the south and central Bohemia. The new line on Prague-České Budějovice railway corridor will facilitate access to the cities of České Budějovice and Prague and the town of Tábor, making it easier for people to meet the demand for...
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