Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) called on the Health Ministry on Twitter today to deal with the COVID vaccination of foreigners without health insurance in the Czech Republic. At present, only people having public health insurance in the Czech Republic can get vaccinated in the country, including foreigners with permanent residence and foreign employees. Their family members and asylum seekers also enjoy an exemption. Others will have to have commercial health insurance. Hřib argued that if uninsured foreigners, primarily in Prague, were eliminated from the vaccination system, the population protection would not be secured. Over one million people have received both doses of a Covid vaccine to date, over 3.6 million vaccines have been administered in all. According to a survey conducted in April by the Center for Public Opinion Research at the Czech Academy of Sciences, 59% of Czechs said they planned to be vaccinated, while 26% of them declared they wouldn’t. Around 60% of Czechs would prefer the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, while an equal share of respondents would not want to receive the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine. Meanwhile, a petition has been recently launched calling for foreign residents living in the Czech Republic but insured outside the Czech public health...
Annual GDP growth will strengthen to 6% in the short term in 2Q 2021, but this will be mainly due to a low comparative base. This is expected by the Czech National Bank (ČNB) with the view that the domestic economy will breathe into robust and sustained growth only with a more significant lifting of anti-epidemic measures during 2H 2021. According to ČNB, exports of Czech companies will return to dynamic growth thanks to the resolution of current problems in industry and international trade, as well as the gradual recovery of foreign demand. Overall, the GDP dynamic is projected to slightly exceed 1% in 2021 and then accelerate above 4% in 2022. Industrial production in the Czech Republic grew by 14.9% y/y in real terms in March 2021. The value of new orders increased by 23.0% y/y. The high annual growth in production was recorded mainly in sectors that have been hit by a complete closure since mid-March last year and which are also very closely linked. That is the production of cars, where production increased by 47% y/y, the production of rubber and plastic products with a growth of 22% and the production of electrical equipment.
On 21 April, the City of Prague announced that it has approved the architectural, urban, and technical concept for the future Smíchov terminal project. According to a press release by the municipality, this terminal will become a “modern traffic hub” and it will be the central transport point for the southern part of the city. Simpler and safer travel Currently, different stations are located in different parts of the city. Now, the Smíchov terminal plans to facilitate travel by ensuring shorter transfer links for travellers. It seeks to achieve this by being a central transport point where railway, metro, and tram stations will be located in one place. Taking this further, travellers will also be able to use bus, trolleybus, and electric bus lines from the Smíchov terminal. In addition to this, there will be a Park and Ride (P+R) car park which will further guarantee comfortable and easy travel. All of this will alleviate the stress and worry of people who are anxious and afraid when embarking on long journeys where they have to transfer between different modes of transport. The Deputy Minister for Transport Adam Scheinherr commented on this as he assured that the terminal will undoubtedly facilitate people’s journeys: “Everything will be simple, safe, and...
According to the Association of Restaurateurs (APRON), the condition of submitting a test to a guest in the front garden is not feasible. There is no legislative support for it either. On Monday, the government decided that catering establishments will be allowed to let guests into the open air from May 17. A maximum of four people will be able to sit at the table unless they are members of one household. The space between the tables will have to be at least 1.5 meters; they should be the same distance from passers-by if the garden, for example, is not separated from the sidewalk by a barrier. Guests will need to have a negative coronavirus test at entry. They will be allowed to use any type of test: from the sampling center, employment. According to the Minister of Industry and Trade, Karel Havlíček (ANO), they will also bring their own self-test and test themselves on site. According to Kateřina Holnová from APRON, the government’s decision in the case of tests does not correspond to what the representatives of entrepreneurs tried to convince the Ministry of Health during the negotiations. APRON has a legal analysis: A restaurateur cannot require a negative...
Security guards in a supermarket in Plzeň detained a Czech man while trying to steal 350 boxes of condoms. The man entered the store with an empty bag, filled it with the condoms, and walked back to the entrance. One of the guards stopped the 34-year-old man and asked to see the contents of the bag, in response he started to run. A few minutes later, the guard called the police. During interrogation, it turned out the man has been already convicted 13 times in the past years, mainly for property damage and violent nature. In December, Prague police were looking for another Czech man who stole 30 packs of condoms, 29 tubes of lubricant, three vibration rings, and an electric nail file from a store. The total amount of merchandise stolen was estimated at over 20,000 CZK.
Karlovy Vary film festival plans to roll out the red carpet again in 2021, with organizers setting a later opening than usual on Tuesday. Launched in 1946 in what was then Czechoslovakia, the festival is now one of central and eastern Europe’s leading cinema events. It took place online only in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With vaccinations picking up pace and infection numbers slowing, organizers said they were planning for an Aug. 20-28 event, later than the usual early July start. “We hope that in the coming months, vaccinations will move significantly forward and thus get the pandemic situation under control, so that it’s possible to make the festival as safe as possible for guests and visitors,” the festival’s president Jiri Bartoska said in a statement. He also said that the later start was a one-off and next year’s 56th edition would be scheduled for early July. One of four major film festivals in Europe, Karlovy Vary’s friendly and informal atmosphere attracts tens of thousands of visitors in normal years, many of them sleeping in tents. Stars like Sharon Stone, Robert Redford and Julianne Moore have attended past events. The Czech government has begun easing COVID-19 restrictions, although...
According to the Czech Chamber of Fitness, the government will allow the operation of indoor sports facilities under a special regime from May 17, affirmed Chamber president Jana Havrdová. The information also follows from the directive of the Ministry of Health. The ministers did not mention the fitness centres reopening at the press conference after the government meeting yesterday. It was stated, however, in the resolution published later Gyms will open with a number of restrictions: the presence of more sportsmen than 1 per 15 square meters of the indoor area of a sports ground is not allowed, there must be no more than 2 people in a group and 10 people in total in a sports venue, all individuals present have to submit a negative test for COVID-19 (PCR, antigen, or self-test) not older than 48 hours OR a certificate of vaccination OR confirmation that they have contracted the virus no longer than three months prior, visitors must maintain a distance of at least 2 meters, changing rooms and showers remain closed. There is no clarity with the mask regime in sports venues. Details will be announced soon. Havrdová called this decision “light at the end of the tunnel”,...
Be it its world-famous politicians, top-class sportsmen, or globally lauded writers and musicians, the Czech Republic boasts many famous natives who significantly contributed to their diverse fields. Here is a list of some of the world-known Czech women who have earned an unparalleled names and an irreplaceable place in the country’s history. Milada Horáková, a politician and underground resistance movement member during World War II, was a victim of judicial murder, convicted and executed by the nation’s Communist Party on fabricated charges of conspiracy and treason. The guilty verdict against Horáková and her co-accused was annulled during the Prague Spring in 1968, but it was only after the Velvet Revolution in 1989 that she received her rightful honours from the nation, being awarded the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1st Class) in 1991. Charlotte Garrigue-Masaryk, the U.S. American-born wife of the Czechoslovak president and politician, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first President of Czechoslovakia, was an enthusiastic advocate of women’s rights and encouraged women to fully utilize their talents and engage in political activity. Dr. Alice Masaryková or Alice Garrigue Masaryk was one of the best-known women globally in social welfare; founder of the sociology department at Prague’s Charles University and the...
As the country plans to ease lockdown measures, Manifesto is optimistic about the upcoming weeks and is preparing the markets for a full reopening. “Manifesto Florenc didn’t interrupt operations during the lockdown, but being able to see guests at our tables will be a much different experience. We missed daily direct contact with our community so badly. We have big news for Smichov’s residents: they can already plan outings with their friends to Manifesto Smichov’s beer garden that will reopen after a 9-month unwanted pause,” Martin Barry, Founder and CEO of Manifesto, discloses his nearest plans. Seven new restaurants “Nothing will be as before. Everything will feel like the first time”. That is the message of the campaign Manifesto is launching to mark its reopening. Seven restaurants opened in Manifesto since March 2021, bringing foodies on a gastronomic trip around Japan, India, Caucasian regions, Hawaii, Spain, Italy and Vienna. The list of new concepts includes Antricote Authentic Caucasian Grill, Avenida Bar La Tapa, NAPOKĒ, Rang De Basanti, Schnitzel King and Ukiyo-e Japanese Cuisine. The long-time favorite chefs from Ryba je ryba, Dirty Dog Barbeque, The Craft Burger Spot, Faency Fries and Minie’s won’t be missing. Their traditional recipes and some...
The European Commission on Monday approved a 1.9 billion euro (CZK 50 billion) Czech scheme to support companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Czech program will ensure liquidity support for businesses that have seen their revenues shrink due to lockdowns and other measures to curb the pandemic, EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who is in charge of competition issues in the EU’s executive, said. Under the scheme, companies can get grants, guarantees or loans if they have experienced a minimum decline in turnover in the range of 25% to 50% since February 2020 compared to the time before the pandemic. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Many EU companies have seen their revenues and activities significantly decline because of the restrictive measures put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus. This €1.9 billion Czech scheme will ensure liquidity support to companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak. We continue working in close cooperation with Member States to find workable solutions to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, in line with EU rules.” In the particular case of companies active in the cultural sector, the eligible ones are those that have been prevented or restricted...
As part of the next step of loosening of restrictions, the government will abolish the obligation to wear mouth and nose protection when outside from Monday provided that there is no crowding and it is possible to observe a distance of at least 2 meters between people. There is no change in the constraint to close the respiratory passages indoors. “In outdoor areas, the obligation to wear mouth and nose protection will only apply where at least two persons less than two meters apart are present in the same place and at the same time, unless they are household members,” said Petr Arenberger, Minister of Health of the Czech Republic. “It is the same practice as what we had here in autumn. When you are in an open area and there are no other people around, you do not have to wear mouth protection; but when you come to a tram or bus stop and there are more people, you put on a mask,” he added. The exclusion from wearing a mask will also apply to the time required to consume food and beverages outside the premises of public catering establishments. Since the beginning of March, people have to wear...
From Monday, May 17, it will be possible to organize cultural events outdoors with a maximum of 700 spectators. The condition for entry would be passing a PCR test, a minimum of 14 days from vaccination or a maximum of 90 days from contracting covid-19. This was stated by the Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD) at a press conference after the government meeting on Monday. Cultural events that take place indoors are likely to be approved by the government a week later. According to Zaorálek, in contrast to the original agreement with the Ministry of Health, it was not possible to enforce the possibility of organizing cultural events within the same date. However, according to him, the government adopted a resolution in the sense that if the favorable trend continues and the development of 75 newly infected per 100,000 inhabitants per week is achieved within the next week, it will be possible to organize cultural events inside which will take begin 24 May. The condition will be a maximum occupancy of 50 percent of the seating capacity, a maximum of 500 people inside and 1000 people outside. again vaccination, test or distance from the disease not longer than 90...
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