Jan 19, 2022

Czech Government Decides Against Compulsory Vaccination

Prague Morning

The Czech government has decided that it will not make coronavirus vaccination mandatory.

The Czech Republic’s new center-right government will not make vaccination against COVID-19 compulsory, scrapping the previous cabinet’s decree requiring people over the age of 60 and workers in healthcare, and social care and security services to get the jab from March, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday.

“This does not change our stance on vaccination, it is still undoubtedly the best way to fight COVID-19 … However, we do not see reasons for compulsory vaccination, we do not want to deepen trenches in the society,” Fiala told a news conference.

Latest statistics

The number of new confirmed COVID cases soared to 28,469 in the Czech Republic on Tuesday, the highest figure seen since the coronavirus hit the country nearly two years ago.

Screening increased this week with the introduction of twice-weekly tests at all workplaces. 128,000 tests were performed on Tuesday, 29,000 more than a week ago.

Experts say up to 50,000 cases a day could be recorded in the coming weeks due to a surge in the Omicron variant of the virus.

The worst situation is still registered in Prague. On Tuesday, the daily number of confirmed cases in the capital was again record-breaking, with tests revealing 5,741 positives.

On Tuesday, 1,635 patients with covid-19 required hospital care, 252 of whom were in severe condition. Both numbers are decreasing for the past few weeks.