Czech Republic Reports 9,544 Coronavirus Cases, Highest Daily Increase

The Czech Republic reported 9,544 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, its highest one-day tally since the pandemic started, Health Ministry data showed on Thursday.

According to data on Wednesday evening, Czech laboratories performed a record number of tests, almost 31,000.

There were 1,283 COVID-19 cases in Prague, the second-highest daily increase since the beginning of the epidemic. There are currently over 14,000 patients in the Czech capital.

The virus continues to spread the fastest in the Uherské Hradiště region, where have been recorded approximately 616 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the last seven days. The second most affected district is Plzeň-north with 539 cases. The third is the district of Žďár nad Sázavou with 537 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per week.

The total number of cases detected since March rose to 139,290, nearly doubling in October alone. So far, 60,901 patients have recovered and there are 77,217 active cases. Deaths have climbed to 1,172, up 75% this month.

The number of hospitalisations has risen 161% in October to 2,678, and those in intensive care number.

Czech hospitals are converting general wards into COVID-19 units and cancelling non-urgent procedures to cope with a surge in patients, as the number of hospitalised reaches six times the peak seen during the first wave of the virus.

Prague City Hall is also calling on property owners to offer their unused hotels, hostels and apartment blocks as part of a project to provide housing for vulnerable peopled during the pandemic.

They will be used to help homeless and other socially disadvantaged people to quarantine, as well as police officers, firefighters or paramedics who live outside of the city.