“Epidemic Measures Could be Tightened From December 25,” Blatný Suggests

The government will take a final decision on the transition to the fifth level within the anti-epidemic PES system on Wednesday.

“If the numbers will grow, the Czech Republic will enter the 5th level of the PES anti-epidemic system on December 25th,” said the Minister of Health Jan Blatný (ANO) after Monday’s government meeting.

According to Novinky.cz, there would be no exceptions: all shops and services will close except those that sell basic goods. The fifth level introduces a stricter night curfew, which should apply from 9 pm.

In the last few days, the situation in the Czech Republic has been deteriorating. “The growth of newly infected people continues. It is also due to the number of tests, but we cannot underestimate it,” the minister explained.

The index remains at 76 points out of 100, the lower limit of the fifth level.

The situation in hospitals is still stable so far, the facilities in the Moravian-Silesian region are the most burdened.

Level 4

On December 18, the Czech Republic switched back to level four of the anti-epidemic PES system. Restaurants, hotels, and gyms are closed. Shops, services, and ski resorts are open.

It is not permitted to consume alcohol in public, and movement will be restricted between 11 pm and 5 am. Groups of maximum of six people will be permitted to gather.

Accommodation facilities are close to tourists, but people on business trips may be accommodated.

Latest statistics

The Czech Republic reported 5,297 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday and 3,364 on Sunday as daily infections continue to rise.

In total, 627,523 cases have been detected since the pandemic started. There are 82,426 active cases currently, the highest since mid-November.

The number of hospitalized patients is at 4,398. Deaths have climbed to 10,411.