The Czech government ordered a 9 p.m. curfew and will limit retail sales on Sundays as part of tighter measures adopted on Monday to stem a surge in COVID-19 infections, ministers said.

The Czech Republic will begin its first nationwide curfew on Wednesday night, as it continues to battle a resurgence of coronavirus cases.

Free movement on the streets is restricted from 9 pm until 5 am CET, and is likely to remain in place for one week according to Health Minister Roman Prymula.

The curfew allows exceptions for commuting to work, buying medicine, and caring for elderly and young family members. Dog walking only permitted within 500 meters of your residence.

At the same time, retail shops still running under current restrictions must also close by 8 p.m. and on Sundays, with exceptions including gas stations, pharmacies, and shops at airports or railway stations.

Fruits, vegetables, meat, and pastries can be sold at the markets. The spacing between the stands has to be two meters with a maximum of 20 people every 400 square meters.

Health officials have been targeting nightlife and partying as some of the main sources for the latest revival of infections.

“Measures against coronavirus have so far had little effect,” Prymula said. “The reproduction number is still above 1 and about a third of the people tested are positive,” he added.

 

Po jednání vlády jsou přijata tato opatření. pic.twitter.com/ynUCWfFCZS

— Roman Prymula (@profesorPrymula) October 26, 2020

 

Exceptions during the day (from 5:00 to 20:59)

• travel to and from the workplace;
• necessary family trips;
• shopping for essential items (e.g., food, medical supplies);
• waste disposal and postal services.

 

Exceptions at night (from 21:00 to 4:59) 

• travel to and from the workplace;
• urgent travel for health reasons;
• dog walking within 500 meters from the residence.

 

The Czech Republic reported 7,301 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, falling below 10,000 for the first time since October 19.

The country has reported a total of 258,097 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started in March. There are 158,515 active cases currently. Deaths have climbed to 2,201.

The number of hospitalisations has risen to 5,345, and those in intensive care number 800.