prague Archives – Page 2 of 28

Poland is to open its borders with EU countries as of June 13, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced in Łochów, north of Warsaw, on Wednesday.

The PM added that as of June 16, Poland will relaunch international flights, but noted that carriers “will probably need a week, or two or three, to prepare a flight-connection network.”

“In some countries…this pandemic is still behaving in a very disturbing way, so for now we limit this decision (opening borders) to European Union countries,” Morawiecki said.

Morawiecki, visiting one of Poland’s largest styrofoam factories, said Poland needs to restore normal trade relations with the European Union countries as quickly as possible.

Poland closed its borders to foreigners in March to stop the spread of the coronavirus. However, it has been progressively loosening restictions on public life, with shopping centres, hotels and restaurants all reopening in May.

Poland has seen a recent rise in infections, mostly centred around coal mines in the south. On Monday 599 new cases were reported, a record.

As of Wednesday morning Poland, a country of around 38 million people, had reported 27,668 cases of the coronavirus and 1,191 deaths.

The Metronome Festival Prague has released a statement letting fans and customers know that the music event has been postponed to June 17 – 19, 2021.

“In reaction to the regulations enacted by the government, we, unfortunately, must confirm that despite our best efforts Metronome Prague will be postponed to June 17–19, 2021. We’re very sorry to have to make this decision, but all possibilities for a date this year have been exhausted,” organizers wrote on the website.

“In light of the uncertainty of the situation in three months’ time, we’re facing a case where no one will purchase tickets and therefore we cannot organize the festival in the way we would like. We asked to meet with representatives of the Ministry of Health, but we continue to receive the answer that only 500 people can gather in one place even though we were prepared to accept all possible preventive measures that we proposed that would prevent the potential spread of contagions better than current measures.”

Unfortunately, flights from the US are also uncertain, which would prevent the participation of some performers. The good news is that talks with booking agents are positively progressing and more than half have confirmed the new date: June 17–19, 2021. All tickets purchased remain valid for the new date.

In case of serious reasons for refunding tickets, please contact us at [email protected] where we will address each situation individually.

About Metronome Festival

Metronome Festival Prague is the first large pop/rock festival to take place in the Czech capital. It strives to provide a cross-section of various genres and musical epochs, focusing on the hottest new sounds and the best of the past.

Slovenia has opened its borders to citizens of 14 states, including the Czech Republic, who can now travel to and from Slovenia without any coronavirus restrictions, the government said on its website on Monday.

The other countries are Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Switzerland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Slovakia and Liechtenstein.

The government also introduced an obligatory 14-day quarantine for everyone coming to Slovenia from North Macedonia, excluding diplomats, transport workers, and those passing through Slovenia without an overnight stay.

The move follows a surge in coronavirus cases in North Macedonia over recent days.

Slovenia, which in May became the first European state to declare an end to its coronavirus epidemic, has over the past few weeks opened its borders to citizens of neighbouring countries Croatia, Hungary, and Austria.

Slovenia has so far reported 1,485 coronavirus cases and 109 deaths. It introduced a general lockdown in the middle of March and has been gradually lifting it since April 20.

Czech scientists from the T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute (VÚV TGM) have had promising results in detecting a coming coronavirus epidemic before it starts to spread in the population. The researchers found that, after several months of research, the only thing they need is a sample of wastewater.

Because bacteria and viruses do not get leave the body only through respiratory droplets but also through excrement, wastewater could become a valuable source of information.

“Indeed, it seems that this approach could be used as a basis for an early warning system for detecting the onset of another epidemic,” explains Hana Mlejnková of VÚV TGM, who is in charge of the wastewater project.

Czechia is one of the pioneers of wastewater research, one of only six countries in the world that have been able to carry out such demanding research.

“If it turns out to be a reliable tool, it will become one of the possible ways to detect a coming second wave,” says Jan Kynčl, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology at the State Institute of Public Health.

However, researchers had little reason to be optimistic in early April because, for a long time, they could not find the virus in the wastewater.

“At the beginning, it was surprising that we did not find any traces of coronavirus in the large wastewater treatment plants, as we knew there was a high number of infected individuals in the area,” says Mlejnková.

But the situation changed when the first results from small wastewater treatment plants in the municipalities arrived. Suddenly, scientists started to detect the coronavirus in these samples, even though the number of infected people in municipalities was, on average, much lower than in cities.

This was an important signal for researchers. It turned out that traces of the virus can be found in wastewater and that the method works, even if there are only a few coronavirus patients in the area. Researchers from the VÚV TGM explain that the small dilution and short piping probably made it easier to detect the virus. Thus, the small wastewater treatment plants could be a pillar of a coronavirus early warning system in the future.

“It will probably be necessary to identify critical places, in which the number of infected individuals could grow rapidly, but at the same time, the wastewater in the area will be concentrated,” comments Mlejnková on further steps of the research.

As wastewater treatment plant operators take samples regularly, the new method would not impose any additional burden on employees at the wastewater treatment plants.

“The early warning system could be implemented right away,” Mlejnková believes, pointing out that if the method proves successful, it could detect not only COVID-19 but also warn against other epidemics.

Earlier this week, Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib posted on his Facebook account that the city had created a new “Manual for a Cultivated Prague”, which delineates visual esthetic practices for the capital’s businesses.

Ms Třeštíková also said that the sudden crash in tourism could be used as an opportunity to reform some of the tourist locations in Prague, removing what has been called the “visual smog” in the capital, such as the many Thai massage parlors.

“The manual is the next step in the fight for a cleaner city center, following the slogan Prague is not Disneyland. The coronavirus crisis may also be an opportunity for change,” she adds.

The “Manual for Cultivated Prague” is a set of rules containing different decrees, regulations, and laws. According to Třeštíková, it is not a binding document. “We will explain through pictures what is advisable and what is not,” says Třeštíková.

The aim is, for example, to remove unnecessary stickers and to eliminate plastic boards with photographs of dishes typical of Chinese restaurants.

“At the moment, the streets of Prague are like a room where people speak very loudly and everyone are shouting. If we manage to talk a little more quietly, everyone will hear them,“ remarked the author of the manual, Kristýna Drápalová.

Moreover, the Prague Technical Communication Agency (TSK) will end its practice of renting placements for advertisers on billboards and posters in other public places.

The advertising is seen on bridges, billboards and other signage. Often the signage is in the middle of sidewalks or other places which are disadvantageous to pedestrians.

The city is also preparing a grant program to motivate entrepreneurs to follow the rules. They could get money, for example, to repair their facade, if they get rid of visual smog.

The Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jacek Czaputowicz has travelled to Prague on his first foreign visit since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

During his talks with the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tomáš Petříček, Minister Czaputowicz expressed his expectation that the Czech authorities would reciprocate Poland’s decision to allow the transit of Czech citizens through Poland.

Currently, many Poles working in Austria are forced to take a detour through Germany instead.

The head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs assessed that the epidemic situation in all the countries of the region, especially in the Visegrad Group countries, is much better compared to most other EU states.

There had earlier been suggestions that this fact could lead to a decision of the Visegrad Group states (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) to reopen the borders of the four states in a first phase before reopening to the rest of the EU.

The Czech FA Minister stated the country was ready to fully open its borders with countries which have a similar epidemiological situation by mid-June.

He also asked the Polish side to consider reopening additional border crossings leading into the Czech provinces of Liberec and Hradec Králové.

According to Minister Czaputowicz, the trend of new coronavirus cases in the respective countries will have to determine the final course of action, but he believes that it will be possible to travel between Poland and Hungary before the summer holidays begin.

Czech stores should be obliged to sell at least 55% of local foodstuffs in 2021 and gradually increase to 85% by 2027, according to a cross-party proposal signed by Czech MPs who claim the measure should support Czech farmers.

The proposal should be discussed by the Czech parliament this week.

“If I produce things on my own, closed borders cannot endanger me,” said lawmaker Margita Balaštíková from the governing party ANO.

Balaštíková, who co-authored the proposal, said the coronavirus crisis has shown the importance of food self-sufficiency.

“If we want to protect the environment, we should decrease the carbon footprint and not transport things from one end of the world to the other,” the MP added.

The President of the Confederation of Trade and Tourism, Tomáš Prouza, strongly opposed the law.

“55 percent is a completely unrealistic number. A lot of fruits and vegetables do not grow in the Czech Republic at all and some fruits are only seasonal,” Prouza pointed out to CNN Prima News.

A similar measure has been introduced in Bulgaria requiring retailers to offer distinct exposure and sale space for domestic food products and to purchase 90% of their milk and dairy products from domestic producers.

Apart from decreeing a quota for Bulgarian goods is grocery chain stores, the government has also suspended food import of non-EU countries.

The European Commission has already notified Bulgarian authorities that the law restricts the free movement of goods and discriminates against imported products.

On Monday, May 25, restaurants, and bars in the Czech Republic will be able to reopen their indoor premises. The largest brewery in the country, Plzeňský Prazdroj, decided to mark this event with an unusual advertising campaign.

The promotion is called První pivo je na nás (First Beer On Us). However, despite the name, the rules are slightly different.

Every customer who orders a beer in any pub serving Pilsner Urquell on tap will receive a second beer for free.

“We decided to celebrate this moment with the biggest event in the history of the Czech breweries,” states the website.

First, you need to buy your first beer and once you are done with it, a waiter will bring you a second one for free.

“We want to thank people for their responsible behavior during quarantine and at the same time urge them to return to a normal life, and meet with friends in pubs and restaurants,” said Eva Andrejcakova, marketing manager of Plzeňský Prazdroj.

The promotion will last from May 25 to June 7 (anyway, restaurants are free to determine different specific days) and is limited to one beer per person.

The campaign was created by Triad Advertising agency in cooperation with Stink Films production. The spot was directed by Jakub Jirásek.

“We created the biggest beer invitation to thank the Czechs and Slovaks and at the same time support a positive mood. Our nations were in many ways a model for other countries,” explains Petra Jankovičová from Triad.

Passenger traffic at Prague Airport is slowly coming back.

In April, the airport saw an unprecedented drop in traffic of 99.6 percent, handling 5031 passengers. At the end of the month, there were only two regular lines, to Minsk and Sofia.

In May, however, the situation is starting to change. At the beginning of the month, KLM started daily flights to Amsterdam, as well as the direct Eurowings flight to Düsseldorf.

Czech Airlines is currently flying to Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt am Main. Air travel to and from Stockholm is set to be reinstated from May 21 and to Bucharest from May 25.

The carries plans to resume operation on its lines to Kiev and Odessa later in May, provided mandatory quarantine restrictions are terminated in Ukraine by then.

Lufthansa, Air France, and Finnair are resuming flights

In June, other airlines should gradually increase their connections. The flight to Frankfurt starting from June 1 has already been announced by Lufthansa.

Air France will start flying from Prague to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from June 3. Initially, it will fly twice a week, increasing to four flights a week by the end of June. From July, the Finnish carrier Finnair plans to renew the flight to Helsinki.

Last year, Prague Airport handled a record 17.8 million passengers.

As far as tourists are concerned, it is not yet completely clear when the Czech Republic will start opening up. Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček said that this is likely to happen in July, provided that visitors show some sort of test.

The border with Austria could be opened to tourists by mid-June without the need for a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine.

“The Czech government is discussing a similar agreement with Slovakia,” said Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček (ČSSD)on Tuesday after a video conference with the foreign ministers of both countries.

“With Austria, we have confirmed our interest in opening our borders to our citizens and for travel by mid-June, especially for tourists,” said Petříček.

“Borders with all neighbouring states – Poland, Germany, Austria and Slovakia – could be open by mid-June,” added Petříček.

Health Minister Adam Vojtech “had proposed that as of June 8, travel to and from a list of risky countries – to be determined but currently likely to include Spain, Italy or France – would be subject to the current requirements while others deemed safe – such as Austria, Slovakia or Croatia – would be exempt.”

Austria, Slovakia, and Croatia, for example, would be among the non-risk countries; Greece and Bulgaria should be also added to this list.

Vojtech said the list of risky countries would be updated continuously.

With Greece, the Czech Republic is negotiating a variant of traveling without the need for a negative COVID-19 test. According to Monday’s statement by Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Smolek, Greece could be open to Czech tourists from 1 July.

From May 26th it will be possible to cross the borders and return if you have a negative COVID test. The government will clarify which crossings will open later this week.

“The government has today agreed that the border regime will be relaxed from May 26th; it will be possible to cross at several border crossings and checks will only be random. With valid exceptions, the obligation to submit a negative test for COVID-19 when entering the Czech Republic will continue to apply,” said Interior Minister Jan Hamáček.

From 26 May, it will be possible to cross borders and checks will only be random. However, it will still be mandatory to prove a negative test for COVID-19 when entering the country. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (CSSD) stated today.

“Today, the government has agreed that the border regime will be relaxed from 26 May: it will be possible to cross it at several border crossings. Checks by health authorities and the police will be less frequent and only random,” said Hamáček.

However, the obligation to submit a negative test for COVID-19 when entering the Czech Republic will continue to apply,“ Hamáček said.

Austria has already abolished border controls, opening all crossings with the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Checks for coronavirus are also random.

According to data from the Police of the Czech Republic, between 16 March and 15 May, the Czech police checked 1,552,000 vehicles departing from the Czech Republic and 1,637,000 vehicles arriving in the country.

Police denied the departure of 14,000 people and stopped 24,000 people from entering the Czech Republic.

The European Commission on Wednesday called on EU member states to gradually begin to ease the border restrictions they have adopted due to the spread of the coronavirus. At the same time, it recommended opening borders between states with the favorable development of the coronavirus spread first.

dir=”ltr”>Vláda se dnes shodla, že se od 26. 5. uvolní režim na hranicích: bude je možné překročit na více hraničních přechodech a kontrola bude pouze namátková. Dál však bude platit (až na platné výjimky) povinnost předložit při vstupu do ČR negativní test na covid-19.

— Jan Hamáček (@jhamacek) May 18, 2020

The Czech Republic reported 49 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection on Saturday, keeping the number of newly registered COVID-19 cases under 100 over the past 15 days.

According to figures from the Minister of Health, the total number of COVID-19 now in the country has reached 8,455, and the death toll stands at 296.

At the moment, 183 people are hospitalized with COVID 19, 39 of them are in serious condition.

Nevertheless, laboratories performed fewer tests compared to working days, and COVID-19 was found in 1.16% of respondents.

More than three-fifths of patients have recovered and at the same time, the number of people in hospitals continues to decline. There are currently 175 people in hospitals, 39 in critical condition.

According to the latest data, the Czech Republic registered 1959 people infected with coronavirus, with almost 150 infected per 100 thousand people. Prague is followed by Karlovy Vary Region with 147 infected per 100 thousand inhabitants.

On the contrary, the lowest incidence rate was recorded in South Bohemia, with 28 people infected per 100 thousand inhabitants.

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