prague Archives – Page 3 of 28

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will open Italy’s national borders and allow citizens to move freely within the country starting June 3, a key step in his effort to revive the economy after more than two months of lockdown.

Although Italy never formally closed its borders and has allowed people to cross back and forth for work or health reasons, it banned movement for tourism and imposed a two-week isolation period for new arrivals.

But from 3 June, all visitors will be allowed back into the country and will no longer be obliged to self-isolate.

Italians will also be able to move between regions, though local authorities can limit travel in specific areas if infection numbers spike.

Italy’s restaurants, bars, and hairdressers are being allowed to re-open on Monday, two weeks earlier than initially planned.

Shops will also open and Italians will finally be able to see friends, as long as they live within their same region.

The current curbs will stay in place until after Italy’s Republic Day holiday on June 2 to prevent mass travel over the holiday weekend.

Questions remain over quarantine

It was not immediately clear from the government’s decree whether the measures were limited to European Union residents, but Italian media reported earlier on Friday that the decree would apply to people within the EU and Europe’s visa-free Schengen area.

Government sources told the daily La Repubblica and news agency Adnkronos that it will not be mandatory for travelers to self-quarantine upon entering Italy after June 3.

The government’s statement, however, did not mention what health and safety measures would be expected of travelers.

Conte’s announcement came hours after Italy registered its daily virus-linked death fell to 242 on Friday from 262 a day earlier and the number of confirmed new cases was the lowest in four days.

The border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia could be the first to reopen during the coronavirus crisis in what could end up looking a lot like former Czechoslovakia, said Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovič.

“About three weeks ago, I approached the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš about this issue, and as the situation has currently improved, we could be the first to open the borders,” said the Slovak prime minister in an interview with the pluska.sk.

Matovič also referred to the “possibility of creating something like Czechoslovakia again so that the first borders that fall within Central Europe are between Slovakia and the Czech Republic.”

At the same time, the Slovak prime minister admitted that he would like this to happen as soon as possible, but currently, there is a technical problem.

“Czechs have a rule that if someone enters their territory and spends less than 24 hours there, they do not have to get tested. What might happen is that if someone wants to get to Slovakia, the individual could go through the Czech Republic and thus avoid quarantine and testing. That could cause disaster in Slovakia very quickly,” said Matovič.

The Slovak prime minister explained that Slovaks living in, for example, Sheffield, England, could start traveling to Slovakia via the Czech Republic without being checked.

Indeed, a group of Slovak Romas living in the United Kingdom returned to the country some time ago. As they did not comply with the quarantine rules, COVID-19 has started to spread in five Roma settlements in eastern Slovakia, leading the authorities to lock down these areas.

Martin Klus, the deputy Slovak minister of foreign affairs, has previously confirmed that negotiations about easing the situation on the borders are underway between Czechia, Slovakia, and Austria.

“We can create a mini-Schengen area,” said Klus, predicting that the plan could take place as soon as this summer. A crucial prerequisite will be a positive development in the epidemiological situation in the three countries.

Professional football clubs in the Czech Republic on Tuesday approved a proposal to restart the top two divisions this month after they were suspended by the coronavirus pandemic.

The leagues had already agreed a plan for resuming play, but the clubs had to give it the green light because the competitions are now set to run until July.

Some sponsorship deals and player contracts expire by the end of June when the leagues were originally scheduled to conclude.

Six rounds of games in the regular season and the playoffs remain in the first division, which is now scheduled to be completed by July 15.

Matches will be played without spectators based on the guidelines of public health officials.

The first competition will be the 23rd round of Czech First League which will take place between Teplice and Liberec on May 23, according to local media reports.

The Second League will start in the week after May 25 and can expect playoffs during July, the league association said.

The decision to restart is in line with UEFA’s recommendation for leagues to “explore all possible options” to complete their seasons.

The restart was made possible as the government has been easing its restrictive measures adopted to contain the outbreak.

Reigning champions Slavia Prague are eight points clear of second-placed Viktoria Plzen in the First League.

Listen to the bells today at noon.

Churches around the Czech Republic will join in unison in ringing their bells today at 12 noon, in a gesture of solidarity and to thank all the health workers.

In the past, similar celebrations happened after the death of President Václav Havel or Pope John Paul II, in honor of Czech soldiers killed in foreign missions, and in solidarity with the burned-out Notre-Dame Cathedral.

On March 25, the song Není Nutno has been broadcasted on CT1, Český rozhlasand on municipal and local radio stations.

The intention was to give courage and strength and also to express support to all people in the front line fighting against the coronavirus pandemic: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, drivers, firemen, and others.

According to the Institute of Health Information and Statistics, there are approximately 80,000 nurses in the Czech Republic.

From the beginning of the pandemic until the end of April, 343 nurses and 167 doctors, including dentists, got infected with coronavirus.

Less than 250 people are now hospitalized. 42 are in critical condition. The highest number of patients hospitalized has been registered on April 9.

The Czech Republic had 8,177 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection by Monday afternoon. So far 4,738 people have recovered and 283 people have died.

Young Dust is a second-hand shop located at Cimburova 583/6, Žižkov, and brings you timeless second-hand clothes and accessories, from old school to new school through retro and vintage.

The founders are a pair of childhood friends that have known each other for over 15 years.

Sebastien, being born and raised in Prague, knows the language, the culture, and the city like the back of his sleeve; indulging in Prague’s hidden gems and unique secrets, while also providing influence from his French heritage.

Similarly, Matthias through his Belgian nationality brings in a touch of his own. Having lived in Prague for the past 15 years, Matthias has fallen in love with the city and now calls it his home.

Despite their very different personalities but thanks to their similar background in business as well as a keen understanding of each other, they have managed to come together and create Young Dust.

Photo: Young Dust on Facebook

Where did the idea of Young Dust come from?
Sebastien: ‘We discovered our love and appreciation for second- hand clothing and the vintage scene whilst visiting family and friends, on a holiday trip to Paris and it was an enormous source of inspiration for us. If you are a fan of the second-hand market, Paris and its little boutiques are a must!’

Very different from London’s thrift scene, Parisian thrift shops focus more on the classic and vintage side of fashion, and understandably, the “French chic”.

Why focus on second-hand?
Matthias: ‘With climate change being a topic that has been raising a lot of attention throughout the past few years, second-hand shopping is becoming increasingly popular. Buying pre-loved products are not only a cheaper alternative but also a more sustainable one!’

Sebastien: ‘When one thinks of gas emissions, the fashion industry is not typically an industry that pops in one’s head. However, the fashion industry actually accounts for 10% of the world’s gas emissions. In fact, the production of fashion items causes much more harm to our planet, than just emissions.’

Matthias: ‘Whether a particular item is simply re-used or up-cycled, we believe it to be the future of fashion. Therefore, we have decided to create a premium second-hand store, offering clothes but also a wide range of other products.’

Contacts:

Phone: +420 731 615 052
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.youngdust.com
Facebook
Instagram

Photo: Young Dust on Facebook

Photo: Young Dust on Facebook

“If it is forbidden to occupy a middle seat due to safety measures on aircraft, the economy class will practically end. It would be ideal to fly on a prepaid flat rate. Domestic flying also has great potential,” says during an interview with E15.cz Oliver Dlouhý, founder and co-owner of Kiwi.com.

“Flights could be cheaper after lockdown due to an “airline price war”, he added. “Airlines will ’price-dump’ low fares so that they have a turnover and pay aircraft leasing. But it has to gradually return to normality, to the golden times of flying,” believes added Dlouhý.

After the gradual release, the main challenge will be how tourists regain confidence in air safety. According to a survey from the USA, 75 percent of people would now be afraid to board a plane.

The low-cost carrier Ryanair backs the introduction of mandatory temperature checks and face masks for passengers and crew when flights resume.

“We’re in dialogue with regulators who are sitting in their bedrooms inventing restrictions such as taking out the middle seats, which is just nonsense. It would have no beneficial effect whatsoever,” says Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.

He explained: “When this thing is over there is going to be such massive discounting going on that there will be a large spike upward in travel and tourism for a period of time.”

“It’s tricky to understand how many airlines will be able to operate profitably. It will be a much smaller industry,” said Brian Pearce, Iata’s chief economist, talking about the onboard social distancing proposals.

His team argues that social distancing through vacant middle seats is no guarantee against the spread of coronavirus on planes. Instead, Iata supports the wearing of face masks by passengers for safer flying.

Airlines will only be able to increase airfares once passenger numbers recover, but this will only be by 2021 at the earliest, estimates Iata.

The Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch during today’s press conference said that “if the situation continues to develop favorably, the obligatory wearing of face masks will be lifted in mid-June.”

Masks use will be compulsory only in closed spaces, public transport, and shopping malls.

The wearing of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has received varying recommendations from different public health agencies and governments. The topic has been a subject of debate, with various public health agencies and governments disagreeing on a protocol for wearing face masks.

As of early May, 88% of the world’s population lives in countries that recommend or mandate the usage of masks in public and 75+ countries have mandated the use of masks.

From March 19th in the entire Czech Republic until further notice, it is mandatory to wear face/surgical masks (or at least scarves or bandannas) fully covering the nose and mouth when going out in public.

The Czech Republic had 7,979 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection by Thursday morning. So far 4,214 people have recovered and 263 people have died.

dir=”ltr”>V případě zachování příznivé epidemiologické situace bychom mohli roušky ve venkovních prostorech odložit od poloviny června. Shodl se na tom náš tým epidemiologů pro řízené uvolňování karantény. Povinnost bude nadále přetrvávat ve vnitřních prostorách, včetně MHD.

— Adam Vojtěch (@adamvojtechano) May 7, 2020

The Central Crisis Staff agreed that the end of the state of emergency on May 17 will also mean the end of widespread wearing of face masks in public.

The president of the Czech Dental Chamber, Roman Šmucler, released an interview with iDNES.cz on Wednesday. However, face masks will be still mandatory in closed spaces and public transport.

“We agreed that after the end of the state of emergency, masks use will be compulsory only in closed spaces, and public transport. We will follow the German model,” said Šmucler.

According to the Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch, “wearing face masks is not tied to an emergency. This is one of the most important measures we have taken. At a time when measures are being relaxed, when people are starting to meet more, masks are even more important,” he added. According to him, “this decision cannot be rushed”.

The Central Crisis Staff consists of thirty experts.

Czech’s economy is set to suffer a strong hit from the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, as external demand drops and lockdown measures disrupt economic activity.

Real GDP is expected to gradually recover in 2021, although it is unlikely to rebound to 2019 levels. Inflation is expected to decrease amid falling oil prices and demand. In parallel, public finances are forecast to deteriorate significantly, as the government’s measures provide support against the economic impact of the pandemic.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to lead to a sharp decline in GDP growth of -6,2%.

The Czech Republic implemented lockdown measures early and will likely lift them progressively starting in early May, considering the current evolution of the pandemic. Thus, the output is estimated to shrink by over 9% in the second quarter of 2020.

The economy should then gradually recover from the third quarter onwards, but the impact on sectors such as transport, hospitality, and tourism may last longer. In 2021, GDP is expected to grow by 5%, and recover the loss only partially. The upturn is forecast to be mainly driven by an increase in private consumption and investment.

Unemployment is expected to be impacted as well, reaching around 5%, but its increase should be cushioned by the government’s measures, a previously tight labour market, and a low share of temporary contracts.

Trade is set to be impacted strongly due to the structure of Czechia’s exports. The highly cyclical nature of some sectors (e.g. the automotive sector) will likely cause a drop in the trade balance of goods in 2020, before gradually recovering in 2021.

The government has pledged more than 1 trillion crowns ($40.24 billion) mostly in loan guarantees and direct aid for affected workers and firms. It is planning a record budget deficit of 300 billion crowns in 2020, more than seven times its original plan.

The European Commission called it a “recession of historic proportions” today in its spring forecast, which also warned EU unemployment could climb to 9 percent this year.

Things could get still worse depending on how the pandemic evolves, the Brussels executive said. The financial crisis contracted the eurozone economy by 4.5 percent in 2009 and left around 10 percent of workers without a job.

Immunity to the novel coronavirus is building up very slowly in the Czech Republic, with likely no more than 4-5% of the population covered, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday, after mass testing for antibodies that started last month.

Overall, it found 107 positive cases after testing 26,549, making it one of the largest studies in Europe.

The study result is slightly higher than a European average of 0.2-3%, shown in 16 studies underway or completed, the ministry said.

“The positivity of antibodies ranges from zero to three percent, depending on the location,” said Ladislav Dušek, director of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS).

The study estimated the number of people infected by the virus but not showing symptoms could range from 27-38%.

According to Vojtěch, it is necessary to focus on local outbreaks, such as Cheb or Prague in recent days. “We no longer have a general problem, but we have to solve it locally,” he added.

The highest incidence of infections (less than 5 percent) was recorded in the Moravian town of Litovel, which had been under quarantine several weeks ago, and the lowest in the regional capital, Brno.

Testing within this study was designated only for healthy people, i.e. people with no symptoms of upper respiratory disease and who have not previously tested positive for COVID-19.

“The aim of the study was not to determine the number of infected people but to generate hard data about how many people in the population have had COVID-19 with mild or no symptoms,” said Dušek.

Overall, about 27,000 people in 4 geographical areas with various COVID-19 disease caseloads have been tested, namely in Prague, Brno and its surroundings, Olomouc and its surroundings, and Litoměřice.

In Prague, 5,000 people have been tested, including 1,500 between the ages of 8 and 17, 1,500 between the ages of 18 and 39, 1,500 between the ages of 40 and 59 and 1,000 more between the ages of 60 and 89.

On Tuesday, there were 77 new infections, the highest number in the last five days. The Czech Republic has 7,896 confirmed cases of coronavirus. So far 4,006 people have recovered and 257 people have died.

eRouska is an app for mobile phones that has been developed to use Bluetooth to track all users of the app with whom you come into contact with.

The app is now also available for iPhone users. eRouška is part of the so-called smart quarantine, a project that involves tracing past contacts of people who test positive for the virus five days back by creating “maps of their movements” with the help of banks and mobile phone operators.

The application, which the Ministry of Health has taken under its patronage should facilitate an easier, faster, and more effective process of looking up people who are at high risk of infection due to contact with an infected person.

Once the users give their permission to the app, phones with activated Bluetooth service can let one another know when they meet. The eRouška application then saves anonymized data into the owner’s phone about mobile devices with the same application which were recently in its vicinity.

If a user’s coronavirus test comes back positive, the phone data can then be used to send anonymized identification numbers of other applications to health officers during an epidemiologic investigation. If once again the user gives permission, only authorized health officers will be able to pair individual identification numbers with phone numbers entered during the registration and then contact potentially infected citizens.

The authors state that the entire eRouška system was designed in accordance with GDPR, and the application is open source which means that anyone can take a look at its code.

„Compared to other solutions which have appeared on the market not just in the Czech Republic but also abroad, eRouška’s advantage is that it doesn’t use collection of location data in order to function, and this saves the phone battery as well,” clarifies Martin Půlpitel from the Information Technology Faculty of CTU and the founder of developer company Ackee.

The Czech Republic reported just 18 more cases of the coronavirus on Saturday. This is the lowest daily gain since March 9.

The country had 7,755 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection by Monday morning. So far 3,461 people have recovered and 245 people have died.

Compared to the numbers from Saturday evening, the number of infected people increased by five. There are 15 more recovered and the death rate did not change.

However, the number of tests performed during the weekend is lower than usual.

The highest number of confirmed novel coronavirus infection cases is recorded in Prague: 1740.

In the second place, taking into account the population is the Karlovy Vary region with 126 people cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

According to Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček (ČSSD), the Czech Republic’s borders with neighboring countries should be fully open from July, Hospodářské noviny writes.

Negotiations with Slovakia and Austria are the most advanced, meanwhile with Poland and Germany “it will require more time”, the minister said this evening.

From July, the borders could be fully opened to four neighboring countries – Austria, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia.

From August, Czechs could travel not only to Croatia, Slovenia, and Greece, but also to more distant destinations outside Europe, such as Canada, Australia, and Japan.

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