The Czech Republic will allow religious services to start up again as the country has been easing restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Health Care Minister Adam Vojtech says the religious gatherings in churches will restart on April 27 with a maximum of 15 people. But they will have to keep a distance from one another.

The number of worshippers will be allowed to grow in the following weeks.

The Czech government unveiled a plan this week to gradually relax the strict measures adopted in response to the outbreak.

Vojtech says the plan originally omitted religious services that have now been included at the request of Prague Archbishop Dominik Duka.

The Czech Republic is considered one of the most atheist countries in Europe.

The country has 6,553 people who have tested positive for the virus and 176 have died.