COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
The COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first three confirmed cases in the Czech Republic were reported on 1 March 2020. On 12 March, the government declared a state of emergency, for the first time in the country's modern history for the area of the entire country. On 16 March, the country closed its borders, forbade the entry of foreigners without residence permits, and issued a nationwide curfew. While originally planned to be in effect until 24 March, the measures were later extended until 1 April[3][4] and then again until the end of State of Emergency[5] which was extended by the Chamber of Deputies until 30 April 2020[6] and then again until 17 May 2020.
COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
Some measures undertaken by the Czech Republic differed in key aspects from other countries. A general curfew was in place between 16 March and 24 April, although with numerous exemptions. Apart from permitting essential shopping and going to and from work, as in other countries, it also permitted visiting relatives and allowed for unrestricted movement in parks and open countryside.[7] A general closure of services and retail sales was in place from 14 March until 11 May; however, all shops could conduct socially distant sales with delivery through makeshift takeout windows and the gradual opening of selected shops started in several waves from 24 March onwards.[8] Fear, anger, and hopelessness were the most frequent traumatic emotional responses in the general public during the first COVID-19 outbreak in the Czech Republic.[9] The four most frequent categories of fear were determined: fear of the negative impact on household finances, fear of the negative impact on the household finances of significant others, fear of the unavailability of health care, and fear of an insufficient food supply.[9] The government did not order the closure of manufacturing plants, but many did so voluntarily during the second half of March, with Hyundai spearheading a gradual reopening from 14 April.[10][11]
The Czech Republic was the first[12] European country to make the wearing of face masks mandatory from 19 March onwards.[13] COVID-19 testing was made widely available with drive-through locations from 14 March,[14] and from 27 March anyone with a fever, dry cough or shortness of breath was eligible for a free test.[15] From 13 April onwards, COVID-19 testing capacity significantly surpassed demand.[16] Contact tracing in the country also included voluntary disclosure of mobile phone position and debit card payments data for previous days and the quarantining of identified contacts.[17] By 1 May 2020, altogether 257 COVID-19-related deaths were identified in the Czech Republic compared to 2,719 in similarly populous Sweden, which did not impose a full lockdown. However, Belgium, also with a similar population, had had 7,866 deaths at that time, despite having implemented an early and strict lockdown. The Czech Republic started gradually easing measures from 7 April 2020 onwards,[5][18] with most restrictions being lifted by 11 May 2020.
However, by 17 November 2020, the Czech Republic had recorded a total of 6,416 COVID-19-related deaths compared to 6,344 in Sweden, surpassing Sweden's deaths count. By August 2021, the Czech Republic has recorded the fourth highest confirmed death rate in the world. There are some root causes speculated. A lockdown was decided in November 2020.
There was an ongoing discussion about vaccinations and its efficiency in the Czech public space. A 2022 study published in the Scientific Reports has shown the registered numbers of deaths in the Czech Republis is approx. “3.5 times lower than it would be expected without vaccination”. Authors of the study thus concluded that “vaccination is more effective in saving lives than suggested by simplistic comparisons”.[19][20]
Background[edit]
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[21][22]
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[23][24] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[25][23]
Timeline August–October 2020[edit]
Week 35 (24–30 Aug)[edit]
27 August – UK removes Czech Republic from list of "green" countries. Travellers arriving from the Czech Republic will have to quarantine from 0400 hrs on Saturday, the UK Government has announced.[116]
The Czech PM Andrej Babiš nixes the preventive face mask regulations established by Health Ministry, which were supposed to come in place when children return to school after the holidays on 1 September. Masks will now no longer be needed anywhere in schools, with the exception of schools that make it to the "orange" level of medium-risk for COVID-19 in the Czech Republic's regional health map.
Masks will need to be worn on public transport, inside healthcare environments, and polling stations.[117]
Week 36 (31 Aug – 6 Sep)[edit]
1 September – 257 new cases reported. Mandatory to wear face masks on public transport, public indoor areas (such as shopping malls, offices, post offices, offices) and indoor public events, regardless of the number of visitors.
Schools are excluded from the restrictions.[118]
Schools re-open across the country[119]
Week 37 (7–14 Sep)[edit]
10 September – 1,161 new cases. Number of new cases has now exceeded 1,000 for the past two days.[120]
face masks will be required in all indoor spaces throughout the Czech Republic from today.
There are a total of 25 exceptions to that requirement, including when eating or drinking in restaurants, exercising in gyms, or working in an office at least two meters away from others. Schools, kindergartens and playgrounds are excluded from restrictions[120]
Belgium has placed Prague on its list of "red" risk zones, requiring a mandatory two-week quarantine on arrival for incoming travellers from the Czech capital.[120]
Week 38 (14–20 Sep)[edit]
18 September – The Czech Republic reported more than 3,000 cases in a single day for the first time[121]
The wearing of face masks is now mandatory in all interior spaces of universities.
Kindergartens and primary schools and playgrounds remain regularly open, where no face masks will be needed.[122]
Week 39 (21–27 Sep)[edit]
21 September – Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtěch has unexpectedly announced his resignation.[123]
Roman Prymula will become new Czech Health Minister.
Prymula predicted that the daily number of COVID-19 cases in Czech Republic will soon reach 6,000–8,000, after hitting a high of over 3,000 cases in the previous week.[124]
25 September Ladislav Dušek, director of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS), announced that in the first two weeks of September, almost 400 teachers in Czech schools became infected with COVID-19.
Dušek also stated that from the beginning of the epidemic until mid-September, workers in administration and engineering, the unemployed, and the self-employed were the groups that got infected most often.
The number of infected healthcare professionals has also grown significantly recently. According to data published by the Czech Medical Chamber, 259 physicians became infected up until 19 September. However, just a month earlier it was four people. Among nurses, the number of people infected increased from three to 433 from 20 August.[125]
Week 41 (5–11 Oct)[edit]
5 October – The Czech Republic comes under a state of emergency. Indoor events with over 10 participants will be prohibited, the same applies to outdoor events with over 20 participants.
Professional sport matches will be without spectators and can be attended by a maximum of 130 athletes, coaches, and other members of the staff.
Concerts, theatre performances, and other artistic performances and festivals involving a significant amount of singing, including rehearsals are prohibited.
There is a 100-person limit on the attendance of religious services, at which singing is also prohibited.
Limit of 30 people for weddings and funerals
Restrictions will also apply to the number of people sharing one table at restaurants and other catering facilities as only six people at most will be allowed to sit at one table.
Educational facilities would follow the instructions of their regional public health authorities, which will issue measures depending on the situation in the region and in line with the epidemiological traffic light system.
A restriction on tuition in the form of a switch to distance learning is to apply to secondary and higher vocational schools and universities in regions with a red or amber.
Kindergartens and first stage primary schools remain regularly open, where no face masks will be needed.
The wearing of face masks is mandatory in all interior spaces of universities.
No restrictions on travelling were introduced[126][127]
8 October – New record with 5,335 new COVID-19 cases reported in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic overtook Spain as Europe's most-affected country.
The percentage of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalisation rose above 4% for the first time in three months.
Secondary schools and universities have switched to distance learning but only in high-risk areas of the Czech Republic.
Visits and tours to zoos and all organised hobby, recreational and other clubs for children from 6 to 18 years old are banned.
Kindergartens and primary schools remain regularly open, where no face masks will be needed.[128]
9 October – The Czech government announced new restrictions. Indoor sports facilities and culture venues will have to close for 2 weeks. Restaurants and other catering facilities will have to close as early as 8 pm. Dining establishments will be limited to 4 people at one table, and pupils in the upper level of elementary schools will alternate in-class and distance learning.
A group of shopping centers in Prague have decided to temporarily switch off their wifi in an attempt to stop students from gathering there.
Lower levels of elementary schools, kindergartens and playgrounds are not effected by the new restrictions and remain open, without face masks needed.[129]
The COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic has created a wave of solidarity in a variety of areas, including:
Empty shelves of canned meat and other food in Tesco, Prague, on 27 February 2020
Information flyer from the Ministry of Health sent to every house address
Government Resolution on Declaration of Emergency
SMS notification of the closure of shops
Prague, Celetná ulice, without tourists(March 2020)
Prague, Astronomical clock, without spectators (March 2020)
Prague, Wenceslas Square, without tourists (March 2020)
Prague, Flora shopping centre (March 2020)
Brno, forbidden to enter front section of local bus (March 2020)
Empty shopping mall in Prague during the pandemic
Interior of a Prague bus during the pandemic (14 March 2020)
Drive thru testing centre at the University Hospital Hradec Králové
