The government declared a 30-day state of emergency on October 5 to make decision-making easier in times of crisis, and the extension required a parliamentary approval to extend the term.
The Czech Republic is currently second in Europe after Belgium in terms of the number of new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and first in terms of the number of new Covid-19-related deaths, according to estimates by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
More than 310,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in a country of 10.7 million, with Covid-19-related deaths reaching 2,862.
However, in recent days, the number of new infections has fallen from a record 15,000, giving the government cause for cautious optimism.
“What is happening now is probably the beginning of a slowdown,” said Health Minister Jan Blatni. “But the worst is definitely not behind us.”
The next two weeks will show whether the situation in the country is really improving, said Ladislav Dušek, head of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics.
“We are seeing a slowdown, but it is not yet a victory,” knowing that the number of new infections is still high, he added.
The number of people infected by one patient on average has fallen from 1.53 in early October to 1.13 today, Dushek said.
In an effort to stop the outbreak, schools, restaurants and most shops are closed, gatherings in the community are limited, and night curfews are announced.
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