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On Sunday, significantly fewer new corona infections were counted for the first time than a week earlier. Around 6300 new infections meant a decrease of 3000 cases. And the number of reproductions is now 0.89 – it indicates how many people an infected person infects on average. Pavla Svrčinová, head of the Central Health Department, classified these numbers and those of the previous days in the domestic broadcasts of the Czech Radio on Monday morning:
“There are signals that the epidemic is slowing down. But we are very careful about this assessment. Because this development is only four days old and we do not yet know whether it will continue. Our analysis so far only goes to the point that we have reached a certain plateau on which the epidemic will perhaps remain for a certain time until a permanent decline could set in. “
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The governing government last tightened the measures to fight the corona virus ten days ago. Restaurants, pubs and clubs have to be closed from ten o’clock in the evening, Christmas markets have been completely banned, as well as the consumption of alcohol in public. These regulations will initially remain in force until Christmas Day. And sooner or later nothing about them should change, says Svrčinová …
“Since the situation is still very serious and the seven-day incidence in this country is still over 1,000 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants, I don’t see much scope for relaxation. On the other hand, in contrast to Austria and Slovakia, for example, the Czech Republic did not go the route of complete lockdown. That means all shops and restaurants are open. On the other hand, the number of participants in events is limited “, said the head of the central health department.
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The upper limit is currently 1000 visitors. In any case, the 2G regulation has been in effect in restaurants and hotels, service providers and public events since November 22nd.
Since then, the vaccination rate in the Czech Republic has increased significantly again. On Sunday, 69 percent of the population aged twelve and over in this country were immunized against the coronavirus or just under 60 percent of the total population. But the outgoing Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (independent) would like to see important professional groups and older people better protected. That is why the head of department would like to order compulsory vaccinations this week for everyone over the age of 60 and, for example, for soldiers, medical staff and employees in social services. This obligation would apply from March. And Vojtěch further emphasized:
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“The Czech Republic is taking a similar path to the other countries in Europe. I believe the order should be issued. If my successor in the Ministry of Health wants to lift the compulsory vaccination again, this is his responsibility. “
But the new conservative-liberal government was “not amused” about this kind of parting gift. For example, the prospective Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Marian Jurečka (Christian Democrats), said on a talk show on Czech television on Sunday:
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“We will repeal those sections of the order that affect large parts of the population. If certain professional groups indicate that a majority of them are interested in the duty, then we are ready to comply. But there is one more thing I have to say about this. I talk to the providers of social services on a regular basis. And they are very afraid that half of the non-vaccinated people could give up their work if they were obliged to do so. “
On Friday, the vaccinological society also commented on the possible compulsory vaccination. According to its chairman Roman Chlíbek, the association supports the obligation to immunize certain professional groups, but not generally for people over 60 years of age.
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