Exactly a week ago, around 2.5 thousand people gathered for a Sunday demonstration against government measures to combat the spread of coronavirus. Several hundred of them, as it turned out, mainly wanted to fight with the police, who were supervising the event. However, the goal of most participants was to express a protest against the government’s action in resolving the corona crisis.
–
“We came because we don’t like the situation not only in sports, but also in culture and elsewhere. You can see for yourself that there are mainly fans from all over the Czech Republic, “says a middle-aged man from southern Bohemia in a metal T-shirt who did not want to mention his name. He protects his face with a plastic shield during a conversation, but he is not afraid of infections.
–
“I also go to hospitals in my work and I see that they are not completely empty, but they run normally.” When asked why the government is introducing more and more restrictions to limit the spread of the virus, the man claims that these are completely different interests. “They want us all to be vaccinated. They want to snatch us and watch us. “
–
Not far from the Old Town Astronomical Clock stands a man with a young girl. Both have a veil from the Czech flag on their faces and hold another flag in their hands. “We are going to pray for the freedom of our republic. There is no free discussion here. Some views are silenced and others are highlighted. I think it is important that there is a discussion of experts and not just a small group of people who promote their opinion, “says the protester. He didn’t want to reveal his name either.
–
However, just three days after the demonstration, the government tightened restrictions, closed various types of shops and further restricted public movement. In the second half of October, the Czech Republic reached the top of the global ranking in the number of infected people per 100,000 inhabitants.
–
“Unfortunately, it turns out that at least ten percent of the population is so extremist that they not only do not follow the measures, but rather do everything to make it different. And then there is another 20 percent of the population that adhere to them from time to time, “said Minister of Health Roman Prymula on Wednesday when the new government measures were announced.
–
Public confidence in the ability of public authorities has fallen dramatically since the spring wave of the epidemic. According to the international National Pandemic Alarm survey conducted in the Czech Republic by NMS Market Research, Nielsen Admosphere and STEM / MARK, confidence in the Czech government’s ability fell to 40 percent in September. SC&C research has yielded similar results.
–
“It can be reflected in whether I consider it a big risk, whether I believe the measures make sense, whether I am willing to accept the restrictions. While in the spring it was centrally pushed and everyone followed the same notes, now the notes are different and people behave accordingly, ”says Jana Hamanová, SC&C’s director of research.
–
The petition was signed by 70,000 people
In addition to confused government communication, the announcement and subsequent repeal of measures, as well as the denial of the seriousness of the situation, the widely publicized statements of doctors and other medical authorities, which publicly oppose government efforts to reduce the disease, also have a major impact on public confidence. At the beginning of October, they expressed their views in a so-called petition of doctors, who consider drastic government measures to be much greater danger than the covid-19 disease itself.
–
“There is a huge amount of fright, frustration and depression here, but the data is definitely not accurate. We also call for all these methodologies to be revealed in order to show the structure of the data. It is the same with deaths, “claims one of the authors of the petition, consultant and veterinarian Jiří Urbánek.
–
According to the authors of the petition, the government figures are inaccurate and say little about the real situation. The petition therefore recommends that the government refrain from further restrictions and introduce veils only where the situation clearly requires it. The views contained in the petition – which has so far been supported by over 70,000 people – have been rejected not only by government officials, but also by heads of medical faculties and other experts.
–
“Ignore the advice of various ‘experts’ who downplay a danger they often know nothing about. For these people, who do not bear any responsibility, it is usually nothing more than media attention, “says the head of the Czech Medical Chamber, Milan Kubek.
–
However, the consequences are already quite clear.
–
According to the National Pandemic Alarm survey, 9 percent of respondents disagree with government measures and 26 percent of respondents adhere to them only because of impending penalties. “There is a group of people who say that they only partially agree with the measures, but that they will comply with them primarily because of fears of sanctions. This group is relatively large, “describes the director of the STEM / MARK agency Jan Tuček.
–
This part of the journalistic series We, reveals the ideas of those who, in principle, reject veils. (Video: Šárka Kabátová, News List)
–
