With new infections soaring due to a highly-contagious coronavirus variant and hospitals filling up, one of the hardest-hit nations within the European Union is facing the inevitable: the tightest lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic.
The Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Andrej Babis stated Friday the new series of measures are necessary “to guard the lives of our residents”.
“We have to do it to prevent a total collapse of our hospitals,” Babis stated. “If we don’t do it, the whole world will watch Bergamo within the Czech Republic”.
He acknowledged his government made mistakes in dealing with the pandemic earlier but called on the Czechs to abide by the rules that will come into effect on Monday for 3 weeks with the aim “to stop the virus and return to normalcy”.
Among the many strictest restrictions, the government is set to restrict the free movement of people by not permitting them to travel to different counties until they have to go to work or have to take care of their relatives.
“If it is possible, stay at home,” Interior Minister Jan Hamacek stated. Hamacek stated the measure will be enforced by police and military forces.
If people go outside for sporting activities or just for a walk, they need to not leave their municipality.
Further measures include the closure of nursery schools and schools for children with disabilities that till now have remained open.
Also, only shops selling important items will stay open.
“It’s not the best timing, it’s in fact late,” Jan Konvalinka, a biochemist and vice-rector of Prague’s Charles University, informed Czech public radio. “But better late than never, we have to stop it somehow”.
