News: Thursday, September 17th, 2020

Minister unveils new restrictions, including face masks in classrooms

Older pupils at elementary schools and students at secondary schools in the Czech Republic will be required to wear face masks even during lessons from Friday, the minister of health, Adam Vojtěch, announced on Thursday. The measure does not apply to the first five grades at elmentary schools.

Another new measure aimed at curbing the increasing spread of Covid-19 is the closing of bars and clubs around the country at midnight, a measure that is already in place in Prague.

Mr. Vojtěch said that the entire country was expected to be classed medium risk within a national “Covid map”. A new version of a national Covid tracking app named e-Rouška will work on all devices from Friday, he added.

He had earlier announced that indoor events where over 10 people have to stand will be prohibited from Friday at 6 pm. The rule also applies to restaurants, bars and clubs. Events where people can be seated must sell tickets with specific seats marked.

The head of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics, Ladislav Dušek, said there was a great risk of exponential spread of the coronavirus in the Czech Republic.

Number of new cases in Czechia exceeds 2,000 for first time

The number of people testing positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus on Wednesday reached 2,139, according to Ministry of Health data. It is the first time that the daily rise has crossed the 2,000 mark. Since the virus was first detected in the country in March, 41,032 people have tested positive for COVID-19, three fifths of which have since recovered. Currently, 17,619 people are fighting the disease.

Most patients are experiencing no or only mild symptoms. However, as the rate of new infections rises, the amount of people infected with COVID-19 who require hospitalisation is also growing slowly, rising by a third compared to last week.

Tuesday data shows that the number of hospitalised was lay at 388. That is 55 more people than on Monday. The amount of patients in serious condition lay at 81. Thus far, 482 people have died in the Czech Republic after contracting the virus, 58 of them in September.

Firm says Belarus truck was collecting building material, not stun grenades

A Belarusian truck seen at an industrial zone at Bojkovice in the southeast of the Czech Republic picked up aluminum paste used in construction at the firm Albo Schlenk. A company representative provided this information to the Czech News Agency on Thursday after reports that the lorry had collected stun grenades from an adjacent company, Zeveta Ammunition.

Zeveta representatives have previously denied that their products were used against demonstrators in Belarus.

Minister says more people in culture sphere could receive state help

The minister of culture, Lubomír Zaorálek, says that entrepreneurs in the arts sphere and artists without income who previously did not qualify for it could now receive state support. He made the comment in the lower house on Thursday. However, Mr. Zaorálek rejected a proposal tabled by opposition MPs for culture workers on trade licenses to receive compensation of CZK 500 a day.

Many musicians, actors and other artists have seen their work greatly curtailed by the Covid-19 situation.

Great astronomer Luboš Perek dies at 101

The great Czech astronomer Luboš Perek has died at the age of 101. He headed the Institute of Astronomy at the country’s Academy of Sciences for several years and was also secretary general of the International Astronomical Union.

The largest telescope in the Czech Republic is named after the scientist, as is the asteroid 2900 Luboš Perek.

Biggest UK Kintera show starts in Birmingham

The biggest ever UK exhibition of works by the leading Czech sculptor Krištof Kintera got underway on Thursday. The show The End of Fun is taking place on two floors of the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham and is due to run until November 22. The Guardian listed it as one of the most important art exhibitions in the country this autumn.

Slavia to face Midtjylland in Champion's League qualifier

Slavia Prague will face Danish side Midtjylland in the upcoming play-off round for a place in the Champion’s League group stage after Midtjylland beat Swiss team Young Boys Bern 3-0 in Wednesday’s match of the third qualifying round.

The two teams are first set to clash in Prague next Tuesday, with the second-leg of the game taking place on Wednesday, September 30, in Denmark.

The winner of the play-off round will advance to the group stages of Europe’s most prestigious international club tournament.

Weather forecast

It should be mainly clear in the Czech Republic on Friday, with average temperatures of 19 degrees Celsius. An overcast Saturday is then expected to be followed by more sunny weather.