News: Wednesday, December 29th, 2021

Covid restrictions tightened in connection with New Year’s celebrations

The Covid-restrictions imposed by the government have been temporarily tightened in view of the upcoming New Year’s celebrations.

As of December 29, a maximum of 50 people will be allowed at indoor events, parties and New Year’s celebrations.

Only people with completed primary vaccination or those who have undergone Covid in the last 6 months will be allowed in restaurants, dance clubs and casinos with a maximum of four people at one table, unless they are from the same household. In the event of longer tables that can accommodate ten or more guests, they must still be placed in groups of four at least 1.5 metres apart.

Cultural events at which people are sitting will be limited to 1,000 people, but events where people mingle must not exceed 100 participants. The restrictions will remain in force until January 2.

The rule that bars and restaurants must close by 10 pm no longer applies, nor does the ban on drinking in public places.

Tuesday numbers indicate Covid epidemic still in decline in Czechia

Tuesday saw 9,089 people test positive for Covid-19, nearly a quarter fewer than on the same day last week, according to data released by the Ministry of Health. However, the amount of people who got tested for the presence of the virus also declined by around a third in week-on-week terms, with a rising percentage of tests coming back positive.

Currently, there are 3,460 people infected with the coronavirus in the Czech Republic who are hospitalised of which 673 are in serious condition, roughly 30 percent fewer than was the case on the same day a week ago.

The incidence number in the country fell from Tuesday’s average of 363 cases per 100,000 people to 338 on Wednesday.

Czech government lowers public sector pay increases

This Wednesday, the Czech government approved a pay rise of CZK 700 for members of the Czech Armed Forces starting from January. The pay rise is CZK 1,000 lower than that which was planned by the previous government. Both Czech Television and the Czech News Agency report that the new cabinet also agreed on raising the salaries of policemen, firefighters and toll workers by CZK 700.

According to a proposal from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the salaries of social services staff, as well as selected health workers, could be raised by CZK 700 from January. Meanwhile, doctors would see their salaries increase by 6 percent and teachers by 2 percent, the Czech News Agency reports. Civil servant salaries will be kept at their current rates. The previous government planned on a general salary increase of CZK 1,400 across the public sector.

The cuts in planned pay increases for public sector workers could save the state CZK 132 million crowns, according to the proposal.

Pensions to rise by at least CZK 650 from January 1

Old-age, invalid and widowers’ pensions will rise by at least CZK 650 from January 1, with further increases depending on the individual’s pension size. This is based on a government approved amendment to the law on pensions which will come into effect from the start of next year. The average pension is therefore expected to increase by CZK 805.

The hike is higher by about 300 crowns than the increase that the pension law would normally allow, based on salary growth and inflation. It was approved by the previous ANO-Social Democrat government.

Train accident in Moravia leaves two injured

A passenger train collided with a lorry on the railway near the village of Rožná na Žďársku in Moravia on Wednesday morning, leaving two passengers injured, according to police spokeswoman Stanislava Rázlová. The accident derailed the train and caused CZK 32.5 million in damages, according to the Czech Railroads Inspectorate. The track will be closed until 4pm this Wednesday.

Both the car driver and the train operator tested negative for alcohol presence in their blood.

Ministry of Culture re-drawing monument zone plan in Brno

The Ministry of Culture is re-drawing the monument zone plan in the Moravian metropolis of Brno. The effort aims to preserve historically valuable houses and entire neighbourhoods at risk from insensitive reconstruction or demolition. Due to an administrative mistake in the late 1980s over 1,400 houses in Brno lost their monument status which was never restored. As a result several historically valuable houses have already been pulled down by developers. The new monument zone plan will afford different degrees of protection and will include houses, public spaces and greenery.

City of Pardubice commemorates 80 years since airdrop of Anthropoid parachutists

This Wednesday, December 29, marks exactly 80 years since Czechoslovak parachutists Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš were dropped into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to carry out the assassination of Nazi governor Reinhard Heydrich during World War II.

On the occasion, the city of Pardubice is organising a commemorative event to honour not only Gabčík and Kubiš, but all of the parachutists who were airdropped that day as part of operations Anthropoid, Silver A and Silver B.

A column of historical vehicles will be driven through the locations associated with the events of the operations and commemorative events are being held in the villages near which the parachutists landed.

Prague’s Café Imperial named world’s best traditional restaurant by Taste Atlas

Café Imperial, located on Prague’s Na Poříčí street, has been named as the best traditional restaurant in the world by online eatery catalogue Taste Atlas. Rome’s Da Enzo al 29 restaurant took second place, followed by Commander’s Palace in New Orleans.

The café, which was often visited by writer Franz Kafka and composer Leoš Janáček, also received praise for its Art Nuveau interior design and long history. Café Imperial was the only Czech eatery to be featured in the Taste Atlas top 100 list.

Weather

Temperatures are expected to rise to an average of 9 degrees Celsius on Thursday with overcast skies and rainfall likely in the northern, central and southern parts of Bohemia.