Compulsory respirators on public transport to end Thursday

It will no longer be obligatory to wear a respirator on public transport in the Czech Republic from this coming Thursday, the minister of health, Vlastimil Válek, announced on Sunday. Speaking on a Czech Television debate show, Mr. Válek said he would recommend that people continue to use respirators if surrounded by strangers or in poorly ventilated rooms, because of both Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

The minister said that it was possible to ease this restriction as the infection rate was declining in the country while the situation in hospitals was improving.