Coronavirus: Chief epidemiologist resigns from Czech health minister’s advisory body

Chief epidemiologist Rastislav Maďar has resigned from the Minister of Health’s coronavirus working group following the abrupt cancellation last week of newly announced measures related to containing the spread of the virus.

Maďar had since April led the working group of Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (ANO), who last Monday announced that wearing facemasks would become mandatory in most public indoor spaces as of September 1.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) later said aspects of the announced measures were inconsistent and incomprehensible, and Vojtěch had to walk them back.

According to the news agency ČTK, Maďar wrote that he was sick of being subject to below-the-belt attacks and had informed the health minister on Friday of his decision to leave the advisory body.

Author: Brian Kenety