Current Covid restrictions to stay in place until at least January 22

The current severe restrictions aimed at curbing a spike in Covid-19 numbers will remain in place in the Czech Republic until at least January 22, the minister of health, Jan Blatný, said after a cabinet meeting on Thursday morning. Under the measures in place at present pubs and restaurants are closed, shops may only sell essential items, there is a 9 pm curfew and gatherings of no more than two are permitted.

Mr. Blatný said a decision on whether to tighten restrictions further would be taken next week.

Ski resorts will remain closed, the cabinet decided. In addition a programme of free antigen tests is to be extended past January 15, when it was due to end.

The country has seen record high numbers of new confirmed Covid-19 cases over the last two days.