Czech government to close most shops among strict new Covid-19 measures

The Czech government has announced strict new measures in response to an enormous rise in the number of Covid-19 cases and hospitaliations in the country. The new measures will take effect from Thursday and will be in place until at least Tuesday November 3.

Non-essential contact with other people has been prohibited; people will only be allowed to go to work and to make necessary family visits or to make essential purchases, the minister of health, Roman Prymula, announced on Twitter.

People are allowed to visit the countryside or parks in the company of no more than one other person. Face masks must be worn outside.

All shops and small businesses will be closed with the exception of food stores, chemists and toiletries stores. Schools, restaurants and bars had already been ordered to close.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said the moves were intended to prevent a collapse in the Czech healthcare system. Minister Prymula denied that the current situation represented a lockdown.