Czech Republic sees highest rise in COVID-19 cases since start of pandemic

The daily increase in coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic has reached a record high for a third day in a row, Ministry of Health data show. Thursday saw 680 new cases, the biggest rise since the pandemic hit the Czech Republic.

Overall, nearly 26,500 COVID-19 cases have been registered in the country, 426 people have died and more than 18,800 recovered. As of Friday morning, 172 people are being treated in hospital for the disease, 40 of them in serious condition.

The Ministry of Health is due to present on Friday an updated regional "traffic light" system mapping infection rates by local districts. The sole region currently rated “orange” -or medium-risk -is Prague.