Daily news summary
Coronavirus: Health Minister outlines relaxed restrictions on indoor, outdoor venues
The interiors of restaurants, pubs, bars, nightclubs and discos due to reopen on May 25, must be closed between 11pm to 6am, Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch told a press conference on Friday. Events with up to 300 people will also be allowed, he said, both at indoor and outdoor venues.
Facemasks will still be required apply in interior spaces, but mouth-nose protection may be removed while eating and drinking at the table.
Vojtěch said the restrictions reflect the degree of uncertainty as to the future development of the coronavirus in the Czech Republic and the results of measures taken abroad to contain the spread of Covid-19.
When nightclubs reopened in South Korea there was a spike in infections, and in such spaces social-distancing measures are difficult to keep, Vojtěch said. The Ministry of Health may set restrictions on operating hours and events after the state of emergency ends on May 18.
Czech GDP drops most since 2009 global financial crisis
Czech economic growth dropped by 2.2 percent year on year in January through March and by 3.6 percent quarter on quarter, a preliminary Czech Statistical Office estimate shows. It marks the steepest decline since the 2009 global financial crisis.
The results were significantly affected by the global coronavirus pandemic and the associated restrictive measures. In addition to a significant reduction in foreign demand, corporate investment and household consumption also feel.
Czech National Bank Governor Jiří Rusnok told CNN Prima News the preliminary data confirmed the bank’s outlook for the economy.
Analysts expected a similar development due to coronavirus-related restrictions introduced in mid-March. In the last quarter of 2019, GDP grew by 2 percent year on year and rose by 0.5 percent quarter on quarter.
CRIF: 20,000 people started business this year, 46,000 stopped them
From January through April, 20,000 people started businesses in the Czech Republic while some 46,000 suspended them, and another 11,500 scrapped their trade licences.
According to the Czech Credit Bureau (CRIF), two-thirds of interrupted or ceased their activities before the coronavirus crisis began, and one-third in the past two months.
Businesses for which remote ‘home office’ work is not possible were among the hardest hit, including in the tourism, accommodation, wellness and recreation sectors, bars and restaurants, and hairdressers.
Tennis: spectatorless President’s Cup charity matches start in May
The Czech Tennis Association (ČTS) is holding a spectatorless charity tournament to raise funds to help those affected by the coronavirus crisis, with the first round set for May 26-28 at the Sparta Prague tennis club.
Among the Czech stars due to play in the association’s President’s Cup tournament are Karolína Plíšková, currently no. 3 in the WTA rankings, two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitová, in the no. 13 spot, and Jiří Veselý, now at no. 66 in the ATA rankings.
The President’s Cup will be among the first major sports events to be held following a scheduled relaxation of anti-coronavirus measures. Matches will be broadcast live on Czech Television and streamed online. The format could change, as events with up to 300 people will be allowed again as of May 25.
Other players set to compete in the women’s bracket include Barbora Strýcová, Karolína Muchová, Barbora Strýcová, Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková. In the men’s group are also Lukáš Rosol, Jonáš Forejtek, Zdeněk Kolář, Vít Kopřiva, Tomáš Macháč, Michael Vrbenský and Jiří Lehečka.
Uherské Hradiště ‘Summer Film School’ shifted to August 7-12
One of the Czech Republic’s most-highly respected film festivals – the Summer Film School in Uherské Hradiště – has been postponed by will go ahead under strict hygienic conditions to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Festival director Radana Korená announced on Friday the 46th edition will take place from August 7 to 12, two weeks later than usual. Apart from limiting seating to adhere to social-distancing rules, she said some films will be shown at a drive-in cinema, for the first time.
About 4,500 people were accredited for last year’s Summer Film School featured over 200 films, as well as concerts, debates, shows and debates. Korená said the number of festival guests and visitors from abroad who can attend this year remains uncertain.
Weather
Saturday should be sunny until the afternoon, and then remain partly cloudy through late Sunday. Daytime highs should range from 13 to 16 degrees Celsius.
