Daily news summary

Czech summer camps allowed to open as of June 27

Summer camps will be authorized from June 27, the first unofficial day of school holidays this year, National Youth Council chairman Aleš Sedláček has confirmed.

Details on operating conditions for summer camps during the continued coronavirus pandemic are to be issued by the Ministry of Health on Friday.

Earlier, the Ministry’s chief epidemiologist, Roman Prymula, said the risk of children contracting Covid-19 from each other at school and similar settings was “almost zero”.

In memoriam: Czech travel writer, ethnologist Miloslav Stingl

The popular Czech travel writer and ethnologist Miloslav Stingl has died at the age of 89. He had visited 151 countries during 14 extensive trips and expeditions over a total of nearly 20 years.

Stingl spoke at least the basics of 17 languages and grew exceptionally close to groups of indigenous people from South America and the Pacific region.

His main interest was focused on the spiritual lives of indigenous people, including Mayas, Polynesians, Aborigines, Inuits, and American Indian tribes.

Stingl wrote 43 books, including some on the Czech lands. During his travels, he also shot over 500 hours of video and film, some of which aired on a 33-part series called “Around the World with Miloslav Stingl” for German public television.

Museum of Totalitarianism could be set up in Prague’s Strahov Stadium

The long-planned Museum of Totalitarianism, a project long in the making, could be located in the premises of the Strahov Stadium in Prague, representatives of two ruling coalition parties (TOP 09, Mayors and Independents) announced on Wednesday.

The planned reconstruction of the stadium is yet to go ahead and could cost around CZK 1.2 billion. In the interim, the representatives said the museum could be housed in the House of the Page of the Lords, in Hradčany.

Number of newly detected COVID-19 cases remains below 100 for two weeks, over 5,000 recoveries

As of Thursday morning, there have been 8,275 cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the Czech Republic. On Wednesday, 48 new cases of the virus were detected, meaning the number of those newly infected every day has not exceeded 100 for two weeks already.

Meanwhile, out of the total number of cases, three-fifths are now fully recovered, 2,927 are still fighting the disease and 290 have died.

Czech municipalities have cancelled investments totalling 8.4bn crowns

Czech municipalities have cancelled thousands of investment projects for a total of 8.4 billion crowns due to the coronavirus pandemic, an Association of Cities and Towns (SMO) survey shows.

This survey of 382 local authorities published on Thursday further shows that 23,000 other projects totalling 27.6 billion crowns have been postponed.

During the survey presentation on Thursday, SMO representatives criticized the government’s plan to make the municipalities pay part of compensation being paid to affected entrepreneurs. A related bill is now before the Senate.

Singer Miro Žbirka staging Prague concert to thank healthcare workers

The Slovak singer-songwriter Miro Žbirka, long resident in Prague, is staging a concert on Thursday near Vinohrady Hospital to thank nurses, doctors and other medical personnel for their hard work.

Since the coronavirus crisis, Žbirka has performed online concerts followed by more than 450,000 people. The 67-year-old singer stressed that the Vinohrady concert was also a personal thank you, as the hospital has treated him several times.

The Czech music industry’s annual Anděl awards named Žbirka male Singer of the Year in 2019.

Photon Energy to list on main Prague, Warsaw stock exchanges

Photon Energy NV, an international solar power company with Czech roots, plans to move to the main markets of the Prague and Warsaw stock exchanges.

The company said it would not raise any funds or issue any new shares in connection with the admission. Its shares are currently traded on the secondary markets of the Prague and Warsaw bourses.

The Prague Stock Exchange trade volume fell by CZK 22.5 billion to CZK 120 billion last year, its lowest level since 1994.

Weather

Friday should be cool and cloudy, with light rain expected in the afternoon. Average daytime highs should range from 8 to 11 degrees Celsius.