Expert group calls for extending state of emergency in view of omicron spread

The omicron variant of the coronavirus has now reached the stage of community spread with the real number of cases in the hundreds, according to the Interdisciplinary Group for Epidemic Situations (MeSES), an independent group of experts centered around epidemiologist Petr Smejkal.

In a statement published on Wednesday, MeSES called for an extension of the state-wide state of emergency, a shortening of the interval between the second vaccine dose and a booster shot and instituting testing in both schools and the workplace for both the unvaccinated and vaccinated. The group also recommends the state distributes free antigen tests for free and launches a campaign explaining the need to maintain cheap safety measures, such as the wearing of respirators.

While so far only individual cases of omicron have been detected in the Czech Republic, MeSES believes that the spread is actually much greater and warn of the new mutation’s rapid infection rate.