Restaurants pubs and hotels to close from Friday as epidemic worsens

Restaurants, pubs and hotels will have to close from Friday within tightened measures against the spread of Covid-19.

The government on Monday agreed on the need to take the country to level four of the emergency system PES as the number of infections continues to rise.

Shops and services will be allowed to remain open with strict hygiene measures in place.

A night curfew will be reintroduced between 11pm and 5am as of Friday. No more than six people will be allowed to gather.

The Christmas school holidays have been extended by several days.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said restaurants, hotels, sports stadiums and other facilities which will be forced to close as a result of the measures will be fully compensated.

The prime minister apologized for the decision, but said the worsening epidemiological situation had left the government no other option.