Health minister wants state of emergency extended over Easter

Health Minister Jan Blatný will propose that the government ask the lower house of Parliament to extend the state of emergency in the country at least until April 5, so as to enable the cabinet to keep in place the restrictions on freedom of movement for as long as is needed.

The minister told journalists after Thursday’s cabinet meeting that should the request be rejected, the government would have to rely solely on the new law on pandemics, which however would not allow restrictions of the same scope.

The government is to come to a decision on the proposal on Monday. The opposition parties have not ruled out support for an extension, but they want to know the details of the government’s plans.