Highest rise in Covid cases in fortnight as record infections predicted

Some 9,333 new cases of Covid-19 were registered in the Czech Republic on Monday, the highest figure since December 21. The number of people in hospital with the coronaivirus has risen slightly to 2,811. Of that number, 535 patients are in a critical condition.

After a decline in numbers in December, experts now expect a major rise on the back of the Omicron variant. The Institute for Health Information and Statistics says there could be up to 50,000 cases a day, far outstripping previous records, and as many as 7,000 in hospital.