Daily news summary
Closures and restrictions on free movement now tied to state of emergency
The Ministry of Health has extended the closure of most shops and restaurants and a prohibition on the free movement of people until the end of the current state of emergency imposed in a bid to combat Covid-19. The measures in question had been due to run out next Saturday.
Following a recommendation from the Central Crisis Staff the cabinet asked the Chamber of Deputies to extend the 30-day state of emergency brought in on March 13.
Individual sports now permitted outdoors, distancing rule for shops due
Restrictions on sporting activities imposed in the Czech Republic over the coronavirus pandemic were eased on Tuesday. People are now allowed to play individual sports outdoors while runners and cyclists no longer need to cover their mouths and noses unless they are in crowded areas. The changes were announced on Monday by Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček.
From Thursday building products and hardware stores and bicycle repair shops will be allowed to reopen.
A new rule governing social-distancing of two metres in shops will also come in on Thursday. This does not apply to relatives or those assisting seniors.
Police recommend ex-PM Nečas face false testimony charges
Police have recommended that former Czech prime minister Petr Nečas face charges of bearing false testimony, the news site Aktuálně.cz reported on Wednesday. Mr. Nečas testified in a case involving his wife Jana. She was found guilty of, when she was head of the PM’s office, using the Military Intelligence Service to monitor Mr. Nečas’s then wife Radka.
The court panel in Jana Nečasová’s trial said that statements made in her defence by Mr. Nečas were untrue. He could face up to three years in jail if found guilty.
Ex-Social Democrat MP Foldyna joins Okamura party deputies group
Former Social Democratic Party MP Jaroslav Foldyna has joined the deputies group of Tomio Okamura’s Freedom and Direct Democracy. He made the announcement alongside Mr. Okamura at the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday.
Mr. Foldyna said the Social Democrats were no longer the party led by current president Miloš Zeman back in the 1990s, which he said had respected national interests.
Prague European Judo Championships rearranged for second time
This year’s European Judo Championships are now set to take place in Prague in early November. The event had originally been due to take place in May but was reorganised for June 19 to 21, but those dates have also been abandoned, the organisers announced. The European Judo Union has to confirm the November dates with venue the O2 Arena.
The biggest domestic name at the European Championships should be Olympic and world champion Lukáš Krpálek. The event has not been held in the Czech Republic in almost 30 years
Weather forecast
Wednesday is expected to be sunny in the Czech Republic, with temperatures of up to 19 degrees Celsius. Continued warm weather and bright spells are due in the following days.
