Babiš tells WHO to “keep quiet” after statement on tracing

The Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš, has suggested that the local branch of the World Health Organisation “keep quiet” after it expressed opposition to possible government plans to reduce the tracing of people with Covid-19.

The WHO said on Facebook that stopping tracing those who have been in contact with infected people was not a solution in the fight against the virus, adding that increasing testing capacity was a better idea.

Mr. Babiš said this was the same WHO that had been slow to use the word pandemic and had opposed face masks. He said the Czech Republic had one of the lowest per capita death rates with Covid-19 in Europe.