Czech Republic to loosen Covid restrictions from Thursday

The Czech Republic will ease restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 from this coming Thursday, the minister of health, Jan Blatný, said on Sunday morning. At a special meeting ministers decided to take the country from level four to level three on the government’s colour-coded PES system of coronavirus measures, after a week in which the national “score” placed the country in the level three range.

The news means that shops, restaurants and services can reopen, albeit with some restrictions. Restaurants and bars will be allowed to open until 10 pm and to occupy half of their total capacity. No more than four people will be allowed at a table, deputy PM Karel Havlíček said; getting a drink while standing will not be permitted.

In addition a night-time curfew will come to an end and shops will again be allowed to reopen on Sundays. Gatherings of 50 may take place outside, while indoors the maximum is 10.