Suspected Indian mutation on Czech territory

Health Minister Petr Arenberger says the National Reference Laboratory is sequencing what may be the first Indian mutation of the coronavirus detected on Czech soil. The sample was taken from an Indian student in Hradec Králové. The definitive result should be known on Tuesday.

The Czech Republic registered 2,587 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, the lowest daily increase since the end of September, according to data released by the Czech Ministry of Health. The number of people hospitalized with Covid has also dropped and is now at 3,466, of which 765 are in a serious condition.

The reproduction number is at 0.8 and the risk index remains at 54 points, corresponding to the third level on a five point scale. The overall Covid-related death toll is now close to 29,000.