PM: “We cannot dismiss the option of a lockdown”

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said that imposing a lockdown in the Czech Republic cannot be dismissed as an option in the fight against the second wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus currently affecting the Czech Republic. At a press conference on Friday, Mr. Babiš announced that the situation was “very serious” and did not rule out further closures affecting the economy. He also called on citizens not to underestimate the threat of the coronavirus. Asked about what a possible lockdown would look like, he said the government would impose measures in a more targeted way than in the spring. The Czech prime minister also assured that the government is working on a system of financial support for businesses that would be affected in case of a lockdown.

Health Minister Roman Prymula said 85 doctors and nearly 200 nurses had been infected on Thursday and warned that the growing number of infections may not only affect hospital capacity, but also that of the country’s hospital staff. Medics and health care students are being called up to provide support where necessary.