President urges Czechs to help save lives by wearing face-masks

In an address to the nation, President Milos Zeman called for discipline and responsibility in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. He urged Czechs to wear face-masks for their own protection and that of others, citing the well-known quotation from the Talmud (the book of Jewish law) „Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.”

He appealed to the public to respect the restrictions imposed by the government, which he said were sound, though not too well communicated, and warned against the advice of members of the “anti-facemask camp” which were dangerous and misleading. Those who failed to wear face-masks and put others at risk should be fined, the president said.

Mr. Zeman thanked those fighting the epidemic on the front lines, saying they had his gratitude and respect. He urged Czechs to come out of their comfort zone and think about what they could do to help others. “When the dust settles we will start counting our wins and losses. We must do everything in our power to make those losses as small as possible” the president concluded.