Pubs and restaurants to close at 8pm as of Wednesday

Pubs and restaurants will have to close their doors at 8pm as of Wednesday, including sales via dispensing windows, Health Minister Jan Blatný said at a press conference following Monday’s cabinet session on the worsening epidemiological situation in the country.

The government decided against taking the country to the fourth level of the coronavirus emergency system PES, which would have meant closing shops and restaurants less than a week after they reopened. However it appealed for greater discipline and warned that it would get tougher on those violating its decrees.

A proposed amendment to the crisis law envisages raising the fine for individuals from 10 to 50,000 crowns and setting a ceiling of 3 million for legal entities.

The government is planning to ask the lower house to extend the state of emergency for another 30 days.