Respirator requirement to start Thursday

Respirators will be required in some places in the Czech Republic from Thursday, not Tuesday as previously stated. The minister of health, Jan Blatný, announced the new restriction aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 at a news conference on Monday night.

FFP2 or KN95 class respirators will need to be worn in relatively highly frequented places, such as shops, and at hospitals, social care facilities and on public transport. If people do not possess them they may wear nano face masks or two surgical masks instead. Children will be required to wear at least a surgical mask.

From the end of February such shields must be worn inside buildings and outside in municipalities and in proximity to others.  Home-made masks are no longer accepted as protection.