Prague Eases Coronavirus Restrictions

Czech Republic Eases Covid restrictions

4/15/2020

Masks are still required, and even the TV anchors wear them!

If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve been documenting the Czech Republic’s response to the Coronavirus outbreak. You will also know that the results have been pretty good, and that continues to be the case.

For more on the steps that have been taken since the beginning of the outbreak, see my earlier blog posts:

March 4, 2020
March 9, 2020
March 12, 2020
March 13, 2020
March 16, 2020
March 20, 2020
March 23, 2020
March 31, 2020

masks are still a fashion statement

As you know the entire nation has been under strict quarantine since early March. Freedom of movement was restricted, and only pharmacies, grocery stores and - go figure - tobacco shops remained open, along with doctors’ offices and hospitals, of course.

Shortly after the quarantine was enacted, a new order was passed requiring masks be worn in public at all times. As I noted in an earlier post, the masks not only helped stopped the spread of the virus, but they were also an outward symbol of solidarity in the fight against the disease. Even newscasters wear them in the studio.

Dogs socially distancing in Prague

But long before the mask requirement, went into effect, pharmacies ran out of them, so people had to make their own. Mask patterns floated around the internet, and a website was set up by volunteers willing to sew them for others. As a result of the mask requirement, fabric shops were also allowed to open during quarantine.

the results have been good

We’ve flattened the curve.
As of 8:30 a.m. today, total confirmed cases were 6,151, and total deaths were 163 (out of a population of about 10 million).
The number of new cases yesterday was 82, whereas on April 3rd it was 352.
676 have recovered from the disease.
Our ICU wards are 50% full.
We’ve accepted patients from other EU countries whose ICU capacity was full.

During Easter week, the government debated whether the country could begin to open up - slowly. On Maundy Thursday, the Prime Minister, Andrej Babis, made an address to the nation - wearing a mask, of course.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis addresses the nation wearing a mask.

easing begins

The PM's address struck the right tone, balancing calm with the need to remain vigilant. Because the government did eventually decide to begin to ease the restrictions right before a long (4-day) weekend during the springtime when the weather was predicted to be gorgeous and people have been locked in for almost a month, it was feared that people would rush out and completely forget about social distancing and other measures we’ve been practicing. And as many people attend church or gather as families on Easter, there was concern about an uptick in the spread of COVID and, especially, of infecting elderly family members.

Babis pleaded with people to not attend church and to resist visiting family members. He also cautioned people to continue to exercise caution when out in public.

We've had mixed results

Some of what the easing entails is as follows:

Certain businesses (hobby shops among them) are allowed to open;
People can now walk, hike, run or bike in forests without a mask, but social distancing must be maintained.

You can imagine some of the problems associated with the above. Who determines what’s a forest far enough from populated areas? Who polices social distancing in the forest? Long lines immediately formed at the hobby shops, of course.

It will be important now to monitor the confirmed cases of Coronavirus to see if they increase above rates present before the easing. For now, we’re all hoping for the best, of course!

hope for a return to normal... one day

As for when things will return completely to normal, that’s an open question and is probably going to be a while. For now, the boarders remain closed, and restaurants remain closed for eat-in service. May is the date under consideration for re-opening restaurants.

help me be here for you!

I look forward to the day when I can welcome you to Prague again and share this amazing city with you. I fully intend to maintain my exclusive private tour business as things return to normal, whenever that happens. In the meantime, you might enjoy living vicariously through my books about Prague - and it will also help me be able to be here for you when you can finally visit. So, if you feel so inclined, buy a book and tell a friend! Thanks in advance!