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There are no plans to close borders or companies, say the respective governments. There are currently up to 3000 new corona infections per day in the Czech Republic, in Slovakia “only” 550.
In neighboring Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the respective governments have declared a state of emergency. In Slovakia, the decision will apply from October 1 and in the Czech Republic from October 5.
According to the Czech Health Minister Roman Prymula, the state of emergency should last 30 days. The goal is to take some measures at the national level to contain infections. Border or business closures and restrictions on freedom of movement, as was the case in the spring emergency, are not planned, he said.
“We do not want to take measures like in March, which had a great impact on the economy and the lives of our citizens,” said Prime Minister Andrej Babis. Prymula hopes that the emergency will end in a month and not be prolonged. The House of Representatives should approve a possible extension.
Sporting events without spectators
The state of emergency in itself does not imply any restriction, but only creates a legislative basis to take certain measures that, according to current legislation, could not be adopted. This mainly involves ensuring the functioning of hospitals and other health facilities with the help of students from medical schools, because several doctors and nurses are infected by Covid or in quarantine.
Furthermore, according to Prymula, restrictive measures are envisaged in the field of social gatherings and leisure activities. Sporting events must take place without spectators and performances with singing are also suspended. In the worst affected regions, some schools should also be temporarily closed.
Up to 3,000 new infections daily
Even before the decision, the government had justified the state of emergency in parliament. The opposition criticized the move as a “confession” that the government “failed” to fight infections. “The Babis government can do even more damage if it has greater powers. There is no need for an emergency. It would be enough if the prime minister led the government responsibly and competently,” said the head of the conservative Democratic Party. Citizens Party (ODS) Petr Fiala.
In the country of 10.7 million people, the number of infections has risen rapidly in recent weeks. Between 2,000 and 3,000 new infections are reported every day on weekdays.
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