The end of Covid-19 measures? Czech health minister wants to get back to normal in April

A woman undergoes the rapid antigen test for the coronavirus in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, file)
By Karolina Klaskova
2 Min Read

Czechia could scrap coronavirus measures and return to a level of normality again by April 1, the Minister of Health Vlastimil Válek stated on Wednesday.

According to the minister, the number of confirmed positive Covid-19 cases will grow to 80,000 per day before the rate of infection slows down. Once there is a decline in the trajectory, Válek believes that measures will no longer be needed.

“I would like to come up with a plan and a strategy. I hope that we will welcome the first of April by coming back to normal,” the minister said, adding that he wanted to discuss the proposal with the government in March.

People who have a positive PCR test for Covid-19 will soon be removed from the quarantine system for the next 30 days, a new government proposal due to come into force across the country next week.

A more contagious Omicron variant is now reportedly spreading in Czechia. In the last few days, records have been falling in the daily number of people infected, with less than 60,000 more positive cases on Wednesday. The number of hospitalized persons also increased slightly. On Sunday, Válek said that the epidemic would peak in the last week in January.

Some European countries have already agreed to repeal most anti-epidemic measures, with the U.K. and Ireland announcing an easing of social restrictions last week.

In addition, the Danish government plans to repeal almost all measures against the spread of coronavirus in early February, but the government’s decision has yet to be approved by parliament.

Nightclubs could be reopened, restaurants could serve alcohol even after 10 p.m, and guests would not have to present their Covid-19 certificates. Passengers could travel by public transport without face masks and stores would no longer limit the number of customers inside. However, the obligation of testing and quarantine would still apply when entering a country from abroad.

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