COVID-19: An overview of the epidemiological situation in the Czech Republic - Summary of January 2021
04.02.2021 / 15:29 | Aktualizováno: 04.02.2021 / 17:15
(This article expired 28.02.2021 / 01:00.)
At the end of January, the epidemiological situation in the Czech Republic stagnated, however, it remained unfavourable and the Government decided to remain in Critical level of the Anti-Epidemic system. On December 27, the country moved to the fifth - highest - level of the Anti-Epidemic System containing the strictest measures. The state of emergency in the Czech Republic is extended until 12 February 2021.
- The Czech Republic still reports community transmission.
- The impact particularly on vulnerable population groups and the burden on the healthcare system is still high.
- The Czech Republic is among the worst affected countries in the EU in terms of 14-day notification rate of newly reported COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and has one of the highest per capita death rate in the world.
- The spread of a more contagious mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the Czech territory was reported.
- The monitored values show only a stagnation in the spread of the epidemic
- The current dynamics of spread and predictive scenarios do not expect a significant improvement in the coming days and weeks.
- The state of emergency (first declared at the beginning of October) was extended until 14 February.
- According to the Czech anti-epidemic system, the summarised risk index for the Czech Republic is at 70 (which in weekly comparison corresponds to stagnation).
- This value corresponds to alert level four of the Anti-Epidemic System. However, some values, such as the rate of hospitalization (and the proportion of hospitalized with severe conditions) signal the need to remain in the fifth – highest - level of the Anti-Epidemic system.
- Free and voluntary vaccination has been launched in the Czech Republic
- The first broader phase was launched in mid-January, focusing on the highest risk groups (i.e. the seniors over the age of 80 and selected medical staff).
- The implementation of the vaccination strategy is affected by the lack of vaccines.
- During January, several extensions of the measures were introduced
- Preventive testing with Rapid antigen tests is fully covered by health insurance once every five days (from 28 January interval reduced to three days).
- The restrictive measures are still in place.
- The government further supported closed premises
- Businessmen who have had to close their premises since October as a result of the government decree will receive additional financial assistance from the state to the value of CZK 400 per employee.
- Operators of ski resorts will also receive compensation for the period of time they could not operate their lifts as a result of government decrees.