Further precautions established in the Czech Republic to prevent coronavirus spread will be lifted today, affecting culture, shops, restaurants, services, and swimming pools. The maximum number of clients in shops and services and participants at cultural and other large-scale events will rise. In clubs and restaurants, live music may be played again, but dancing is not permitted.
The government had intended for this relaxation to take effect on July 1st. Still, it was postponed until today to allow for testing at children’s camps, some of which begin before the holidays.
Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO) believes that the current precautions should be kept in place for a more extended period. According to the ministry’s website, if the epidemic worsens, he would prefer to tighten them in the afflicted areas. The number of newly infected patients in the Czech Republic is reduced weekly, but there are regional variances. According to the incidence rate, which is defined as the number of confirmed cases of covid-19 per 100,000 people in the last seven days, Prague is the worst-affected city, with a rate of 16.
With today’s relaxation of regulations, stores can now have one customer per 10 square meters instead of 15, and promotions can once again be held. Hairdressers, beauty, massage salons, and manicures are no longer required to serve only one customer at a time, nor are they required to register their clients. Swimming pools and wellness centers can now fill up to 75 percent of their capacity, up from 50 percent previously.
Increased capacity extends to culture as well. Cultural events used to attract 1,000 people inside and 2,000 outside. Up to 5,000 people can now attend outdoor events, some of which are held across the state. Indoors, a maximum of 2,000 guests can now be accommodated, with a maximum capacity of 75%.
It is now, for example, possible to consume in movie theaters. One visitor per ten square meters is possible in museums and galleries, just as it is in shops. If a group has tested negative for coronavirus or has been vaccinated against covid-19, they can tour castles and palaces without limitations.