Jan Hamáček (ČSSD), the outgoing Interior Minister and the head of the Central Crisis Staff, indicated on Monday that if the epidemiological situation worsens, the government will have to adopt tighter measures. He mentioned that one of the solutions is to allow only those that can prove they are not infected to work. Employees would then be obligated to pay for their tests.
“If the situation deteriorates further, the measures would be tightened. Specifically, there would be an expansion of the places where it would be necessary to show proof of a vaccination or test for COVID, “Hamáček said after the staff meeting.
According to him, confirmation of infection-free status could be required, for example, in the workplace. “Any tests would have to be paid for by the employee. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is preparing an interpretation of the relevant section of the Labour Code for this purpose, “he said. The minister also explained that this is the principle of the system currently being used in Italy, where the employee must prove to the employer that he is negative, otherwise he cannot go to work.
Hamáček said the main priority is to avoid school closures. However, in the first week of November, there will be widespread testing in schools in districts where the weekly incidence of infection exceeds 300 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. “According to current data, the testing in schools will cover eight districts, mainly in the Olomouc and Moravian-Silesian regions,” Hamáček said. The epidemiological situation is worst in northern Moravia.
Data on the epidemic situation shows that school tests will be carried out in the districts of Prachatice, České Budějovice, Opava, Šumperk, Prostějov, Ostrava-město, Brno-venkov and Karviná.
In recent days, the number of newly infected people has risen. For example, 1,823 people were infected over Sunday, roughly 1,100 more than a week ago. “The situation is worsening, with the number of cases and hospitalizations increasing. However, the numbers of those hospitalized are better than in previous waves, ” the crisis chief also stated.