Mandatory testing until the end of May

Schools and companies will have to continue the obligatory testing at least until the end of May - and more schools might open next week.

Whether or not the mandatory testing will be extended until the end of June should be decided by May 7, says the Ministry of Health. Earlier termination is being discussed because it was not possible to select a supplier for additional tests for schools which will now run out at the end of next week.

The Minister of Health Petr Arenberger (for ANO) proposes that tests for schools be purchased until the end of May. In addition, the ministry wants to start lab-evaluated PCR testing. However, its costs are higher and logistics more problematic than with antigen tests.

In companies, the share of infected people has been declining since the start of testing in March. It fell from 0.77% to 0.17% by mid-April. Primary school children get tested twice a week - in the first week, only 0.06% tested positive.

From Monday, May 3, kids should return to kindergartens and secondary schools in the Hradec Králové, Karlovy Vary and Plzeň regions. According to the Health Minister, Prague, the Central Bohemian and Liberec regions could open their schools as well. The government will decide on this on Thursday - it will also vote on reopening shops.