Retail or schools?

Cabinet members are not united in their opinion on relaxing the anti-Covid measures - deciding between shops, schools or no changes.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said that he himself had no opinion and would listen to the proposals of other ministers. However, according to him, loosening the restrictions in the current situation is not a good idea.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) feels the same. The number of newly infected exceeded 10,000 for the second time this week. The intensive care units are full - and the number of patients in severe condition is the highest since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO) will go through with his proposal to open all stores from Monday, February 22. Staff would have to wear FFP2 respirators and all current rules would remain in place - such as limiting the number of customers to one per 15 square metres. There will be a discussion whether they would have to wear respirators or double face masks as well. With these measures, the epidemic situation should not get worse, Havlíček said.

Robert Plaga (for ANO), the Minister of Education, disagrees. He said that if the return of pupils to schools from March 1 was a priority, opening the shops was not possible. According to him, the increase in social contacts caused by reopening of schools for other students must be balanced by mandatory testing in companies and maximum use of working from home. There are also talks about vaccinating teachers from March.