State of emergency until January 22

The Chamber of Deputies has agreed to extend the state of emergency by another 30 days - tighter anti-coronavirus measures to follow.

The government's proposal was supported by the cabinet parties of ANO and ČSSD as well as the Communists who usually vote with the coalition. Thanks to the Chamber of Deputies' approval, the government can continue to impose widespread anti-coronavirus measures.

Due to the worsening Covid-19 situation, Czechia will soon return to the fifth (and strictest) level of the anti-epidemic PES system. You can find all of the related measures here. Currently, the government has not yet decided if the switch happens on December 25 or 27.

According to the Minister of Health Jan Blatný (for ANO), the cabinet is considering the later date to allow particularly people who have been tested the opportunity to meet with their relatives during the Christmas holidays. The final decision is due to be made on Wednesday.

However, Blatný is not in favor of the possibility of relaxing the measures on New Year's Eve. The Communists originally wanted the government to lift the curfew in exchange for their consent with the extension of the state of emergency. According to them and also for example opposition MP Dominik Feri (TOP 09), people will not comply with this restriction.