Thursday news summary

Covid update

Current restrictions will last at least until the 22nd of January. This was announced by the Minister of Health Jan Blatný (for ANO) after Thursday's government meeting. Due to the spread of Covid-19, ski resorts remain closed, and the cabinet is preparing compensation for their owners. A free antigen testing will be possible even after the 15th of January, according to a government decision. However, whilst keeping the current measures, people will be allowed to visit patients in medical facilities which had so far been banned.

The biggest number of infected people

The Czech Republic has recorded the biggest number of new cases of Covid-19 for the second day in a row. Tests on Wednesday revealed 17,668 infected, which is 310 more than the previous maximum on Tuesday.

70 kilometres ready for cross-country skiers

Conditions for cross-country skiers in the Jizerské Mountains have been slightly improved by new snow. So far, the basic circuits have been managed, about 70 kilometers of cross-country skiing tracks. In the Beskydy Mountains, the lack of snow does not yet allow cross-country skiing.

Another protest against measures planned for the weekend

The Chcípl PES (= Dead DOG) initiative fighting for restaurants opening is preparing another demonstration against government measures on Sunday. It will start at 14:00 on the Old Town Square in Prague. The organizers told reporters today. They also criticized the planned financial support for entrepreneurs, which the government approved on Monday. They demand that instead of a contribution per employee of 400 crowns per day, entrepreneurs would receive 70 percent of sales from the previous period.