Tuesday news summary

Covid update

Tests in the Czech Republic on Monday confirmed 12,860 new cases of Covid-19, almost 2,000 more than a week ago. Today, the risk index of the anti-epidemic system PES rose to 89 points - the reason for the deterioration of the national score by four points is the faster spread of the disease among the elderly. The PES has remained in the strictest, fifth level of alert for seven days now.

Vaccination continues

About 15,000 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the Czech Republic so far, former Minister of Health Roman Prymula told Czech Television. According to Prymula, the central information system that is supposed to collect data is not working yet. So far, mainly medical staff and seniors are being vaccinated in hospitals or retirement homes. So far, seven people have reported adverse effects of the vaccine, the Czech TV reported with reference to the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL).

Financial aid for entrepreneurs

The government has approved compensations for closed restaurants. The support will give 400 crowns a day for every employee. According to the government, it will be possible to ask for this support after the 15th of January. The government programme will have a budget of 2,5 billion crowns.

Doctor corruption case

Police have proposed to indict another 66 doctors and representatives of pharmaceutical companies in a large-scale corruption case, which concerns the preferential prescribing of specific drugs. Jaroslav Ibehej, a spokesman for the National Center against Organized Crime, informed about it. The total amount of bribes handed over to doctors was estimated by criminologists at approximately twelve million crowns.