Owners of private theaters called on the Minister of Culture Zaoralek to resign

Owners of private theaters in Prague called for the resignation of Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD). It bothers them that none of the sum of 1.07 billion crowns, which was approved by the government on Thursday to save culture, will go to the sector that does not receive subsidies. On Friday, the radio station Frequency 1 reported about it. The challenge was written by the producer and owner of the Prague Broadway Theater Oldřich Lichtenberg, and according to Frequency 1, other Prague private scenes are joining it. Zaorálek rejected the criticism and stated, among other things, that the government will also discuss the support of entrepreneurs in culture.

On Thursday, the government approved a package to help culture. It will release 1.07 billion crowns. Independent art will receive 440 million crowns, and 300 million crowns will go to support regional culture. Contribution organizations in the resort, where the 29 institutions include, for example, the National Theatre, the National Museum and the National Monument Institute, will receive 300 million crowns from the package so far. Another 30 million crowns will go to the establishment of a program to support making culture accessible through digital media. According to Zaorálek, the main goal of the adopted package of measures is to preserve the professional cultural infrastructure, which is not profitable and thus has no financial reserves.

Zaorálek: I am not surprised that those who make a business out of culture shout the most

However, Lichtenberg claims in his appeal that with this step Zaorálek ensures the complete liquidation of the segment of culture that does not receive subsidies. "You will destroy many theaters, festivals, art agencies, organizers, producers, and especially tens of thousands of actors, singers and all other professions that are connected to these entities," reads the call. "You are literally throwing away funds publicly among already swollen institutions and among your projecting favorites in an unprecedented way. Therefore, please step down immediately so someone can try to repair the damage you have done,” Lichtenberg wrote.

"It doesn't surprise me that those who make a business out of culture and attack professional commissions for not being able to appreciate their artistic qualities shout the most. I never said that I don't want to help those who run businesses in culture, run musical theaters, music clubs or even rock festivals," Zaorálek responded. He stated that in the first wave he managed to get money for the non-profit part of culture, i.e. for entities that do not generate profit and therefore cannot have any reserves.

"Mr. Lichtenberg's claim that I am helping some of my favorites is senseless and untrue," said Zaorálek. He added that he is in contact with those who are not covered by government aid and continuously asks them to map their losses. "At the government, in the second round, we will discuss the possibility of support for entrepreneurs in culture, of course, taking into account how quickly we will be able to return to the cultural life we ​​were used to before the coronavirus pandemic," added the Minister of Culture.

Lichtenberg told Frequency 1 that he also sent the invitation to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO). He has not yet received a response.

Associations of independent and professional theaters stood up for Zaorálek

The approved government package was appreciated, for example, by the Association of Independent Theatres. "This is significant assistance from the state and it is clear that the ministry is analyzing the situation and trying to respond conceptually," the association said in a press release. The founder and director of Tance Praha Yvona Kreuzmannová also praised Zaorálk's steps. "This is the first time in many years that someone has taken a serious look at the deeply underfunded independent scene and clearly declared an interest in supporting it," she said.

The Association of Professional Theaters of the Czech Republic stood up for Zaorálek. "We appreciate that the government decided, among other things, on the proposal of the Minister of Culture to support public non-profit theaters," said its boss and director of the Brno Municipal Theater Stanislav Moša. "These funds will primarily go to regional organizations and help their founders, municipalities and regions... Cities normally subsidize around 80 percent of the total budget of these theaters," he added. He specified that art institutions established by the public administration cannot draw on other crisis programs.

"We wish musical or private theaters to overcome this time with the help of tools and supports designed for their sector. The only thing we don't want in this situation is for us to communicate through the media or ministers who is more or less poor. The problems concern all citizens, among whom artists or theater employees are no exception, although the impact on culture will be significant. If the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic Lubomír Zaorálek continues to actively solve these problems, he will have our support," added Moša on behalf of the association.

One of the largest publishing companies, Albatros Media, has warned that without significant and quick state aid, many booksellers are at risk of ceasing to operate. Zaorálek said this week that he is aiming for the bookstore to open after Easter.

The company stated that it has extended the due date of the booksellers' invoices and is paying all their debts to its associates. According to her, however, it is necessary for the state to join this assistance. "We therefore support and welcome all the steps taken by the Ministry of Culture to date, primarily aimed at rescuing small publishers," reads the Albatros Media press release.

7:45 a.m. The government should approve the request to extend the state of emergency today

Today, the Ministry of Health will submit material to the government regarding the extension of the state of emergency. The cabinet should formally agree to ask the Chamber of Deputies to extend the state of emergency until May 25. Currently valid until April 30. According to the Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (for ANO), all members of the cabinet agree with the extension of the state of emergency. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) said that the government will ask the House for this on Friday.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24

22:20 Vojtěch will not resign due to the court's verdict on the measures of the MZd

Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) is not considering resigning due to today's court decision to cancel four of his office's measures that restricted free movement, retail and services in connection with the coronavirus pandemic. He told journalists after the government meeting that the measures were key to managing the pandemic in the Czech Republic. Some opposition politicians encouraged Vojtěch to resign. The cabinet adopted the measures again as crisis measures of the government under the crisis law, for which it had until Monday.

22:10 People will be able to travel abroad again from Friday

People will be able to travel abroad again from Friday thanks to the relaxation of the ban on the free movement of people. This also applies to holidays. When returning to their homeland, people will have to prove that they have tested negative for the coronavirus, or they will have to go into a two-week quarantine. This was said by the Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) after the government meeting.

22:05 Regions must newly provide 10 beds per 100,000 inhabitants for senior citizens

The counties will now have to provide only ten free beds per 100,000 inhabitants for seniors with covid-19. So far there have been 60 beds. The governors were bothered by the fact that the measure is blanket and, in their view, does not respect the real needs of individual regions.

22:04 The Ministry of Health will end central purchases

On April 30, the Ministry of Health will end central purchases of protective equipment needed due to the coronavirus epidemic. He has stockpiled for two months, which he considers sufficient. "The crisis phase that was there has passed," said Vojtěch. According to him, the authority will continue to oblige hospitals from the two-month supply.

22:00 From Monday, the government will allow universities to open for all grades

From next Monday, universities will open for all students. From this Monday, universities were open to a limited extent for the activities of students in their final year of study. It was supposed to mean the possibility of holding individual consultations or exams, including state exams and rigorous exams.

21:55 The spa can again accept patients for care

The spa can start accepting patients for medical and rehabilitation care under certain conditions. According to the representatives of the spa, even after the end of the emergency measures, the spa will not start operating overnight. Spa towns, spa operators and the Karlovy Vary region have turned to the government, the prime minister and the ministries with a request for help.

21:40 The government has adopted a crisis measure that cancels restrictions on the free movement of people

"We believe that the situation in the Czech Republic is already such from an epidemiological point of view that we can loosen the measures," said Vojtěch. The emergency measure takes effect from tomorrow. The government also expanded the possible number of people who can stay in one place to 10.

21:20 The Ministry of Health will file a cassation complaint against the court's decision

"We respect the judgment of the Municipal Court in Prague, although we will file a cassation complaint against it," said Health Minister Adam Vojtěch. According to him, even the court stated that there is no previous jurisprudence that could be based on. "From our point of view, the Supreme Administrative Court should still decide on this and assess the whole matter, because it is not entirely clear-cut. The question is what is the real authority of the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for taking steps to limit and prevent the spread of the epidemic," the minister noted.

21:10 Commuters will be able to cross the border daily with a test once every 14 days

Commuters who are not covered by the current exemptions will be able to cross the border for work every day if they get tested for the coronavirus every 14 days, preferably through their employer. This applies to workers who, until now, had to stay longer outside the borders and then faced quarantine. Exemptions for health and social care workers will remain.

20:50 Sports events will be possible from May 25

Sporting events with a limited number of people will be possible from May 25. The original plan provided for the organization of sports events only from June 8 and with a limitation to a maximum of 50 participants. After the change in the schedule, the government has yet to decide what the maximum possible number of people will be at sports, but also cultural and social events from May 25. Theoretically, the restart of the football league is possible already from this date, which after the previous decision of the government was possible on June 8 at the earliest.

20:30 3,251 people were tested today in the covid-19 infection study

In a study to determine the prevalence of covid-19 in the population, 3,251 people were tested today. There were 1,445 people in Prague, 1,262 in Brno and 544 in Litoměřice. This follows from information on the website of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS). People waited in queues for long hours, and conflicts arose between them, especially between the elderly. The interest surprised the organizers of the study, today's capacities were exhausted shortly after opening. A total of 27,000 people are planned to be tested.

20:20 According to Macron, the coronavirus crisis requires investments of 10 percent of GDP

The European Union must respond to the coronavirus crisis by investing at least five to ten percent of its economic output. After a video conference of the presidents and prime ministers of the countries of the European Union, according to Reuters, French President Emmanuel Macron announced this. He also said that Europe has no future if it cannot agree on a response to the current emergency.

19:40 According to Reuters, the coronavirus claimed 48,000 lives in the USA

In the United States, 48,000 people have already died from complications with the coronavirus infection. This was reported by the Reuters agency, according to which the covid-19 disease will claim an average of 2,000 victims per day in the USA. The Reuters balance registers almost 850,000 infected people in the USA. The American Johns Hopkins University, which also monitors the spread of the coronavirus worldwide, records 844,000 infected in the USA, of which 47,000 have died.

18:40 All restaurants, hotels, theaters, castles and chateaux will open from May 25

However, precisely defined hygienic conditions will apply, said Havlíček. These will also apply to weddings with a larger number of people.

18:35 From May 11, restaurants with a garden, hairdressers, salons and museums will open

18:30 From April 27, shops within 2,500 meters, libraries, driving schools, gyms will open

Minister of Industry, Trade and Transport Karel Havlíček (for ANO) announced the relaxation of measures in the framework of the closure of some services. From next Monday, shops within 2,500 meters will open if they have a separate entrance, as well as libraries, driving schools, gyms, botanical and zoological gardens outside the closed pavilions. People will also be able to attend services of up to 15 people.

18:15 Italy reports a smaller increase in infected, deaths increased by 464

In Italy, 2,646 more cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed in the last 24 hours, which is less than the daily increase announced on Wednesday (3,370). Deaths due to covid-19 in Italy increased by 464 today, on Wednesday it was 437. So far, a total of 189,973 cases of infection with the coronavirus have been confirmed in Italy, of which 25,549 people have died and 57,576 have recovered.

17:30 6 cases of coronavirus have been added today, 2152 have been cured

In the Czech Republic, only six cases of infection with the new coronavirus were confirmed between midnight and this evening, a total of 7,138 recorded by the Ministry of Health since the outbreak of the epidemic. The definitive numbers will be published on Thursday morning. If the data did not change significantly, it would be the lowest daily increase since March 9, when the laboratories also reported only six infected. The number of people cured of covid-19 increased by 163 to 2,152 as of Wednesday evening, the number of deaths rose by two to 210.

16:30 Rent can be owed until July and repaid by the end of the year

Tenants will not be able to be evicted if they are unable to pay rent by the end of July due to being without income due to the measures against the coronavirus epidemic. However, they have to pay the outstanding rent by the end of this year. The law signed by President Miloš Zeman today takes this into account.

16:20 The budget deficit will increase to 300 billion.

President Miloš Zeman signed a law increasing this year's state budget deficit to 300 billion crowns. The reason for the increase in the deficit is the effects of the coronavirus epidemic. Last December, the Chamber initially approved a budget with a deficit of 40 billion crowns, but recently increased it to 200 billion in an accelerated regime. It has now increased by another 100 billion crowns.

16:10 Zeman signed the law allowing higher structural deficits

Today, President Miloš Zeman signed a law that increases the so-called structural deficit to four percent of the gross domestic product for next year. According to the government, this change is necessary for drawing up the state budget for next year. Opponents from the ranks of the parliamentary opposition, on the other hand, consider it unnecessary, and the chairperson of the National Budget Council, Eva Zamrazilová, expressed the same opinion.

16:05 Renting companies have a postponement of rent payments due to the coronavirus

Companies in leased premises that had to close their operations due to government measures against the coronavirus epidemic can repay the rent for the period from March 12 to June 30 until the end of this year. The law signed by President Miloš Zeman today takes this into account.

16:00 The Swiss economy will fall the most in 45 years due to the coronavirus

The Swiss economy will probably fall by 6.7 percent this year due to the effects of the pandemic caused by the spread of the coronavirus. This will be the deepest drop since 1975, when the Swiss economy weakened sharply due to a shock development in oil prices. This follows from a new estimate by the Swiss government.

15:45 EU leaders discuss money to revive economies, positions differ

"The engine of the recovery will be the new Marshall Plan, an unprecedented investment initiative that will be aimed where it is most needed," said the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, before the start of the meeting. At the end of today's fourth video summit since the beginning of the crisis, he would like to have a clearer idea of ​​what the EU states expect from the fund.

15:00 Britain begins testing a vaccine against the coronavirus on people

Scientists from the University of Oxford are starting to test a vaccine against the coronavirus on people today. At the same time, they hope that the substance could be available to the public already this fall, AFP reported. However, according to a number of experts, the hope of such a rapid development of an effective vaccination and the production of a sufficient number of doses is very unlikely.

14:25 Vojtěch: We will look for a solution to satisfy the court

In response to the court annulment of four measures restricting free movement, services and retail, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO) stated that the Ministry of Health will seek a solution to comply with the court and at the same time maintain measures that are key to limiting the spread of the epidemic. He considers the discussion to be legal, he only deals with the form of the adopted measures. "We will look for such a solution in order to satisfy the court, and at the same time we have maintained the measures that are key from an epidemiological point of view to prevent the spread of the epidemic, and we have continued to gradually release them according to the outlined plan," said the minister.

13:50 Most of the confirmed sick Austrians have recovered

The number of cases of infection with the coronavirus in Austria exceeded 15,000 today. Only 2,786 of these people are currently ill. In the meantime, 11,694 people got rid of the virus. In Switzerland, which with 8.5 million inhabitants is comparably populated with Austria, there are a total of 28,496 infected. While 522 people with covid-19 have died in Austria so far, there are already 1,268 in the more western Alpine country. In both countries, the number of new cases is falling.

13:25 The government has frozen rent prices

During the duration of extraordinary measures in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, it will not be possible to increase the rent of apartments. The relevant regulation was approved by the government today. The price moratorium on rent will automatically end on the day the emergency measures are lifted. The government may terminate it earlier if it deems it appropriate.

13:05 Zeman: The court takes responsibility for canceling the measures

By canceling four measures of the Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus today, according to President Miloš Zeman, the court is taking full responsibility for the impact on lives, health and the economy of the Czech Republic. The president's reaction was interpreted by spokesman Jiří Ovčáček. "The court takes full responsibility for the consequences of its decision. Whether it is about the impact on the lives and health of the population, or on the economy of the entire republic," according to Ovčáček, the president responded to the court's decision. Zeman repeatedly supported the measures taken against the pandemic.

13:02 STAN have enough signatures on the motion to lift the travel ban

Senators for the STAN movement already have enough signatures to submit a proposal for the Constitutional Court to annul the regulation by which the government prohibited travel from the Czech Republic due to the coronavirus pandemic. They announced it today on their twitter. In addition to the initiator of the proposal, David Smoljak, the proposal is signed by, for example, the deputy chairman of the upper chamber Jan Horník, Marek Hilšer, Mikuláš Bek, Alena Dernerová or Václav Chaloupek. STAN will be able to get more signatures during the Senate session next week, when the text of the proposal should also be ready. According to Smoljak, the government proceeded without support in the law.

12:15 The court canceled four measures restricting free movement and retail

The court today annulled four measures of the Ministry of Health, which restricted free movement, retail and services in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, with effect from April 27. According to him, they are illegal. The judicial panel thus accepted the lawsuit of health law expert Ondřej Dostál, who criticized, among other things, that the measures are arbitrary, chaotic and incomprehensible. The decision of the Prague Municipal Court is final.

11:52 The coronavirus is artificial, claims Peková

"There is a lot of fog around him, but in the end it will become clear where the truth is. I believe it is a man made virus. The virus behaves strangely, does not develop good immunity, cases of reinfection are known. It has a lot of characteristics that we haven't seen in nature yet," said biologist Soňa Peková, who came into the media's spotlight when the government banned her laboratory from testing for the coronavirus. According to Peková, the new type of coronavirus is quite exceptional, the closest to it is SARS from 2003 and the bat coronavirus, but both are too different, according to her, to be a work of nature.

11:50 Rock for People is postponed to 2021

The Rock for People festival, which was supposed to take place from June 18 to 20 at the Králové-Hradec airport, will not take place this year due to measures against the spread of the new coronavirus. The organizers are looking for an alternative date for 2021. Tickets remain valid for the new date. This year, the festival was sold out long in advance for the first time, the organizers expected up to 30,000 visitors. "For a long time, we believed that the pandemic would pass and that together we would celebrate overcoming it at the festival site. Unfortunately, the measures applied in the fight against the coronavirus do not allow us to realize the festival in the scope and quality as we imagined it and prepared for more than a year," said the director of the festival, Michal Thomes.

11:10 70% of Czechs see masks positively

Seventy percent of Czechs believe that wearing masks makes sense because they are effective as protection against the spread of the coronavirus. This is according to a survey by Nielsen Atmosphere. Half of the people only wear the face mask for one stay away from home before disposing of it or sterilizing it. However, a quarter of those surveyed usually wear a mask or other face protection all day. 22 percent of people consider masks to be ineffective, eight percent of the public are not sure. People aged 35 to 44 trust them more, as well as people from Moravia. On the contrary, Czechs aged 15-34 and people with primary or secondary education trust them less. Up to 84 percent of people wear cloth masks, 14 percent use a scarf or scarf. 10 percent of Czechs wear a respirator.

10:40 Test capacities are filling up

Today's capacity of testing sites for the covid-19 study for testing collective immunity in the population was filled in Prague roughly 15 minutes after they opened. Hundreds of people are standing in long queues, they probably won't get to the last one today. Therefore, people should consider coming on Friday or the following days. Petra Klusáková, spokeswoman for the 1st Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague, said this. The Prague centers located in Zítkové Sady, Kateřinská Garden and on Náměstí Míru in Prague 2 opened at 10:00 in the morning, the first people were already waiting at them before eight o'clock. In the Kateřinská garden, they test seniors until 3:00 p.m., and there were conflicts between them in the queue. Similarly, today's capacity of the center on Moravské náměstí in Brno has also been filled.

10:30 Business in Europe has almost stopped

Business activity in the eurozone almost came to a standstill in April due to the coronavirus crisis, and its index fell to a record low. This is shown by the preliminary results of a survey published today by the consulting company IHS Markit. The results signal that the eurozone economy could shrink by about 7.5 percent this quarter, Reuters reported. The business activity index fell to 13.5 points in April from 29.7 points in March. It was the lowest since 1998, when the data began to be tracked. At the same time, it is well below the key fifty-point line, which is the dividing line between growth and decline in activity.

9:30 Over 2,000 people have recovered from covid-19

The number of people cured of the covid-19 disease, which is caused by a new type of coronavirus, in the Czech Republic exceeded 2,000. Compared to Wednesday evening, it rose by 13 to 2,002. Deaths in hospitals increased by two to 210. There are 7,136 cases of infection, the number has increased so far by four. The Ministry of Health published the figures as of 8:30 a.m. today on its website. 8,807 tests for the coronavirus were carried out on Wednesday, the most in one day so far. Among those tested, 1.12 percent were positive, which is the lowest since March 4, according to ministry data.

9:28 The coronavirus also kills with blood clots, say American doctors

According to some American doctors, the coronavirus causes blood clots in the bodies of patients, which are responsible for a significant part of the deaths. It was written by The Washington Post (WP) with reference to the findings of several hospitals. Microscopic clots, for example, were found in up to 40 percent of those infected at the University Hospital in Atlanta. The coronavirus, which was originally believed to be a standard, albeit highly contagious, respiratory virus, attacks not only the lungs, but also the kidneys, heart, digestive tract, liver and brain. Doctors describe unusual cases that go beyond textbooks. Pregnant women without symptoms die suddenly of cardiac arrest. Patients who, according to all assumptions, should have had a mild course of the disease, suddenly go into crisis and die at home. Some doctors believe that blood clots may be the cause.

9:00 The spread of the disease is stopping, says Dušek

At the end of April, according to the health statistics model, there will be a total of about 7,800 cases of covid-19 in the Czech Republic. A week ago, estimates spoke of 10,000 infected at the end of the month. This was said by the director of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS) Ladislav Dušek. According to him, as of Wednesday midnight, 7,033 people had been infected, and about 27 percent had been cured. About 15 percent of people needed hospital care. About three percent of the dead are infected, according to Dušek, most died of other diseases, but were positive for covid-19. According to Dušek, the reproductive number has fallen below the value of one, the median estimate is about 0.7. "It means that one infected person manages to infect less than one other person. The spread in the population therefore stops," added Dušek.

8:25 Easter did not have a significant negative impact

According to the covid-19 incidence statistics, Easter has not yet had a negative impact. It cannot be ruled out that the effect will still be felt, according to the presentation of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS) at today's press conference of the Ministry of Health. According to politicians, over the holidays, people slacked off in complying with the measures taken to limit gatherings and some did not wear masks.

7:50 UN chief: The fight against the coronavirus must not be an excuse for repression

UN Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out that some countries can use the fight against the coronavirus to introduce repressive measures that have nothing to do with the covid-19 pandemic. In a message published today, he said that there is a threat of a crisis in respect of human rights.

THURSDAY April 23

23:52 Havlíček: The government will probably accelerate the release of measures against the coronavirus

On Thursday afternoon, according to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO), the government will present a faster program for easing measures against the coronavirus. The development of the epidemic in the Czech Republic makes this possible, Havlíček told MPs on Wednesday as part of the government's information on the relaxation of restrictive measures. He did not want to reveal the details. He pointed out that the government must first consult with epidemiologists. "If the situation develops better, it is possible that we will accelerate the pace. The results are very promising," said Havlíček. According to him, the government has prepared several scenarios to accelerate the start-up of the economy. "The whole schedule will be shortened," he said.

22:52 The Chamber approved an increase in the budget deficit to 300 billion crowns

The Chamber approved the increase of this year's state budget deficit to 300 billion crowns. The reason for the increase is the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. Last December, the Chamber initially approved a budget with a deficit of 40 billion crowns, but recently increased it to 200 billion in an accelerated regime. Now, at the suggestion of the government, it has been increased by another 100 billion crowns. The budget will now be signed by the president.

22:15 The state will be able to guarantee 150 billion crowns for loans to companies

The state will be able to provide a guarantee of 150 billion crowns for commercial loans for companies with no more than 500 employees. According to Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (for ANO), they could receive 500 billion crowns from the banks to restore their activities after the coronavirus epidemic. The House approved it today as part of a bill that will have to be considered by the Senate next week.

22:00 The House of Representatives approved the payment of the self-employed allowance even after April 30

Entrepreneurs and other self-employed persons affected by measures due to the spread of the coronavirus will receive a one-time allowance of 500 crowns per day even after April 30. The government's proposal amending the already approved law on the so-called compensation bonus was adopted by the House of Representatives today. The law will allow the allowance to be paid until all measures restricting the self-employed are lifted. The government is counting on them until June 8. The law will now be discussed by the Senate.

21:50 The second Czech, a patient in Motola, receives Remdesivir

Already the second Czech with covid-19 is being treated with remdesivir. This is a patient of the Faculty Hospital in Motola, who is in a serious condition and is connected to pulmonary ventilation. This was reported this evening by the server iDnes.cz based on the statement of the head of the Motola clinic of anesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care, Tomáš Vymazal.

21:25 The Chamber of Deputies voted to increase payments to the state for insured persons

State payments to public health insurance for its insured will probably increase in two steps. Today, the Chamber of Deputies approved a government amendment quickly in a legislative emergency, according to which, due to the coronavirus crisis, wages will increase by 500 crowns per month from June and by another 200 crowns from the current 1,067 crowns per month from next year.

20:16 France reports 544 new deaths from the infection, more than on Tuesday

An additional 544 people died of the coronavirus in French hospitals and retirement homes in the last 24 hours. That's slightly more than Tuesday, when authorities reported 531 deaths. A total of 21,340 people have already died of covid-19. According to the American Johns Hopkins University, the total number of infected in France, which has 67 million inhabitants, since the beginning of the epidemic has reached 159,313.

19:31 Israel suspends monitoring of mobile data of people in quarantine

The Oversight Committee of the Israeli Parliament has suspended the police's ability to use data from mobile phones to check compliance with the coronavirus quarantine. According to Reuters, one of the deputies justified the move by protecting privacy. Last month, Prime Minister Netanyahu's government allowed the police to obtain roaming data of people who were quarantined due to suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection. The aim was to verify whether these people were following the curfew.

18:40 Italy and New York report a decrease in the number of deaths from the coronavirus

In Italy, 437 people infected with the coronavirus died in a day, it is a hundred less than the daily increase on Tuesday, when local authorities announced 534 deaths. The number of cases of infection increased by 3,370 today, more than on Tuesday, the local civil protection reported. In the US state of New York, 474 people with covid-19 have died in the last 24 hours, which is the least since April 1.

17:45 There are already almost 2 thousand people cured in the Czech Republic

The number of people cured of the coronavirus in the Czech Republic increased by roughly a tenth since Tuesday evening to 1989. The number of deaths rose by four to 208, the Ministry of Health reported on its website. There are 46 new infections so far on Wednesday. Cumulatively, there are over 7,000 sick people, namely 7,087.

16:39 Babiš: The opening of shops could be unified for May

Store openings could be unified and all could open in May. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said this to Czech television today, according to which the government will discuss such a possibility on Thursday. According to the current plans, the opening of stores is staggered until June 8. Babiš also said today that he does not expect changes in restrictions on free movement and assembly.

16:30 British hospitals reported another 763 deaths for the day

Hospitals in Britain reported the death of another 763 patients with covid-19 in a day, bringing the official death toll of the epidemic to 18,100. The number of newly registered deaths is a few dozen lower than on Tuesday, but almost the same as last Wednesday. A week ago, the government's tally rose by 761 deaths linked to the coronavirus.

15:50 Havlíček: VAT must be maintained, unpaid invoices can be postponed

Value added tax (VAT) should be maintained, in exceptional cases it is possible to apply for its postponement. This should primarily concern the postponement of rents for entrepreneurs affected by the coronavirus crisis, which was approved by the House of Representatives.

15:15 Renting companies will be entitled to deferment of rent without state guarantees

Companies in leased premises that had to close their operations due to government measures against the coronavirus epidemic will be able to pay the rent for the period from March 12 to June 30 until the end of this year. It was approved again by the House of Representatives. But she did not comply with the Senate's request that the state guarantee landlords for 80 percent of the rent owed. The law will now be signed by the president.

14:30 Hamáček is behind the proposal to extend the state of emergency in the Czech Republic

Vice Prime Minister and head of the Central Crisis Staff Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) stands behind his proposal to extend the state of emergency in the Czech Republic again. He said that people are bracing for the end of the state of emergency, but it will not mean the cancellation of all government anti-epidemic measures or the end of the coronavirus epidemic as such. Hamáček said that he did not want the republic to return "to the beginning", before his Ministry of the Interior took over the issue of the distribution of protective equipment for health workers.

14:15 According to economists, government aid is insufficient due to speed and focus

The range of approved government aid for the recovery of the economy affected by the spread of the coronavirus is insufficient in terms of focus and speed. The volume of the declared aid itself is therefore not very significant. Analysts agreed on that. According to them, direct support should be much higher, for example in the form of a VAT deferral.

14:00 Hamáček is behind the proposal to extend the state of emergency in the Czech Republic

Vice Prime Minister and head of the Central Crisis Staff Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) stands behind his proposal to extend the state of emergency in the Czech Republic again. He said on his Facebook profile today that people are bracing for the end of the state of emergency, but it will not mean the cancellation of all government anti-epidemic measures or the end of the coronavirus epidemic as such. Hamáček said that he did not want the republic to return "to the beginning", before his Ministry of the Interior took over the issue of the distribution of protective equipment for health workers.

13:15 The number of cases of coronavirus in the Czech Republic exceeded 7,000, the crisis team did not act

So far, 7,041 people have been infected with the new type of coronavirus in the Czech Republic, according to the Ministry of Health, 1,800 of them have recovered and 204 have died in hospitals. The Wednesday meeting of the Central Crisis Staff, which was supposed to deal with, among other things, the state of emergency and the distribution of protective equipment after its end, was moved to Thursday. The House of Representatives is debating anti-crisis laws, some of which were returned to it by the Senate. The prescribed preventive quarantines can be ended by general practitioners from Wednesday, but some have not received rapid tests and protective equipment for this.

12:20 In Poland, over 10,000 are infected, 404 have died from the coronavirus

In Poland, the number of people infected with the coronavirus has exceeded ten thousand, and more than 400 people have died. Since Tuesday evening, there have been another 178 positive tests confirming the infection. The Ministry of Health informed about it today.

11:30 Another 435 people died in Spain with the coronavirus

The number of deaths in connection with the coronavirus infection in Spain increased by 435 compared to Tuesday's balance to the current 21,717. This was announced today by the Spanish Ministry of Health. According to Reuters, the trend of roughly two percent 24-hour increases from recent days continues. On Tuesday, the country registered 430 new victims, on Monday 399.

11:15 Expert: The US is expecting another and more serious wave of the coronavirus next winter

Next winter, another wave of the coronavirus will hit the United States, but it could hit even harder than the current one, as it will likely come at the beginning of the flu season. According to Reuters, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Robert Redfield, said this on Wednesday night.

11:00 According to some doctors, the use of rapid tests can be risky

From today, doctors must end the quarantine based on a negative result of the rapid test, until now it ended at the end of the two-week period. Some general practitioners in Vysočina perceive the presence of those tested in the doctor's office and waiting room as a risk and do not see the point in testing at the end of the preventive quarantine.

10:40 According to a Financial Times analysis, 41,000 people succumbed to covid-19 in Britain

More than 41,000 people have already died of covid-19 in Britain. This follows from an analysis published today by the Financial Times (FT). At the same time, the official statistics of the British Ministry of Health on Tuesday speak of 17,337 victims of the coronavirus disease. While government statistics only include people with positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 who died in hospitals, the analysis published by the British paper also includes victims outside them, i.e. mainly in homes for the elderly, nursing homes and households.

10:30 Mainland China recorded 30 new cases of infection in a day

Mainland China recorded 30 new cases of coronavirus infection on Tuesday, which is almost twenty more than the day before. As on Monday, no deaths from complications related to covid-19 were recorded on Tuesday either. With reference to the Chinese Health Commission, Reuters reported on this today. In an effort to prevent the spread of the disease, the ten million city of Harbin announced a ban on the entry of people from other areas and the entry of cars with non-local license plates.

10:15 General University Hospital is to receive remdesivir for 10 patients with covid-19

The General University Hospital in Prague should soon receive the American experimental drug for covid-19 remdesivir for ten infected people. It would only be intended for the most serious cases of patients. This was reported today by the server iROZHLAS.cz, which was told by the head doctor from the anesthesiology clinic of the Martin Balík General Hospital. So far, only one patient has been treated with remdesivir in the Czech Republic, namely in VFN.

9:30 a.m. The Japanese are returning government-supplied masks, they are of poor quality

The Japanese are returning the masks that the government has started supplying to every household. According to the citizens, they are infested with insects and have mold and stains on them. The government invested almost 11 billion crowns in face masks, Reuters reported today. In Japan, more than 11,500 people have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 280 have died.

8:50 The coronavirus may threaten more men because it penetrates the testicles

The reason why covid-19 threatens more men than women may be that the coronavirus penetrates the testicles, which are protected from the immune system. Scientists from the US and India came up with this hypothesis, who investigated the differences in the recovery time of several dozen infected patients in Mumbai, India. They published the preliminary results of their study on the MedRxiv server.

7:56 A general practitioner ends the preventive quarantine with a quick test

The prescribed preventive quarantine can now be terminated by general practitioners. It refers to people who have been in contact with someone infected, but had a negative test and did not show symptoms. After fourteen days, doctors can do a quick test on them. However, some do not have them available yet and there is not even enough protective equipment, so they will continue to send patients to the collection point.

6:40 a.m. In the US, the daily death toll of the disease approached the 3,000 mark

In the United States, 2,751 people succumbed to complications related to the coronavirus infection in one day. This follows from current data from the American Johns Hopkins University (JHU). In the USA, after several days of a significant drop in victims, over 2,000 people died again in a single day, the DPA agency wrote.

1. APRIL

22:25 Schillerová: Measures to support the economy amount to CZK 1.2 trillion

Total measures to support the economy in connection with the effects of the spread of the coronavirus amount to 1.19 trillion crowns. Of this, direct support is 216 billion crowns and loan guarantees 951.5 billion crowns. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (for ANO) said this in the Czech TV program Events, comments. Another 22 billion crowns is estimated by the ministry as a stimulus to the economy thanks to the postponement of tax advances or the postponement of electronic records of sales.

22:00 Balkan countries generally relax measures

Markets, car repair shops, smaller shops, construction and some other services started working again in Serbia today, on the condition that employees wear protective equipment. In neighboring Croatia, where curfews have been in place since mid-March, the authorities decided to extend the restrictions for another two weeks at the weekend. But people will now be able to travel within individual counties without an electronic permit, which was previously issued by authorities for movement outside cities or the district of residence. Health authorities in Montenegro today shortened the curfew, extended the possible opening hours of some shops and also allowed people to play sports and exercise outdoors - provided they maintain physical distance.

North Macedonian Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski announced on Monday that his cabinet is preparing a plan to gradually return the country to normal. It will probably be implemented at the beginning of May. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced today, according to A2 TV, that starting next week, the time when people can go shopping will be extended. In Bulgaria, the head of the national operational staff, Vencislav Mutafčijski, said on Monday that the time was not yet ripe for the lifting of restrictions, as the country is currently going through the peak of the epidemic. According to him, the spread of the disease is faster in Bulgaria than in Italy.

21:00 More than 2.5 million people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus

More than 2.5 million people worldwide have already been infected with the coronavirus, and almost 172,000 of them have died. However, the number of victims and newly infected people is now increasing more slowly compared to the previous week. The epicenter of the pandemic is the United States, where today the number of infected has exceeded 800,000. In Britain, 823 victims of the virus have been added in the last day, France and Italy also report more than 500 more deaths. The World Health Organization said that according to all available evidence, the source of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is bats from China.

19:50 The USA reports that the threshold of 800,000 infected has been exceeded

Today, the United States crossed the threshold of 800,000 people infected with the coronavirus. This follows from the statistics of the Worldometer portal. According to the calculation of the American Johns Hopkins University, the USA is close to this balance. Nevertheless, the overall figures indicate that the situation in the country is beginning to stabilize. This is confirmed by current data from the state of New York, which is the main focus of the epidemic in the USA. In the last 24 hours, less than 500 deaths have been added to it again. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called this information good today. "But the definition of what's good has changed," Cuomo said. According to him, good means that which is not terrible.

19:35 YES does not want to extend the state of emergency, CSSD is against it

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and the other ministers for ANO do not want to extend the state of emergency, which applies in the Czech Republic until the end of April due to the spread of the coronavirus. On Prime TV today, the prime minister said that the ministers for social democracy, on the other hand, are in favor of an extension. The government will resolve this discrepancy between the coalition partners on Thursday. "We have to make arguments," said Babiš. ČSSD chairman Jan Hamáček said on Twitter that he will not ask for an extension of the state of emergency. "If the Prime Minister does not want the state of emergency to continue, there is no point in asking for an extension. I will issue instructions to the Ministry of the Interior to prepare the end of the central distribution of protective equipment on April 30," said Hamáček.

19:20 Over 2.5 million people in the world have already been infected with the coronavirus

More than 2.5 million people worldwide have already been infected with the coronavirus, and almost 172,000 of them have died. This follows from data from the American Johns Hopkins University (JHU), which monitors the pandemic globally. In a week, half a million cases were added, the statistic reached the limit of two million infected on April 15. The United States reports the most infected people, which has almost 800,000 infected, i.e. almost four times more than the second most affected Spain.

18:50 534 people have died in Italy since Monday

In Italy, 534 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last day, which is 80 more than on Monday. This is the highest daily death toll since Friday. Compared to the previous day, the number of newly infected people also increased - 2,729 were registered in the country, the day before it was a record low increase of 2,256 new cases. The Office of Civil Protection informed about this today.

18:40 Infirmary fees introduced due to school closures will probably increase

Hospital fees for parents who stayed at home with their children in connection with the closure of schools and kindergartens due to the coronavirus crisis are likely to increase. Back from April, according to the government amendment, it should be 80 percent of the employee's daily assessment base instead of the current 60 percent. Today, the draft was approved by the House of Representatives in a state of legislative emergency. According to the amendment, the state should pay sick leave to employees until the summer holidays at the latest. The bill still has to be considered by the Senate and signed by President Miloš Zeman.

6:00 p.m. The Czech Republic has exceeded 200 deaths from the coronavirus

201 patients with the new coronavirus have died in the Czech Republic so far. The total number of confirmed cases of covid-19 is 6961, 61 have been added so far today. The number of those cured has increased by 156 to 1753 since this morning. This is according to the current data of the Ministry of Health.

17:50 Great Britain has 823 victims per day

An additional 823 people infected with the coronavirus died in British hospitals in the last day. The Ministry of Health announced this on Twitter today. Britain thus registers a total of 17,337 cases of death of patients with covid-19. The increase in the death toll was lower in the previous two days, with Britain reporting 449 more deaths on Monday, the lowest in two weeks.

17:20 GPs will end the preventive quarantine

The ordered preventive quarantine, which had to be observed by people who did not test positive for covid-19 but were in contact with someone who was sick, will be ended by general practitioners from Wednesday. However, some do not have the necessary rapid tests the day before the start of this duty, Petr Šonka, chairman of the Association of General Practitioners, told ČTK. They will thus continue to send patients to collection points. On April 16, the Ministry of Health ordered doctors to end the quarantine with a speed test examining antibodies with a negative result.

16:50 Spain reports another 430 victims

In Spain, 430 patients with covid-19 died in the last 24 hours, which is more than the day before. On Monday, the country registered 399 new victims. On the other hand, the number of newly infected people fell slightly, with 3,968 people tested positive for the coronavirus. On Monday, the infection was confirmed in 4,266 people. With reference to the Spanish authorities, the newspaper El País reported about it.

16:15 The mayors will file a constitutional complaint about the travel ban

The Elders and Independents Movement (STAN) is preparing a constitutional complaint against the government's decision to ban travel from the Czech Republic due to the coronavirus pandemic. The senators are supposed to present it. Senator David Smojlak said on Twitter that no government can treat basic rights and freedoms so lightly and close the borders with just a resolution. According to him, there is no reason for the widespread closure of borders, even because of the spread of the disease, and it is unprecedented in Europe.

16:00 Railway carriers report growing interest in transport

According to RegioJet, interest in travel is gradually returning to normal. That is also why it started offering the option of booking tickets for the summer and from June 14 offers practically the full range of train connections on the routes from Prague to Ostrava and from Prague via Brno to Břeclav. Czech Railways and Leo Express are in a similar situation. But at the same time, they add that interest is still at fifteen percent of normal interest, compared to roughly a tenth in recent weeks

3:00 p.m. Deputies are supposed to discuss the easing of restrictions and the purchase of aids

At the current meeting, MPs should discuss the relaxation of restrictive government measures against the spread of the new coronavirus as well as the purchase of medical protective equipment. The debate should come on Wednesday after the House deals with the laws returned by the Senate and the new anti-crisis proposals of the government, which the deputies will approve in a state of legislative emergency.

14:00 There is already considerable interest in Litovla for the upcoming large-scale testing

Inhabitants of Litovla in Olomouc already have a significant interest in the upcoming widespread testing for infection with a new type of coronavirus, which led to the city being isolated from the outside world for two weeks in March, along with nearby Uničov and surrounding villages. Testing of residents of Litovla, Uničov and Olomouc will begin on Friday.

13:00 The Czech Republic will be part of a study of the treatment of covid-19 with hydroxychloroquine

The Czech Republic will be among five European countries involved in a clinical trial by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which will investigate the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of covid-19. A total of 300 patients will be involved in it, several dozen in the Czech Republic. The company informed about it in a press release.

12:00 Prymula for Easter: Monday's data indicate an increase in the number of infections

Monday's data on the number of people infected, according to Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula, indicate that the number of people infected with covid-19 continues to grow. According to him, this is the first signal that there has been a spontaneous relaxation of measures at Easter, which does not yet have statistical significance.

11:15 Spain has 430 new victims of covid-19, more than on Monday

In Spain, 430 patients with covid-19 died in the last 24 hours, which is more than the day before. On Monday, the country registered 399 new victims. On the other hand, the number of newly infected people fell slightly, with 3,968 people tested positive for the coronavirus.

10:45 Car manufacturers lost 67 billion crowns in one month

The estimated monthly drop in sales of car companies in the Czech Republic exceeds 50 billion crowns due to production shutdowns during the coronavirus epidemic. For suppliers, a drop of 45 percent is estimated, i.e. more than 17 billion crowns per month. This was reported by the Association of the Automotive Industry (SAP) on Tuesday.

10:00 Minister: The result of the collective immunity study will be at the beginning of May

According to the Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (for ANO), the collective immunity study should show the results at the beginning of May. Up to 27,000 people from places with different rates of infection will be tested. If the proportion of infected people in the population is low, the Czech Republic expects a further increase in cases in the coming weeks and months.

9:20 The Oktoberfest beer festival will not take place this year due to the coronavirus

The world's largest beer festival - Oktoberfest - will not take place this year due to the coronavirus. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder and Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter announced this today at a press conference in Munich. The 187th edition of Oktoberfest, which is regularly visited by around six million people, was supposed to start on September 19.

8:50 WHO: At the moment it is not possible to determine where the coronavirus came from

Currently, it is not possible to determine exactly where the coronavirus comes from. The protective measures imposed by individual governments also need to be relaxed only gradually, otherwise there is a risk of another outbreak of the disease. Therefore, people have to get used to a new way of life in order for society to function until a vaccine is discovered. According to Reuters, the Regional Director of the World Health Organization for the Western Pacific, Takeshi Kasai, said this today.

7:30 Trump's adviser: China is hiding information about the coronavirus for profit

China is apparently not sharing all the information it has about the coronavirus with other countries because it wants to be the first to produce a vaccine against the covid-19 disease and make money by selling it to other countries. White House adviser Peter Navarro made the announcement on Fox News. Today, the UN General Assembly unanimously approved a resolution demanding equal access for all countries to any future coronavirus vaccine.

TUESDAY, APRIL 21

23:35 Two Chinese doctors infected with the coronavirus have blacked out, Chinese TV reported

Two Chinese doctors who fell ill with the covid-19 disease and had to be connected to extracorporeal circulation had darkened skin. With reference to a Chinese television report, the British tabloid Daily Mail reported about it today. Forty-two-year-old doctors I Fan and Chu Wei-feng were infected in January from patients at the Wuhan Central Hospital. The unusual darkening was caused by a hormonal imbalance after the coronavirus damaged their livers, Chinese media reported, citing doctors.

21:20 The Ministry of Health bought respirators from a major sponsor, ANO

The Ministry of Health bought respirators from the Ostrava company Reality World, whose sole owner, Jakub Koudela, was the largest sponsor of the ANO movement in 2017. It was written by Deník N. Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch, nominated for ANO, rejects the connection between sponsorship and the awarding of contracts for medical devices. He told the server that he had no knowledge of the campaign being sponsored and that he did not know the owner of the business. The resort paid over 5.4 million crowns for the supply of the respirator to Koudel's company.

20:50 According to Vojtěch, the football league could start earlier than June 8

According to the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch, the first and second football leagues could resume without spectators after a break due to the new coronavirus pandemic earlier than June 8, as the government originally announced. He will discuss with the League Football Association (LFA) representatives about the number of people who would be present at the stadium during the matches.

20:00 France reports over 20,000 victims, the situation in hospitals is improving

France became the fourth country after the United States, Italy and Spain where the number of deaths associated with the covid-19 disease exceeded 20,000. In the last day, 547 cases from hospitals and nursing homes were added to the government's statistics, bringing the total number of deaths to 20,265. The daily gain is higher than Sunday, but lower than the rest of last week.

18:55 Hygienists must use some elements of smart quarantine from Monday

Some elements of the smart quarantine will be extended to all regions from Monday, it will mainly involve testing management, contacting contacts and passing on information. This follows from an extraordinary measure published by the Ministry of Health on the website. The measure does not mention the use of memory maps from the data of mobile operators and payment cards.

18:40 In Italy, 2,256 people with covid-19 increased in a day, at least in a month

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in Italy increased by 2,256 in the last 24 hours to a total of 181,228 since the first case was registered in the country at the end of January. The daily increase in new cases is the lowest in more than a month. The death toll rose by 454 over the past day to a total of 24,114, local civil protection said. On Sunday, 3,047 new cases and 433 more deaths were reported.

18:30 Britain reports 449 new covid-19 deaths, at least in two weeks

The figure on the number of patients who died in British hospitals after being infected with the coronavirus has increased today for at least the last two weeks. Britain's Department of Health updated the toll to 16,509 deaths, 449 more than reported on Sunday. The last time fewer than 500 new deaths were reported was on April 6, when the daily toll was 439.

17:50 The number of infected people increased by 92, but 248 people recovered

So far today, the number of cases of infection with the new type of coronavirus in the Czech Republic has increased by 92 to 6,838. The same increase was also on Sunday, when the increase was the lowest in the last five days. The number of people who have been cured has increased by 248 to 1559 since this morning. Due to the higher increase in the number of people who have been cured, the number of people who are currently sick has decreased. There are 5085, which is 203 less than this morning. This follows from data updated at 5:30 p.m. today on the website of the Ministry of Health.

17:20 The government has approved a further increase in the budget deficit to CZK 300 billion

The government has thus approved an increase in the deficit for the second time in less than a month. At the end of March, due to the epidemic, the House of Representatives approved an increase in this year's deficit to 200 billion crowns, from the originally planned 40 billion crowns before the pandemic. According to economists, however, it is not excluded that the deficit could be even higher this year. The budget for 2009 had the highest deficit so far due to the effects of the global economic crisis, over 192 billion crowns.

16:50 The police are investigating the killing spree organized by the castle chancellor Mynář

The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing spree, which was organized by castle chancellor Vratislav Mynář on Friday in his restaurant in Osvětimany in the Uherskohradišť region. They will inform the regional hygiene station about the results, as the administrative body responsible for discussing a possible offense, said police spokesman Petr Jaroš.

16:30 The President signed the expansion of the CNB's business opportunities

President Miloš Zeman signed an amendment to the Act on the Czech National Bank, which will allow it to trade, among other things, with securities with longer maturities and also to conclude deals with more institutions than before.

4:10 pm University entrance exams will be held no earlier than 15 days after the schools open

However, in view of the coronavirus epidemic, universities will also be able to organize them remotely, similar to state exams. Accepted applicants will be able to additionally deliver their graduation certificates to the university within 45 days after the start of the academic year. This is assumed by the government's draft law, which was signed by President Miloš Zeman today.

16:00 The government has approved an increase in payments for state insured persons

At today's meeting, the government approved the proposal to increase payments for state insured persons by 500 crowns per person per month from June this year and by another 200 crowns from January 2021. This year, the state pays 1,067 crowns per month for each insured person. An increase in payments would mean an increase in state spending by 20 billion crowns this year, and by 50 billion crowns in 2021. The bill submitted by the Ministry of Health will be discussed by the House of Representatives.

15:50 The government approved the payment of self-employed workers' allowances even after April 30

Businessmen and entrepreneurs affected by measures due to the spread of the coronavirus will receive a one-time allowance of 500 crowns per day even after April 30. The draft law, which still needs to be discussed by Parliament and signed by the president, will allow the allowance to be paid until all measures restricting entrepreneurs are lifted. The government is counting on them until June 8.

15:40 Prymula: Hobby markets are a risk, the rules will be tightened

"I would really like to see the data that will already reflect this in some way, so let's save time until Tuesday evening. There, the system will have to be reevaluated in some way," said Primula. According to him, people have attacked hobby markets more than is desirable. "Hobby markets are a risk. I don't think they will be closed again, but that there really should be a limited number of people there and those who can no longer fit in that number should wait outside and have some distance," said the deputy.

15:20 Petříček: Any further restrictions on travel would have to be reasonable

After the end of the state of emergency, it is possible to continue to restrict travel according to the Act on the Protection of Public Health. But it would have to be a reasonable step, said Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček (ČSSD). Currently, in connection with travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, the government relies on the Security Act of the Czech Republic in conjunction with the Crisis Act, he said. Petříček emphasized that in the event of an extension of travel restrictions, it must be a reasonable step. "Like some constitutional lawyers, I would personally consider a ban for a year or more to be unreasonable in the current situation," he said.

15:00 Germany will slowly recover from the recession

The German economy is in a deep recession and its rapid recovery is not very likely, according to the German central bank. Restrictions due to the spread of the coronavirus may remain in force for a long time before a medical solution such as a vaccine is found. The central bank did not make the announcement in its regular monthly report.

"A rapid and strong economic recovery therefore appears rather less likely from the current perspective," the Deutsche Bundesbank, as the German central bank's official name reads, said in a report

14:50 The price of US WTI oil fell below 12 USD, the lowest in 21 years

Oil is significantly cheaper on the world markets, the negative effects of the coronavirus crisis on demand and partly also concerns about the lack of capacity to store the raw material in the United States have an effect on the drop in its price. The price of U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light crude for May delivery has shed more than a third of its value since the morning, falling to the lowest level since 1999. Shortly before 2:00 p.m. CET, the May WTI contract was down 38.5 percent at $11.23 per barrel. But Brent North Sea crude for June delivery was only down 6.1 percent at $26.36 a barrel at the same time.

14:15 In Russia, the number of infected has increased to 47,121, the number of deaths is 405

The peak of the spread of the coronavirus infection is still ahead of Russia, the number of infected people continues to grow, however, thanks to the preventive measures taken, the progress of the epidemic has been slowed down. During a meeting with experts on the epidemiological situation in the country, according to the TASS agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this.

13:45 Hamáček wants to extend the state of emergency until May

If the state of emergency was not extended in the Czech Republic after April 30, it would bring a number of complications, according to the chairman of the Central Crisis Staff and Minister of the Interior, Jan Hamáček (ČSSD). According to him, it would not be possible, for example, to centrally purchase protective equipment, control the entry of foreigners into the country, or impose work obligations. Hamáček said this at a press conference after the meeting of the staff's permanent working group.

13:15 ODS: The government should set aside 15 billion crowns from the EU for municipalities and regions

According to the opposition ODS, the government should set aside a total of 15 billion crowns for municipalities and regions due to the expected drop in tax revenues. The money should be earmarked from aid from the European Union due to the coronavirus epidemic. They should be used for investment, maintenance and renewal with the involvement of local companies, the vice-chairman of the ODS and the mayor of Líbeznice near Prague, Martin Kupka, told journalists today.

12:45 Volkswagen partially resumed production at its factory in Bratislava, Škoda from Mladá Boleslav will probably start next week

Today, the Bratislava factory of the German automaker Volkswagen partially resumed vehicle production, which was suspended on March 17 due to the effects of the coronavirus. Lucia Kovarovič Makayová, spokeswoman for the plant, informed about it. Today, Volkswagen also started preparing the factory in Zwickau, Germany, for the resumption of production. "The production line will start up again on Thursday," a company spokesperson told DPA. Škoda Auto should partially return to operation next week.

12:15 Ending the state of emergency would bring a number of complications, Hamáček said

If the state of emergency was not extended in the Czech Republic after April 30, it would bring a number of complications, according to the chairman of the Central Crisis Staff and Minister of the Interior, Jan Hamáček (ČSSD). According to him, it would not be possible to centrally purchase protective equipment, control the border regime or impose work obligations.

11:30 Spain has 399 new deaths from covid-19 and 200,000 infected

In Spain, 399 victims of the covid-19 disease have been added in the last 24 hours, which is less than the day before. The number of newly infected people also decreased very slightly, there are 4266. This was announced by the local Ministry of Health. However, the total number of infected exceeded 200,000

11:15 There is no need to limit travel abroad, the conditions for return are key, says Prymula

Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula stated on Czech television that there is apparently no need for there to be a literal ban on citizens leaving the border. According to him, the rules for returning from abroad should be set and people should subsequently decide for themselves whether traveling is worth, for example, subsequent quarantine. Prymula said he thinks most people won't travel anyway.

10:50 Prymula: We will test a mass sample of 2,000 people in Prague

In the Czech Republic, population samples that are selected representatively will be tested. In Prague, 2,000 people will be tested at once. These are random volunteers from different population groups. In other places, the test will take place on a sample of people who have been carefully selected, said Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula. "We want the differences not to be in the tens of percent. If it's in parts per million, it'll be fine," he said about Prymula's validity.

9:30 Fidelity: The income of global companies could decrease by 44 percent this year

If the coronavirus pandemic continues to dampen economic activity, on average the revenues of global companies could decrease by 44 percent during 2020. More than half of analysts expect the firms they cover to face solvency problems in the next 12 months if conditions remain the same as they are now.

9:00 a.m. Deaths from covid-19 in the Czech Republic are 188, over 1,300 cured

The number of deaths from covid-19 in hospitals in the Czech Republic increased by two to 188 as of Sunday evening, and the number of cured patients increased by 13 to 1,311. According to the Ministry of Health, there were 6,787 cases of infection with the coronavirus, which causes the disease, before 08:30 today, against 41 more at midnight on Sunday.

7:40 Hygienists in all regions must use smart quarantine from today

The smart quarantine, introduced due to the coronavirus epidemic, is being extended to all regions from today. It is mainly about managing testing, reaching out to contacts and passing on information between regional hygiene stations, sampling points and laboratories via electronic requests and a web application. According to earlier statements by experts, the system will gradually replace widespread measures restricting life in the Czech Republic.

Monday, April 20

22:02 Hygienists in all regions must use smart quarantine from Monday

The smart quarantine will be extended to all regions from Monday, it will mainly involve managing testing, addressing contacts and passing information between regional hygiene stations (KHS), collection points and laboratories via electronic requests and a web application. This follows from an emergency measure published by the Ministry of Health on the website this evening. The measure does not mention the use of memory maps from the data of mobile operators and payment cards.

20:50 Midtjylland wants to offer fans watching football from cars

Danish football club FC Midtjylland wants to enable its fans to watch matches directly from their cars when they are allowed to take place. As it is widely expected that if league competitions in Europe resume, they will be played without spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic, the management of the runner-up team and the current league leader plans to install giant screens in the parking area in front of the stadium.

20:19 The Moravian-Silesian police recorded 200 offenses over the weekend

The Moravian-Silesian police recorded 200 offenses related to the violation of the government order over the weekend. The police solved the majority by agreement. Eight scores will have their final result in administrative proceedings. Most often, people did not have masks or gathered illegally. Soňa Štětínská, spokeswoman for the Moravian-Silesian police, told ČTK.

19:40 Governor: The number of deaths from the coronavirus has started to decrease in New York

New cases of coronavirus in New York state have begun to decline for the first time, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. Meanwhile, New York is the epicenter of the infection in the United States. But the authorities warn that it will depend on further progress and only then will it be possible to say whether the favorable development will last.

18:55 Turkey has the third highest number of infected outside Europe and the USA

Turkey currently registers 86,306 confirmed cases of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This was announced today by the Minister of Health, Fahrettin Koca. Reuters noted that Turkey thus became the country with the highest number of infected outside Europe and the United States.

18:23 Italy records 178,972 cases of coronavirus, 23,660 deaths

Today, Italy announced a further drop in the daily number of new victims of the coronavirus disease. While there were 482 deaths on Saturday, today the Italian Civil Protection Office announced 433. A total of 23,660 patients have died in the country so far, Reuters reported.

17:55 The number of new deaths from the coronavirus in France fell to 395 per day

The number of deaths from the coronavirus in France increased by 395 compared to Saturday and reached 19,718. This was announced today by the French Ministry of Health. On Saturday, the authorities reported that 642 people died in connection with the coronavirus in one day. On the fifth day, the number of people hospitalized with the infection decreases in France. The situation is improving, but the crisis is not over yet, French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said today.

17:30 186 people died of covid-19 in the Czech Republic, five more deaths today

So far, 186 people have died in Czech hospitals from covid-19, which is caused by a new type of coronavirus. Five more deaths today. 1298 people recovered, which is 63 more than in the morning. The number of confirmed cases has so far increased by 47 to 6,654 since the beginning of the epidemic. This is according to data on the website of the Ministry of Health as of 17:30. The ministry regularly publishes the number of tests carried out only the next morning.

16:51 Israel allows joint prayer and partial resumption of production

The Israeli government today agreed on the final form of the gradual relaxation of the measures introduced due to the epidemic caused by the coronavirus. It will allow businesses to increase the number of employees at the workplace from the current 15 to 30 percent, outdoor prayers in groups of up to ten people will also be allowed. Some schools will also start operating with a limited number of pupils. The new guidelines come into effect today and are currently being announced until May 3.

16:22 In Europe, the coronavirus has infected a million people, it is spreading rapidly through Russia

In Europe, over a million people have already fallen ill with the coronavirus and almost 100,000 have succumbed to the disease caused by the coronavirus. The balance sheet milestones were conquered at a time when, in particular, the number of deaths in the most affected European countries is increasing more slowly than just a few days ago. On the contrary, Russia reports a record 6,060 cases of coronavirus infection per day. The worst-hit country in the world remains the United States, with roughly 39,000 deaths and 739,000 cases of infection. Famous singers and musicians performed in an eight-hour musical show in support of health workers last night.

15:43 Another 596 people died of the coronavirus in Britain, growth slowed

An additional 596 people have died in British hospitals over the last day with the disease caused by the new type of coronavirus. This was announced today by the British Department of Health. In total, the country already has 16,060 people who have died in connection with the coronavirus. The increase in the number of deaths is significantly lower than in the previous daily balance, when there were 888.

15:01 Paris wants to give away two million masks to residents for free

Paris wants to give away two million masks for free to its residents to protect them from the coronavirus. Mayor Anne Hidalgová said that the event will cost the French capital three million euros (almost CZK 82 million). Hidalgo outlined her plan today in Le Journal du Dimanche.

14:30 According to politicians, the EU must reduce dependence on the import of medicines from China

The European Union must reduce its dependence on drug imports from China, which has been exposed by the coronavirus pandemic. European Commissioner Věra Jourová, Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček (ČSSD) and MEP Alexandr Vondra (ODS) agreed on this in the Czech TV program Otázky Václav Moravec. But the MEP warned that the move could lead to higher prices, and expressed doubts about whether the EU could afford to implement it at the same time as its plan to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

12:56 Plaga will announce the date of entrance exams by mid-May

The Minister of Education Robert Plaga (ANO) wants to announce the date of the uniform entrance exams for secondary schools in the first half of May. He hopes that the tests will be able to take place in the first half of June. He stated it today on Prima TV. By the end of April, the ministry, in cooperation with epidemiologists, wants to have ready manuals for the operation of elementary schools, where part of the schoolchildren are to return from May 25.

12:52 There are more than 160,000 dead with the coronavirus worldwide

According to a report compiled by the AFP agency from official sources, the covid-19 epidemic has exceeded 160,000 victims worldwide, of which 101,398 are in Europe, which is the most affected continent.

12:49 Iran has a higher daily increase in covid-19 deaths than in previous days

In Iran, 87 people died of covid-19 in the last day. This was announced today by the Ministry of Health. After several days of reduction in the increase of new cases, this is a higher number again. Over 82,000 people are infected in the country.

12:15 230 people died of the coronavirus in Belgium on Saturday

230 people died of the coronavirus in Belgium on Saturday, which is a cumulative total of 5,683 people.

12:04 Another person infected with the coronavirus died in Slovakia, bringing the number to 12

Another person infected with the coronavirus died in Slovakia on Saturday, bringing the total number of victims of the covid-19 pandemic in the country under the Tatras to 12. The Slovak Ministry of Health informed about this today. The new victim is a client of a home for the elderly in the town of Pezinok, near Bratislava, which became one of the outbreaks of the infection. Several pensioners who lived in the said home had died earlier.

11:29 Spain has 410 new deaths from covid-19, less than on Saturday

Spain has 20,453 new cases of death from the coronavirus, which is 410 more than on Saturday. There are almost 196,000 infected people in the country. This was announced today by the Spanish Ministry of Health. The daily increase in the death toll is lower than on Saturday, when 565 deaths were added. The increase in confirmed cases is 4,280 over the past day, slightly more than the number of new cases reported on Saturday. Spain is the most affected country after the United States. But the health authorities believe that the peak of the epidemic is already behind the country.

11:13 Widespread testing for the coronavirus should begin on Wednesday

Large-scale testing of the population for the new type of coronavirus should begin on Wednesday. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) told Radiožurnál that today. The testing will cover Prague, South Moravia, Litoměřice and Litovelsko. The goal is to determine the proportion of infected people among the Czech population.

10:59 The first analyzes from Bergamo confirm large differences in the impact on men and women

The most affected region of Italy, Bergamo, has published detailed analyzes of the infected and the dead. Earlier information that men are more susceptible to the disease is confirmed. The gender distribution is very significant from an epidemiological point of view: 41.3% of the total number of infected are women, 58.6% are men. The difference increases significantly when analyzing deaths. In fact, 33% of women lost their lives, compared to 66% of men. The analysis also shows that the average age of those infected in the province is 64.6 years, while the average age of people who died is 76.5 years. The most frequently represented age group is over 75 with 3,429 infected, followed by 3,047 cases between 50 and 64. A total of 60 minors tested positive for the coronavirus, of which 22 were newborns.

10:42 In Russia, 6,000 people were infected in a day

A total of 42,853 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Russia, the Pandemic Control Directorate said. The daily increase was 6,060, a day earlier it was 4,785. Russia already ranks 10th in the world in the number of infected people. 48 people died during the day, bringing the total number of deaths to 361.

10:15 340 more infected and three deaths in Poland

On Sunday morning, the Polish Ministry of Health reported on another 340 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Poland and the death of three infected people. To date, 9,082 people have been confirmed infected in Poland, of whom 350 have died.

9:40 The European Union will need at least another 500 billion euros

The European Union will need at least another 500 billion euros from its various institutions to recover from the consequences of the new coronavirus, said Klaus Regling, chairman of the European Stabilization Mechanism.

9:05 Australia wants an independent investigation into the origin of the coronavirus

Australia will demand an international investigation to clarify the origin of the new type of coronavirus and its spread. Foreign Secretary Marise Payne joined China's criticism, saying she did not trust China's reporting of the situation. This was reported by the Reuters agency today. Until now, it was reported that the virus appeared to have spread from an animal market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. But China is facing accusations that it initially withheld information about the infection. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that if China did not consciously intervene and prevent the spread, it would bear the consequences. Worldwide, over 160,000 people have succumbed to the disease, and the United States has the most deaths, over 39,000.

8:35 The cumulative number of sick people in the Czech Republic has risen to 6,657 since the evening, no one has died

The number of sick people increased by 51 people from Saturday evening, another 8 patients were discharged from the hospital. The cumulative number of sick people in the Czech Republic is thus 6,657, no one has died since the evening.

8:05 A.M. In South Korea, only eight new cases of the coronavirus were added in a day

Today, for the first time in two months, South Korea saw only a single-digit increase in the number of coronavirus cases. Eight patients have been added in the last 24 hours. This was reported by the Reuters agency with reference to the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In total, South Korea records 10,661 infected and 234 victims of the covid-19 disease.

7:32 In Germany, the daily number of new cases of the coronavirus and victims decreased

Germany recorded 2,458 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, down from 3,609 on Friday. Another 184 people died, up from 242 on Friday.

7:01 China has 16 new cases of the coronavirus, at least since mid-March

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in mainland China rose by 16 on Saturday, the lowest since March 17. On Friday, 27 people were infected.

SUNDAY 19.4.

23:05 The Israeli government has approved the easing of measures against the coronavirus

The Israeli government has approved the relaxation of some of the strict measures against the spread of the epidemic of the infectious disease covid-19. Some shops and services will open and people will be able to move 500 meters away from home instead of the current 100 meters, AFP reported.

22:40 The USA reports 2,394 deaths from the coronavirus per day

The number of victims of the coronavirus infection in the United States increased by 2,394 to 35,443. This was announced today by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are now 690,714 confirmed cases of infection, which is 29,002 more than in the previous balance sheet.

21:08 The English Derby will not be run until July

The English Derby will run a month later instead of the beginning of June. The new scenario of the British racing season, which was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, is taking into account this. The new date has not yet been determined.

20:14 Without a vaccine, the Olympics are unrealistic even in a year, the expert claims

Without a vaccine against the coronavirus, even holding the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year is unrealistic. This was stated by Professor Devi Sridhar from the University of Edinburgh, who is one of the leading experts in the field of global public health. The International Olympic Committee has postponed the Tokyo Games until next summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to IOC President Thomas Bach and Japanese organizers, the Olympics may represent a symbolic light at the end of the tunnel in these trying times.

19:48 The number of victims of covid-19 in France increased by 642 to 19,323

The total number of victims of the coronavirus infection in France rose to 19,323 today from 18,681 on Friday, 642 more people died in the country. This was announced today by the French authorities, according to Reuters. A total of 11,842 patients with covid-19 have died in French hospitals, and another 7,481 in nursing homes. France is the country with the fourth highest number of victims of the disease, after the USA, Italy and Spain.

19:12 Italy reports 482 new victims of the coronavirus, at least since last Sunday

Italy reports 482 new victims of the coronavirus today. That's down from 575 on Friday and the fewest since last Sunday, when 431 died. A total of 23,227 people with the SARS-CoV-2 virus have died in Italy, the Italian civil protection office announced today according to Reuters. This is the second highest number after the United States.

18:17 Canada and the US will extend border restrictions

Canada and the US have extended the closure of their common border for additional travel due to the coronavirus epidemic for another 30 days. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced it today. According to him, the measures will allow people on both sides of the border to remain safe during the pandemic. In New York, the worst-hit US state, the death toll rose by 540, the lowest daily increase since April 1, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US-Canada border would be among the first to open, saying both countries were doing well in the fight against the pandemic.

17:45 There are over 6,600 infected and 181 people have died

From updated data from the Ministry of Health, it follows that there are 6,606 cumulatively infected with the new coronavirus in the Czech Republic as of Saturday 5:30 p.m. 1,227 people have already recovered and the death toll has risen to 181.

17:12 There will be no fan events in Spain until the end of the summer

All sporting events, including football matches, which would eventually take place in Spain after the relaxation of measures due to the coronavirus, will be without spectators at least until the end of the summer. This was said by the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, according to whom the situation will not be under control enough to allow normal operation in the coming months.

16:25 The Croatian government is extending the restrictions, but is already considering easing them

The Croatian government decided on another fifteen-day extension of the restrictive measures it adopted in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease. But she also started to think about their gradual mitigation. According to Croatian media, Interior Minister Davor Božinović stated this at a press video conference today. "Today, our staff adopted a decision extending the measures until May 4. The exceptions are the decisions on changes in border and transit traffic and on the ban on crossing Croatian borders, the validity of which is extended by thirty days," Večernji list quoted Božinović as saying.

15:44 Britain reports another 888 victims of the coronavirus

An additional 888 patients with covid-19 have died in British hospitals, which is a slightly higher daily increase than in the previous 24-hour balance. According to the latest data, the total number of victims in the country is 15,464, the British Ministry of Health announced. The coronavirus was caught in Britain in 114,217 people out of 357,023 tested.

15:35 The hospital is threatened by the coviper virus, it will make it impossible to start the PC

Domestic hospitals are currently threatened by a virus called coviper. He gets into the system, for example, by e-mail. It causes infected computers to fail to start and the operating system will not run. This was reported by the iRozhlas server with a link to the statement of the antivirus companies Eset and Avast.

15:01 142 more dead in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, 142 deaths have been added in the last 24 hours to a total of 3,601, Switzerland reports an increase of 52 deaths to a total of 1,111.

14:56 The Karlovy Vary Regional Hospital was the target of a cyber attack, it repelled it

The Karlovy Vary Regional Hospital a.s. (KKN) became the target of a cyber attack last night. Two attempts were repelled by the hospital, causing no damage. Network administrators often encounter similar attacks, KKN spokesman Vladislav Podracký told ČTK. On Thursday, the National Office for Cyber ​​and Information Security (NÚKIB) and the police warned against attacks on the computer systems of hospitals and other important targets.

14:28 There are possibly thousands of victims of the coronavirus in Ecuador, writes the BBC

Although official statistics claim that just over 400 people have died from the covid-19 disease in Ecuador, the reality could actually be much worse, according to the findings of the BBC news site. Government statistics speak of an increase of several thousand in the total number of deaths in the country, the difference could be explained precisely by the corona virus infection.

13:38 North Koreans learn about coronavirus cases at lectures

North Korean authorities have informed the citizens of North Korea that there are confirmed cases of infection with the coronavirus in the country. Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that residents were informed at public lectures. But Pyongyang continues to officially claim that there are no cases in the country.

13:18 Two people died in Slovakia, overall there are "only" 11 victims in connection with the coronavirus

13:14 The number of victims of the coronavirus has exceeded 20,000 in Spain

Since the beginning of the epidemic, 20,043 people have died from the disease Covid-19 in Spain. In 24 hours, the death toll rose to 565, down slightly from the 585 recorded on Friday.

12:37 Belgium reports another 290 dead in 24 hours

Belgium of 11 million people, which is the worst affected by the coronavirus per capita, has already registered 5,453 deaths related to the virus. 290 victims were added in 24 hours. Belgium introduced only minimal measures during the epidemic.

12:24 Britain is at risk of a shortage of protective equipment against the coronavirus

British hospitals are starting to lack the protective equipment needed to protect health workers from the coronavirus. By the weekend, the nation's numerous intensive care units could run out of recommended disposable, long-sleeved, moisture-repellent protective suits. World agencies inform about it.

11:54 Verbrugge: I had a tough fight with the coronavirus, but I survived

Former road professional and current coach of the Belgian national team, Rik Verbrugghe, seems to have battled with the covid-19 disease. As he himself revealed in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, he felt the full force of the coronavirus. And as he found it harder to breathe, he panicked. In his opinion, the disease is significantly worse than the flu.

11:48 Prague will waive the rent of some public spaces until the end of the year

Prague will waive the rent for a table in front of an establishment, front yard or farmers' markets on its land until the end of the year, Mayor Zdeněk Hřib said.

11:30 Reuters: Antarctica keeps the coronavirus away from the body with double isolation

The continent, which is almost cut off from the outside world even under normal circumstances, has so far escaped the coronavirus infection and is doing everything to avoid the pandemic completely, writes the Reuters agency.

10:59 Russia has a record 4,700 new coronavirus cases and 313 deaths

Russia reported another record increase in new cases of coronavirus infection. In the past 24 hours, over 4,700 have been added, on Friday the increase was just over 4,000. The country has a new 313 dead. The staff for solving the coronavirus epidemic informed about this today, the agencies said.

10:57 2.1 percent of cured South Koreans will re-test positive after some time

According to the South Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the percentage of people who retest positive after recovery is around 2.1%

10:02 The situation in Japan and Singapore is getting worse

In Japan, the number of people infected with the coronavirus has reached 10,000. It was announced today by the NHK television station. The country has 200 dead to date. A record increase in new cases was reported by Singapore, with 942 infected in a day. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this week extended the state of emergency from the original seven prefectures to the entire territory of Japan until May 6. It will make it harder for people to travel during the holidays, which fall between April and May, when Japanese people have longer days off.

9:35 NBA players' salaries will be reduced by 25 percent starting in May

Basketball players in the overseas NBA will lose a quarter of their salaries starting next month. League management and the players' association NBPA have agreed that clubs will cut player wages by 25 percent starting May 15 as a precaution in the event of an early end to the currently suspended season. The NBA has been suspended since March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

9:01 Trump puts pressure on US states to ease quarantine

US President Donald Trump has apparently supported demonstrations against the strict quarantine measures that have been adopted in some US states in connection with the spread of the coronavirus. In a series of tweets on Friday, he called for the "liberation" of Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia, BBC News reported today. He then defended his comments on Twitter at a press conference, saying the measures in those states were too harsh.

8:35 a.m. In Germany, 3,609 cases and 242 deaths from the coronavirus have increased

Germany recorded another 242 deaths of people infected with the coronavirus on Friday, for a total of 4,110. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) informed about this today. RKI reports 3,609 new infections for Friday, which brings the total statistics to 137,439 cases. While the number of deaths is lower than on Thursday, the number of new infections has increased for the fourth day in a row.

8:30 The number of deaths in the Czech Republic in connection with the coronavirus rose by three to 176, a total of 1,183 people recovered

The cumulative number of infected people is 6,553, 1,183 people have already recovered, the number of people currently hospitalized has dropped to 398, and 176 people have died in connection with the coronavirus so far.

SATURDAY 18.4.

22:00 The number of victims of covid-19 exceeded 150,000 worldwide

The covid-19 disease has claimed more than 150,000 lives worldwide. This follows from data from the Reuters and AFP agencies as well as the American Johns Hopkins University, which has been monitoring the pandemic for a long time. There are over 2.2 million people infected with the coronavirus worldwide. According to AFP, almost two-thirds of the dead are in Europe. Of the 1.1 million infected in Europe, 96,721 people died.

21:34 Reuters: The dynamics of growth in the number of victims of the disease has decreased in the US

The number of victims of the coronavirus in the United States exceeded 34,000 today, but the daily increase did not reach the records of the past two days. This follows from Reuters data, compiled based on reports from individual US states. However, many of them have not yet provided today's statistics. To date, almost 34,700 people have died in the US from covid-19, which is 1,400 more than on Thursday. Data from the previous two days showed numbers higher than 2,000. The number of infected exceeded 680,000, up by 33,000 from Thursday's data. The number of infected is rising for a third day and the increases are the highest since April 10, the agency said.

21:17 WHO to China: Other countries will also revise data on covid-19 deaths

The significant increase in the number of victims of the coronavirus in China is the result of efforts by local authorities to document all cases; other countries of the world will eventually make a similar revision. Epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove said this today at a World Health Organization (WHO) press conference. Another representative of the WHO Mike Ryan, according to Reuters, said that it is not too late to stop the uncontrolled spread of the disease in Africa.

18:55 In France, 18,681 people have already succumbed to covid-19

18,681 people have already died of covid-19 in French hospitals and nursing homes. The balance has increased by 761 deaths since Thursday, the representative of the Ministry of Health, Jérôme Salomon, informed today. To date, around 31,000 patients remain in French hospitals due to covid-19. For the third day in a row, however, more people recovered than were newly hospitalized. For the ninth day in a row, the number of patients in intensive care units also decreased.

19:19 MLS football will not be played again until June 8 due to the coronavirus

The MLS soccer league will remain suspended until at least June 8 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Taking into account the situation in the USA, the management of the overseas competition decided today to extend the break, which was announced after two rounds played in March. Officials will continue to look for a solution that would allow all matches to be played in front of spectators.

18:40 In Italy, 575 infected people died in a day, the number of victims is 22,745

In Italy, 575 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last day, which is 50 more than on Thursday. There are a total of 22,745 victims. There were 3,493 newly confirmed cases of infection, which is, on the contrary, less than the previous day, the Civil Protection Office reported today. The daily balance of victims and infected has stabilized in Italy in the last two weeks. In the last week, for example, the increase in victims exceeded 600 only twice, the lowest in recent times was on Sunday, when the authorities registered 431 dead.

18:20 Prymula: People in the study of infection in the population will be tested within a week

Roughly 28,000 people included in the study, which is to prove how many people in the population have already experienced the disease without symptoms, will be tested within a week. According to Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula, the start of sampling was delayed by problems with the tests,

17:53 Plaga: The possibility of planning camps will be decided only in May

According to Minister of Education Robert Plaga (ANO), it is not possible to schedule summer camps due to the coronavirus epidemic. Epidemiologists will probably not be able to specify whether they will be able to take place before mid-May. If the situation develops favorably, there could be camps for some groups with a maximum of 50 children in July. Educational camps could be held in August to prepare children for the new school year. Plaga said this in the Senate today.

17:42 Bergamo can already see the light at the end of the tunnel, the hospital has breathed a sigh of relief

Bergamo in Lombardy, which suffered probably the most devastating impact during the covid-19 epidemic in Italy and where hundreds of people died, can already see the light at the end of the tunnel. At the local hospital, the death rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels and the influx of new patients with respiratory problems has eased considerably.

17:30 Today four more people died in connection with the coronavirus since this morning

A total of 173 deaths have been recorded in the Czech Republic, while 1,174 people have already recovered.

17:18 Prymula: There will be no penalties for violating the memory map regulations

The memory map, which will be created from the data of mobile operators as part of the so-called smart quarantine, will not be used to check compliance with government regulations, according to Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula. According to him, people do not want to give consent to the use of their data if they have violated the regulation. The smart quarantine was tested before Easter in the south of Moravia and after Easter in other parts of Moravia and central Bohemia. It is supposed to speed up the search for contacts of infected people.

17:15 People board suburban buses through the front door again

Passengers on suburban buses of the Prague Integrated Transport (PID) will again be able to board buses through the front doors from Monday, April 20. The sale of tickets by the driver will be restored in them. ČTK was told this today by the municipality's spokesperson Vít Hofman after the meeting of the Prague crisis team. Prague introduced a ban on boarding through the front door in March due to the coronavirus. In city buses, she then separated the space near the door and the driver's cabin from the rest of the car with tapes. As a measure, among other things, the ban on entering public transport without face masks also applies, and holiday timetables have been introduced.

17:10 Universities will open to a limited extent on Monday

From Monday, universities will open to a limited extent for the activities of students in their final year of study. A maximum of five people could participate at any one time. The proposal was approved by the government today, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) said at a press conference after the meeting. It will be possible to hold individual consultations or exams, including state exams and rigorous exams.

Individually, it will be possible to visit the library or study room at the university, but only for the purpose of picking up or returning study literature.

17:02 The Botanical Garden in Troja will open outdoor exhibitions to the public

On Monday, April 20, the Botanical Garden in Prague's Troja will open its outdoor exhibition to the public. Opening hours will be from 09:00 to 18:00 every day. The municipality decided on the opening after consultation with the Ministry of Health, municipality spokesman Vít Hofman told ČTK today.

17:00 The government confirmed the first wave of store openings on Monday

From Monday, April 20, artisans' establishments, farmers' markets, car dealerships and car showrooms can open, as envisaged by the government's plan to relax the measures introduced due to the epidemic of a new type of coronavirus. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) told journalists after today's cabinet meeting that the cabinet approved the first wave of relaxation of the measures and his department included the relevant measures.

16:52 Prague Airport repelled several cyber attacks

Prague Airport has experienced several cyber attacks on its IT infrastructure and other systems it uses in recent days. Hackers mainly tried to obtain access data to the systems. All attacks were eliminated, airport spokeswoman Kateřina Pavlíková told ČTK today.

16:50 Slovakia will require a negative test for the coronavirus from commuters

When arriving in Slovakia, commuters will have to translate a confirmation of a negative test result for the coronavirus from May, so that they do not have to go into state and then home quarantine. This follows from today's announcement by Slovak chief hygienist Ján Mikas. Slovaks mainly commute to the Czech Republic and Austria for work.

16:45 A company in Brno has developed a third kit for diagnosing the coronavirus

The Brno company Elisabeth Pharmacon has developed a third diagnostic kit for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes the disease covid-19. He will start delivering it to the labs at the end of next week. The kit will enable routine diagnostics or verification of unclear results from previous tests with other types of kits, the company's executive director Omar Šerý told ČTK today. The production capacity of the company is 50,000 sets per day, which is sufficient to cover the demand of the Czech market and export abroad.

16:34 According to the UN model, at least 300,000 Africans will succumb to the coronavirus

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) announced today that the covid-19 pandemic is likely to take the lives of more than 300,000 Africans and plunge up to 29 million of the continent's inhabitants into extreme poverty. The commission has therefore asked donors for financial assistance for Africa in the amount of 100 billion dollars, Reuters reported.

16:30 On a French aircraft carrier, half of the crew has already contracted the virus

On the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, almost half of the 2,300 crew members became infected with the coronavirus. Of the 2010 tests carried out so far, 1,081 were positive, Defense Minister Florence Parly said today. According to her, 545 sailors have symptoms of covid-19, 24 of them have been hospitalized, one in critical condition.

16:25 New Yorkers will have to wear masks, the regulation will come into effect in the evening

New anti-epidemic measures are coming into effect in New York tonight (Saturday after midnight CET), which the city hall led by Mayor Bill de Blasio decided on Wednesday. The main change is the regulation that residents of the city of almost nine million people will be required to wear masks in public places.

16:15 The government has approved 80 percent of nursing fees retroactively from April 1

At today's meeting, the government approved an increase in the nursing allowance to 80 percent of the daily base income of employees instead of the previous 60, retroactively from April 1, said Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Jana Maláčová (ČSSD). According to the bill, which the government published on its website, the state should pay nursing fees until the holidays at the latest due to closed schools. The House of Representatives should consider the law next week.

15:55 The government approved the nursing fee 80 percent retroactively from April 1

At today's meeting, the government approved an increase in the nursing allowance to 80 percent of the daily base income of employees instead of the previous 60, retroactively from April 1. The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Jana Maláčová (ČSSD) announced this on Twitter. According to the bill, which the government published on its website, the state should pay nursing fees until the holidays at the latest due to closed schools. The House of Representatives should consider the law next week.

15:45 Over 5,000 covid-19 victims are registered in Belgium, about 3,500 in the Netherlands

In Belgium, confirmed cases of infection with the coronavirus and deaths associated with the disease covid-19 continue to increase rapidly. The official balance currently speaks of 5,163 victims, which is the worst statistic of any country in the world in terms of population. In the Netherlands today, the number of confirmed cases of infection exceeded 30,000. The number of victims of covid-19 in the country according to the local health authority is 3459.

15:40 More than 14,500 people have already died of covid-19 in British hospitals

An additional 847 people infected with the coronavirus died in British hospitals in 24 hours. Today's covid-19 death toll is lower than Thursday's, but higher than the previous days of this week. In total, the coronavirus has already claimed 14,576 human lives in Britain, the Ministry of Health reported. More than 108,000 people have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

15:05 MF will need CZK 411 billion to finance the debt this year

This year, the Ministry of Finance will need 410.6 billion crowns to finance the national debt. This is 139.5 billion crowns more than the authority originally planned in the December Strategy for Financing and Managing the State Debt for 2020. The growth is mainly due to the increase in this year's state budget deficit from 40 to 200 billion crowns due to the expected effects caused by the spread of the coronavirus. The Ministry of Finance informed about this today in the quarterly report on the management of the national debt.

14:15 The Senate made it possible to fine offenses related to the coronavirus until May

The Senate has enabled the adoption of a law according to which the police will be able to fine people on the spot up to 10,000 kroner who violate government measures against the spread of the coronavirus. The Upper Chamber did not approve, reject, or modify the norm in any way.

13:50 Central Bohemian hospitals are preparing for normal mode

It is more complicated for smaller hospitals, which have less space, while still having to have infection beds ready for the duration of the emergency. Only patients with a mild course of the disease are admitted to Central Bohemian facilities, more severe cases end up in Prague's university hospitals. If these facilities were filled, regional hospitals are capable of taking care of the sick, said Governor Jaroslava Pokorná Jermanová (ANO).

13:30 MF will extend the allowance program for the self-employed until the end of the restrictions

Businessmen and entrepreneurs affected by the measures taken due to the coronavirus should receive a one-time allowance even after April 30. It should be 500 crowns per day as it is now. The Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová (for ANO) informed about it. She said that on Monday she will submit a bill to the government that will allow the allowance to be paid until all measures restricting entrepreneurs are lifted. The government expects them until June 8.

13:00 The university entrance exams will be held no earlier than 15 days after the opening of schools

In view of the coronavirus epidemic, universities will be able to organize them remotely in addition to face-to-face, similar to state exams. This is presupposed by the government's draft law, which was approved by the Senate with the votes of all members present. Universities will also be able to extend the academic year. In addition, they will be given the opportunity to waive fees for students who study for too long.

12:55 The Financial Administration has 197,000 applications for the self-employed allowance as of today

Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) said that to date the administration has ordered the payment of 1.89 billion crowns. On Monday, roughly 77,000 applicants can expect money in their accounts. As of April 20, a total of 3.36 billion crowns will be sent.

12:45 Sellers with stores over 200 m2 will be able to reduce them with tape

Retailers with shops over 200 square meters, which are not part of shopping centers over 5,000 square meters, or have a separate entrance from the street, will be able to open as early as April 27. They will be able to reduce the sales area by marking it out, for example with tape. The Ministry of Health stated this on its website in a document for the relaxation of measures.

12:35 Babiš is not going to grade ministers after the coronavirus crisis

According to him, current events may have brought the cabinet closer together due to more frequent meetings. What will happen to the automotive industry after the crisis will be important, said Babiš. The strategy regarding how many masks and respirators the State Material Reserves Administration (SSHR) should have could also be reconsidered.

12:15 p.m. The Prague municipality will return to normal mode from Monday

At the workplaces of the Prague municipality, normal office hours for the public will be restored from Monday in response to the easing of crisis measures. The counters in the Škoda Palace have been functioning to a limited extent until now, so now the office hours will only be extended while maintaining hygiene measures. The city will proceed in the same way in the case of the register of drivers and vehicles.

12:00 The Senate rejected the government's proposal to increase the structural deficit

The Senate rejected the government's proposal, which was supposed to increase the structural deficit up to four percent of the gross domestic product. According to the government, the purpose of this anti-crisis change is to enable the drawing up of the state budget for next year. Thanks to it, the Ministry of Finance could increase spending limits in the sector of public institutions. By 2027, the deficit is to be gradually reduced again.

11:45 FNO became the target of a cyber attack at night, repelled it

The Ostrava University Hospital became the target of a cyber attack last night. The target was one of her servers. She parried the attack. The administrators of its network often repel similar attacks, the spokeswoman of the medical facility, Petra Petlachová, announced.

11:15 Babiš: The state pays attention to the threat of cyberattacks on hospitals

The state is paying absolute attention to the threat of attacks targeting hospital computer systems, which the National Office for Cyber ​​and Information Security (NÚKIB) warned against on Thursday. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) told Radio Z. In that context, he sharply criticized the timing of the attacks at the time of the new type of coronavirus epidemic, calling it a "pig-house".

11:00 Comparative exams will be online in June and July, in May

The national comparative exams, which replace or supplement the entrance exams for dozens of universities in the Czech Republic, will be moved to June 13 to July 11 due to the coronavirus epidemic. In addition, there will be an extraordinary online deadline on May 30. This was announced by representatives of Scio, which organizes the exams. The dates of the comparative exams have already been moved once, from April to May.

10:45 Pirates ask Vojtěch to explain purchases of protective equipment

Pirates are asking the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch (for ANO), to explain the purchases of medical devices from intermediaries who have shown zero or minimal sales in the past. In a written interpellation, the president of the Pirates, Ivan Bartoš, called on Vojtěch to transparently describe the purchases of protective equipment and to explain how the ministry evaluates the credibility of selected suppliers.

10:15 Babiš: Services will be possible from April 27, unlimited from June 8

The state will apparently allow the holding of public services and religious ceremonies from April 27. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said that initially up to 15 people would be possible, from May 11 to thirty and from May 25 to fifty people. From June 8, events in churches should no longer be limited by the number of participants. The prime minister discussed the proposal with Cardinal Dominik Duka, the government will discuss it.

9:50 Wuhan changed the Chinese statistics with another 1290 dead

The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak broke out last year, revised the data on the dead and came to a significantly different difference - there were 1,290 more deaths. 3,869 people succumbed to the covid-19 disease in Wuhan alone, and the number of victims in China increased to 4,632. Local authorities also increased the balance of confirmed cases of infection by another 325 to 50,333. The authorities explained the change by saying that they are acting in accordance with laws and regulations, as well as "responsibility towards history, the people and the dead", the Kyodo agency noted.

9:20 CDU/CSU support continues to rise in Germany, AfD goes down

Coronavirus significantly shuffled the cards on the German political scene. Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU government enjoys popularity among voters during the epidemic that it has not seen since the summer of 2017. Conversely, the strongest opposition party, the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) has the lowest support in almost three years. According to him, the conservative CDU/CSU union would now get 38 percent of the vote, which is almost ten percentage points more than at the end of March, when it had the support of 29 percent of citizens.

8:50 170 people died of covid-19, 979 recovered, 6437 are infected

Since Thursday evening, seven more people have recovered, totaling 979 according to the Ministry of Health. There are 170 deaths in hospitals, one more than Thursday. There are 6,437 confirmed cases of infection, according to data on the website of the Ministry of Health. Laboratories performed over 8,300 tests again on Thursday.

8:20 The Chinese economy shrank by 6.8 percent year-on-year in the first quarter

The AFP agency called this shrinking of the world's second largest economy unprecedented, according to the Kyodo agency, it is the first drop in China's gross domestic product since 1992, when the country began publishing quarterly data.

8:00 Confirmed cases of infection in the Czech Republic increased by 132 to 6,433 on Thursday

The daily increase is thus lower than on Wednesday, when 160 were infected. There are 972 people who have been cured of covid-19, which is caused by a new type of coronavirus, and 169 people have died in hospitals so far. The daily increase of infected people remains at lower levels than before Easter, when laboratories evaluated a similar number of tests, i.e. over 8,000. On Wednesday, they performed 8,332 tests, which is the most since the beginning of testing.

7:45 a.m. Georgia temporarily bans passenger car traffic due to the coronavirus

Traveling by private cars will be prohibited in Georgia from Friday noon (10:00 CET) until April 21. This was reported by the local media with reference to the decision of the coordination council to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The ban is apparently intended to prevent visits during the Easter holiday, celebrated in Orthodox countries a week after Central and Western Europe.

7:15 Trump again advocated restarting the economy after the coronavirus

US President Donald Trump has announced that it is time to restart America, crippled by the covid-19 pandemic. The president emphasized that this reopening of the economy should happen in stages, "state by state" and based on verifiable data, to prevent a new wave of contagion. According to Trump, healthy Americans will be able to return to work as soon as conditions permit. Some US states could start taking these steps "as soon as tomorrow," and 29 of the 50 states could reopen relatively soon, the president noted.

7:00 Babiš: For May, the self-employed will receive CZK 15,000 from the state

Businessmen and entrepreneurs affected by the measures due to the coronavirus will receive a one-time contribution of 15,000 crowns from the state in May. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) told the newspaper Právo. According to him, the government is also ready for payments for June if necessary. For the period from March 12 to April 30, the contribution amounts to 25,000 crowns.

6:55 Confirmed cases of infection in the Czech Republic increased by 132 to 6433 on Thursday

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Czech Republic rose by 132 to 6,433 on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health. The daily increase is thus lower than on Wednesday, when 160 people were infected. There are 972 people who have been cured of covid-19, which is caused by a new type of coronavirus, and 169 people have died in hospitals so far. The data on victims and registered recovered persons are valid as of early Thursday evening.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17

21:55 According to Macron, Europe is in a moment of truth

The coronavirus crisis represents a danger for the European Union, it is a moment of truth for it. French President Emmanuel Macron told the British newspaper Financial Times. Macron warned that populists could come to power in countries such as Italy, Spain and France if the wealthier European states do not show solidarity.

20:45 Prague maternity hospitals have allowed the presence of fathers at births

Maternities in Prague have re-introduced the possibility of a companion being present during childbirth. ČTK was told by hospital spokespeople. The presence of the father or another person from the mother's household has been re-authorized from today by the Ministry of Health. However, the condition is that the father must at least wear a surgical mask and must not show symptoms of the covid-19 disease caused by the coronavirus. According to the Ministry, the accompanying parent must also be in a separate room or box with its own bathroom. The presence of the father or another person at the birth was prohibited in the Czech Republic from about mid-March until today due to the spread of the coronavirus.

21:15 In Slovakia, the coronavirus is starting to spread widely in Roma settlements

"It exploded in our settlements," Prime Minister Igor Matovič said on TV Markíza. We have a huge problem ahead of us, he added. 21:00 World football champion Hunter is fighting the coronavirus in the hospital

The soccer world champion from 1966, Norman Hunter, is battling the coronavirus in the hospital. The 76-year-old former England defender is in a serious condition, but his former club Leeds said he is "fighting incredibly bravely" with the disease.

20:15 Bishop Herbst has recovered from the coronavirus

Emeritus Bishop Karel Herbst has recovered from covid-19, he had negative tests. He was taken back from the Homolce Hospital to the Střešovice hospital. His condition is stable, but not very good, the Czech Bishops' Conference said on its website today. Seventy-six-year-old Herbst is conscious and now apparently faces a long recovery.

19:40 Almost 18,000 people have already succumbed to covid-19 in France

17,920 people have already died of covid-19 in French hospitals and nursing homes. The balance has increased by 753 deaths since Wednesday, the representative of the Ministry of Health, Jérôme Salomon, informed today. More than 108,000 cases of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have already been confirmed in the country. There are 2,600 more people infected than on Wednesday. There are now around 31,000 covid-19 patients in hospitals across the country. But on the second day, more people recovered than were newly transferred to the hospital.

19:17 The maximum amount of interest on consumer loans will be limited

The maximum amount of interest on long-overdue consumer loans will be limited. The Senate approved it today. At the same time, he newly limited the amount of sanctions for self-employed persons (OSVČ) for late loan repayments. The draft will now be signed by President Miloš Zeman.

19:03 Governor: In the state of New York, the spread of the virus is under control

In the state of New York, the number of hospitalizations fell to the lowest level in the last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today at a press conference. According to him, this is proof that the spread of the virus has come under control. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today the change in the plan for the use of free hotel capacities, originally intended for hospitalization. "Thank God it is not needed yet," declared the mayor.

18:30 The number of new victims in Italy continues to decrease, but there are significantly more newly infected

In Italy, 525 people with the covid-19 disease died in the last 24 hours, which is less than on Wednesday, when the country registered 578 new victims. However, the number of newly infected people has increased noticeably compared to the previous days, tests confirmed the infection in 3786 people. A day earlier it was 2,667, on Tuesday 2,972. It was reported by the Reuters agency with reference to the Italian civil protection. The total balance of victims in Italy is 22,170, infected are 168,941.

18:09 The Senate gave people and companies the opportunity to apply for deferment of loan repayments

People and companies will probably be able to suspend repayment of loans and mortgages for either three or six months in connection with the coronavirus epidemic. They would be able to choose the length of the break they would have to request. The moratorium is introduced by the government's draft law on certain measures in the repayment of loans, which was approved by the Senate today in an accelerated regime. Now the standard will be signed by the president.

18:00 Hospitals are at risk of cyber attacks, according to experts they can cause great damage

In the Czech Republic, there is a threat of attacks on the computer systems of hospitals and other important targets in the coming days. The National Office for Cyber ​​and Information Security (NÚKIB) and the Ministry of Health warned against them today. According to the ČTK poll, hospitals are preparing for a possible attack. According to experts, similar attacks can cause serious problems, especially during the spread of the coronavirus, and leave damages in the tens of millions of crowns.

17:52 Putin postponed the celebrations of the anniversary of the end of the war due to the coronavirus

Russian President Vladimir Putin decided today to postpone the ceremonial military parade on May 9 and canceled all public celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. This was announced by the TASS agency with reference to the progress of the video conference of the Russian president with key members of the government.

17:44 Hamáček: Truck drivers will have a simpler regime at the border

Drivers of trucks over 3.5 tonnes will have a simpler regime at the borders to avoid queues. Minister of the Interior and head of the Central Crisis Staff Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) announced this on Twitter today. According to the police website, additional administration will be waived.

17:35 Three people died today in the Czech Republic in connection with the coronavirus

Today, three people died in connection with the coronavirus, a total of 169 people have already succumbed to the disease in the Czech Republic. Cumulatively, 6,359 people have been infected and 972 people have recovered.

17:30 Maláčová: The Antivirus program with contributions to wages will not end in April

The Antivirus program with contributions to wages for companies affected by restrictions due to the spread of the coronavirus will not end at the end of April and will probably be extended. In the coming months, the state could also use European money to support short-term work. Minister of Labor Jana Maláčová (ČSSD) said this to ČTK today.

16:55 Hamáček: The situation on the border with Germany has improved significantly

The traffic situation on the border with Germany has improved significantly today, Interior Minister and head of the Central Crisis Staff Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) wrote to ČTK. He doesn't expect any more problems on Friday. German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer said in today's interview with German public television ARD that he is not satisfied with the functioning of cross-border transport. Above all, with the Czech Republic and Poland, where long columns form at the border, the situation now has to be discussed often.

16:52 Austria is going to test all residents of homes for the elderly

16:40 Betrothed will not have to wear veils at weddings, the interior has determined

At smaller weddings permitted from Monday, April 20, the engaged couple do not have to cover their mouths and noses, the limit of ten participants includes the wedding party and the registrar. Those present must keep a distance of at least two meters, with the exception of spouses and members of the same household. Hands given for congratulations must be disinfected, as well as all tools used during the ceremony. This follows from the instruction for holding weddings, which was published today on the website by the Ministry of the Interior. Weddings have not been allowed since March 16 due to the spread of the new type of coronavirus.

16:38 Facebook intervenes again: It will introduce a warning against allegedly false information about the coronavirus

American company Facebook will warn users of the world's most famous social network if they "like" or comment on news about the coronavirus that Facebook has determined to be false. This was announced today by the AP agency with reference to the company's press statement. The moderators of the network are already authorized to delete such messages.

16:32 Travel agencies will be able to give vouchers for canceled tours

Domestic travel agencies (TC) will be able to postpone refunds for canceled tours due to the coronavirus with scheduled departures from February 20 to August 31. They will issue vouchers to clients instead. The so-called protection period should apply until August 31 of the next year to postpone the payment. Clients who do not use the voucher by this date will be entitled to a refund of paid deposits. The government's draft law, which provides for this, was approved by the Senate today. It will now be signed by the president.

16:31 Volkswagen's operating profit fell by four fifths to 900 million euros

The operating profit of the German automobile concern Volkswagen fell to 900 million euros (CZK 24.4 billion) in the first quarter. The company made the announcement today based on its preliminary results. In the first quarter of last year, Volkswagen reported an operating profit of 3.9 billion euros. The Škoda car company from Mladá Boleslav is also part of the concern.

16:30 Another 861 patients died of covid-19 in British hospitals

An additional 861 people infected with the coronavirus died in British hospitals in 24 hours. Today's covid-19 death toll is the highest so far this week. In total, the disease has already claimed 13,729 lives in Britain, Reuters reported with reference to local health authorities. On Wednesday, the authorities reported 761 dead, on Tuesday 778 and on Monday 717 victims.

16:25 South Korea is investigating cases of re-infection

Korean health workers are examining patients who have recovered from the coronavirus, but tests later showed its presence again. To date, Korea has recorded 141 such cases. According to experts, various explanations are possible – people could have become infected again, the virus could have remained in their body and reawakened after a while, inconsistency in testing could also be to blame. The possibility of re-infection is of greatest concern, as such a fact would have an impact on the creation of herd immunity. However, this explanation does not seem likely, according to experts from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and other experts. Rather, it seems that the examined patients experienced a reactivation of the virus that was already present in their organism.

15:45 The state should guarantee four fifths of the rent owed, the Senate thinks

According to the Senate, the state should guarantee four-fifths of the rent in apartments that people would owe due to a lack of income due to the coronavirus epidemic. The Senate decided on this despite the disapproval of the Minister for Local Development, Klára Dostálova (ANO). The law on the possibility of deferring rent in apartments will have to be reassessed by the House of Representatives. The law is supposed to guarantee that tenants with no income will not be able to get notice from the apartment due to the fact that, as unemployed with no income, they will not be able to pay the rent until the end of July at the latest. However, they will have to pay off the rent owed by the end of this year. The Senate also approved an amendment to the Act on Business Conditions in the Tourism Industry. Intermediaries of private tourist accommodation in the form of digital platforms such as Airbnb will now be obliged to share information about concluded contracts with the Czech authorities. According to the Ministry of Regional Development, the new duty could help in tracing people who have come into contact with a person infected with the new type of coronavirus.

15:25 Bulovka tested 9000 samples, about a tenth are positive

The Bulovka Hospital in Prague has tested over 9,000 samples for the presence of covid-19 since March 6. Two six-member teams work in the laboratories and do not meet. A machine from the Czech University of Technology (ČVUT) also helps them. Elka Nyčová from the Department of Clinical Microbiology told journalists. About a tenth of the tested samples had a positive result. According to the Ministry of Health, among all the more than 146,000 samples tested throughout the Czech Republic, the share of positive detections is 4.6 percent. Since the beginning of the epidemic, the share has been gradually decreasing.

14:50 Greece will transport refugees from the islands to the mainland

Greece will transfer up to 2,380 migrants from overcrowded camps on its Aegean islands to the mainland over the next two weeks to protect them from the coronavirus. According to the Kathimerini daily, the move will begin after Easter, which Orthodox Greeks celebrate this weekend. Due to the holidays, Greek police have increased their presence on the streets and roads, where they will check compliance with restrictions on free movement ordered by the government last month due to the coronavirus. Two hundred migrants over the age of 60 and 1,730 chronically ill refugees and their families will be accommodated in refugee centers or hotels on the Greek mainland. Humanitarian organizations have been calling for the transfer of migrants from the islands for several weeks. In Greece, according to the latest data announced by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday evening, 2,192 cases of infection with the coronavirus have been confirmed so far, and 102 people have died of those infected. So far, 50,771 people have been tested in the country.

14:20 Japan declares a state of emergency for the entire country

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today extended the state of emergency, valid so far in seven prefectures, to the entire country. The aim of the measures is to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus and prevent overloading of the healthcare system. The state of emergency in the archipelago will last until May 6. Already last week, the government declared a state of emergency in the metropolitan area of ​​Tokyo, in the western city of Osaka, and in another five of the 47 prefectures. However, Aichi Prefecture, home to one of the world's largest car companies, Toyota, and the city of Kyoto subsequently asked if they could also be included in this emergency system. Some prefectures have taken similar measures themselves. A state of emergency allows governors to call on citizens to stay at home and socialize. However, Reuters pointed out that, unlike other countries, the authorities cannot order these measures and punish their violation with fines, for example.

13:50 The US is investigating the origin of the coronavirus

The United States is trying to find out whether the coronavirus came from a laboratory in Wuhan, China. This was announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday evening local time. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Beijing "should come out with the truth" and share what it knows. This was reported by the Reuters agency. The source of the virus remains a mystery. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, said on Tuesday that the US military command is inclined to believe that the origin of the current global contagion is natural and that the coronavirus was not developed in Chinese laboratories, but that cannot be said with absolute certainty. The American television Fox News reported in a report on Wednesday, citing its sources, that the coronavirus that causes the disease covid-19 may have come from a Wuhan laboratory. However, according to the station, behind its development was not Beijing's effort to create a biological weapon, but rather China tried to prove that it has the same ability to identify and eliminate viruses as the United States.

13:00 NÚKIB warns against cyberattacks on hospitals

The National Office for Cyber ​​and Information Security warns of the threat of cyber attacks on hospitals and other targets. According to him, they can be expected in the next few days, office spokesman Radek Holý said in a press release. According to NÚKIB's findings, these attacks are already in the preparatory phase, which is happening mainly through the so-called spear phishing campaign. "Our findings, including findings from the activities of our partners, led us to issue this warning. The information we have at our disposal leads to a reasonable fear of a real threat of serious cyber-attacks on important targets in the Czech Republic, especially on the systems of medical facilities," said NÚKIB director Karel Řehka.

12:55 The number of victims in Spain is approaching 20,000

In Spain, 551 people with covid-19 died in one day, the authorities announced 523 new deaths a day earlier. The number of infected people increased by 5183 over the previous day, roughly the same as the day before. A total of 182,816 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Spain since the beginning of February, of which 19,130 ​​people have died and 74,797 have recovered, according to the El País newspaper, according to the Ministry of Health. The new data were commented shortly after their publication by the Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, who first expressed his condolences to the victims and the bereaved. He later said that the number of new infections in the last week was around three percent, compared to over seven percent two weeks ago and around 15 percent at the end of March. However, Illa said that easing the strict measures is not yet appropriate. Restrictions on free movement in Spain are supposed to last until April 26, but last week Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez spoke out in favor of extending them for another two weeks.

12:05 Japanese medicine travels to the Czech Republic

Japan has agreed to provide the drug favipiravir to the Czech Republic. The medicine will be tested in our country against the disease COVID-19. According to Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček, the drug is already on its way to the Czech Republic.

11:45 Funeral services are running out of protective equipment

Representatives of funeral services complain about the lack of information and protective equipment. According to them, the Ministry for Regional Development, to which this market segment belongs, has not communicated at all in recent weeks. There are no clear rules on how to deal with people who died of covid-19 at home, for example. This was said to ČTK today by the chairman of the Association of Funerals in the Czech Republic, Ladislav Kopal. According to him, during the coronavirus pandemic, the funerals themselves, which are now mainly without ceremonies, have also completely changed.

11:40 The prison service wants to postpone the arrival of some prisoners

The prison service has asked the presidents of regional courts that those convicted of trivial crimes do not have to go to prison in the current situation of the spread of the coronavirus. This measure is intended to reduce the introduction of infection into prisons. No prisoner in the Czech Republic has yet been diagnosed with covid-19. The Director General of the Prison Service, Petr Dohnal, said in Radiožurnál that about 500 convicts start serving their sentences every month. According to Dohnal, the Prison Service has taken extensive preventive measures so that the disease spreads only minimally in the closed environment of prisons.

11:35 The Czech-German fund will provide 10 million for the threatened coronavirus

The Czech-German Future Fund will provide ten million crowns to help people and institutions that are threatened by the coronavirus epidemic. For example, organizations caring for victims of Nazism or people who helped to improve Czech-German relations through cultural activities and now had to limit or stop their activities due to restrictions will receive the money. According to the fund, victims of Nazism are particularly vulnerable due to their age.

10:08 The prison service wants to limit the arrival of prisoners due to the coronavirus

The prison service has asked the presidents of the courts that those convicted of trivial crimes do not have to go to prison due to the current situation of the spread of the coronavirus. This measure is intended to reduce the introduction of infection into prisons. No prisoner in the Czech Republic has yet been diagnosed with covid-19. The Director General of the Prison Service, Petr Dohnal, said today in Radiožurnál that about 500 convicts start serving their sentences every month.

9:43 There are 831 people cured of covid-19 in the Czech Republic, no one died on Wednesday

The number of people cured of the disease covid-19, which is caused by a new type of coronavirus, increased by 12 to 831 as of Wednesday evening. No one died of this disease in hospitals in the Czech Republic on Wednesday. If this figure were to be confirmed in the following days, it would be the first time since March 23 that there was no victim with covid-19 in the Czech Republic. There are 6303 confirmed cases of infection. This follows from the data of the Ministry of Health as of 08:30 today. Laboratories in the Czech Republic performed 8,332 tests on Wednesday, which is the most since the beginning of testing. There were 160 new cases of infection, which is a lower daily increase than before Easter, when the number of tests per day also exceeded the eight thousand mark. So far today, the total number of confirmed cases has increased by two.

9:09 Liberty Ostrava will temporarily shut down one blast furnace and reduce production

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Liberty Ostrava smelter will temporarily shut down blast furnace number 2 and reduce pig iron production by 20 percent until the end of August. The measure will affect approximately 400 employees, which is less than seven percent, according to the company. The smelter will use them in other operations, but some of the workers will stay at home. Barbora Černá Dvořáková, spokeswoman for the company, told ČTK about this today. The chairman of the basic organization OS KOVO Liberty Czech Republic, Petr Slanina, stated that the unions do not agree with the shutdown of the blast furnace for several months.

8:39 A child from an indigenous tribe in Brazil was also infected with the coronavirus

In Brazil, a two-month-old child from the indigenous Warao tribe originally from Venezuela became infected with the coronavirus. With reference to the mayor of the city of Manaus, Reuters reported about it. Due to lack of immunity and unfavorable social conditions, Indian communities are a vulnerable group compared to the majority population.

8:22 Germany reports the fewest casualties in recent days

66 people infected with the coronavirus died in Germany on Wednesday, which is the lowest in recent days. This was reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which registers a total of 3,569 deaths and 130,450 confirmed infections.

7:43 The ordered quarantine will be ended by the doctors only after the test has been performed

People with an ordered quarantine will be terminated by general practitioners only after a blood test for the presence of antibodies with a negative result has been performed. This follows from the extraordinary measure of the Ministry of Health, which takes effect on April 22. It continues to apply that 14 days have passed since the first day of its order in order to end the quarantine. At the same time, people must not show symptoms of covid-19, the ministry said.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16

00:00 Prymula: The travel rules will probably be eased within a week

According to Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula, the rules for traveling abroad will probably be eased in a matter of weeks. According to him, the main discussion is about trips to Croatia and Slovakia in the summer. In mid-June, it should be clear whether the relaxation of the rules in the Czech Republic was successful. Then it could be allowed to travel to countries where the epidemiological situation is better or the same as in the Czech Republic, he said in ČT. According to Prymula, it will depend on the mutual agreements between the countries, whether they will accept each other's citizens. "If he is returning from a more risky country, he will of course go into quarantine. From countries where the risk is not higher, it will not be necessary," said the deputy.

21:30 Opening borders is not a priority, but Babiš will talk about it with Hamáček

Opening borders is not a priority according to Andrej Babiš. "We have to realize what is important to us. We need health, self-sufficiency, water and tourism in the territory of the Czech Republic. It is something to think about, and above all we have reserves in tourism," said the prime minister. He added, however, that he will discuss the opening of the borders with the Minister of the Interior, Jan Hamáček. According to him, it would not be a problem to go out privately for half a year, if the person in question followed the government's order after returning.

21:10 The state will increase the payment for state insured persons

"It will be necessary to increase the payment for state insured persons on health insurance," said Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. According to him, the state will pay an extra 500 crowns from July, which will mean an expenditure of 19.2 billion, and next year the payments should increase by another 200 crowns. According to Babiš, neither Finance Minister Alena Schillerová nor Health Minister Adam Vojtěch know about this plan yet. Babiš promised again that the government would not increase the amount of taxes.

20:46 Luxembourg introduces mandatory wearing of masks from Monday

On Monday, Luxembourg will be among the countries in which it is mandatory to cover the mouth and nose in public due to the spread of the coronavirus. Referring to the statement of Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, the AFP reported about it. Similar measures have already been introduced by, for example, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. "From Monday, mouth protection is mandatory, whether in the form of a scarf, scarf or mask," said Bettel.

20:20 Instructions for opening schools will be delivered by the ministry by the end of April

By the end of April, we will issue instructions for the reopening of schools, which we will give to individual institutions, Minister of Education Robert Plaga said on Czech television. According to him, the schools will have enough time to prepare and accept the children. "There may be a situation where the school will not have the capacity to meet hygiene requirements, then it will be possible to discuss slight changes," added Plaga.

19:40 More than 17,000 people have already succumbed to the covid-19 disease in France

17,167 people have already died of covid-19 in French hospitals and nursing homes. The number of victims has increased by 1,438 since Tuesday, reported Health Ministry representative Jérôme Salomon. There are already more than 106,000 confirmed cases of infection in France. The number of infected has increased by 2,633 since Tuesday.

19:15 There are 1,476 people with the coronavirus in Prague, 26 more than on Tuesday evening

Hygienists registered 1,476 people with confirmed covid-19 disease in Prague as of early Wednesday evening. In the last 24 hours, their number rose by 26. The number of deaths with the new type of coronavirus that causes the disease increased by one to 58 in the same period.

18:47 The Ministry will once again allow the presence of fathers at the birth

The Ministry of Health will once again allow the presence of the father or another person at the birth. Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula confirmed this to the Deník N server today. The presence of a third person during childbirth has been prohibited due to the spread of the coronavirus since around mid-March. The ministry later allowed an exception to the ban only for the births of disabled women or foreign women who need an interpreter. Information about the planned cancellation of the ban on the presence of another person at the birth was published on Twitter by MP Olga Richterová (Pirates)

18:20 Italy reports 578 new victims of covid-19, less than on Tuesday

In Italy, 578 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last 24 hours, which is less than on Tuesday, when the country registered 602 new victims. Compared to Tuesday, the number of newly infected people also decreased, tests confirmed the virus in 2,667 people.

17:40 The Czech Republic has 6,216 infected people, only 65 new cases per day

An additional 65 cases of covid-19 infection, which is caused by the new coronavirus, have appeared in the Czech Republic. There are a total of 6,216 since the beginning of March. According to the available information, the number of recoveries rose by 143 to 819, while three people succumbed to the disease. In total, the Czech Republic has 166 victims.

17:30 134 people have already died of covid-19 in Hungary, 268 in Poland.

Almost 1,600 cases of coronavirus infection have already been confirmed in Hungary. 134 infected people have already succumbed to the covid-19 disease caused by the virus, local authorities reported today on the website koronavirus.gov.hu. The Polish Ministry of Health said that the number of infected in the country increased by 206 to 7408. Warsaw already reports 268 victims.

17:20 Babiš: The extension of the state of emergency must be debated professionally

According to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), an expert and specific debate will be necessary to assess the question of whether the government should seek to further extend the state of emergency in the Czech Republic. Babiš told ČTK that the cabinet will have to assess whether measures resulting from the validity of the state of emergency will be needed even after April 30. The head of the Central Crisis Staff and Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) repeated today that the state of emergency will have to be extended again due to the epidemic of a new type of coronavirus.

16:25 The army received the first request for help in the social services home

The army received the first request for help in ensuring the operation of social service homes. She got it from Ostrava, said Magdalena Dvořáková, spokeswoman for the General Staff. The request came from the Alzheimer Center Ostrava, it was announced on Monday by the Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region, Ivo Vondrák

15:55 Another 761 patients died of covid-19 in British hospitals

An additional 761 people infected with the coronavirus died in British hospitals in 24 hours. In total, the country already has 12,868 victims of the covid-19 disease, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The number of confirmed cases of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is approaching 100,000.

15:45 State monuments will open on June 8, losses will be about 150 million crowns

The National Monuments Institute (NÚ) will open all one hundred of its castles, chateaux and other buildings on June 8. Jana Hartmanová, spokeswoman for the institute, informed about this on Wednesday. The main season was originally supposed to start on April 1, but it was delayed by government measures against the spread of the coronavirus.

15:25 There is a record increase in positive tests in Belgium, there are 283 new deaths

The crisis surrounding the coronavirus in Belgium is still not abating, and the number of known infected and victims of the covid-19 disease increased significantly in the country on Wednesday. In the last 24-hour period, the infection was confirmed in another 2,454 people, while 283 deaths were reported, the local crisis staff reported.

14:28 The state should not buy masks for schools, but should help

The state should ensure that schools can purchase protective equipment and disinfection at a reasonable price. However, he should not buy them directly, said Minister of Education Robert Plaga (ANO) at today's press conference. For example, primary school students in planned school groups should wear masks during activities with a larger number of children. Petra Mazancová, president of the Teachers' Platform association, previously stated that if the state insisted on wearing masks in schools, it should provide disposable ones.

13:57 During the last month, a total of 5085 Czechs were transported to Prague

During the last month, a total of 5,085 Czechs and 934 citizens of other European countries and Israel were transported to Prague as part of repatriation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatched a total of 69 buses and 19 flights. The costs exceeded 108 million crowns.

13:14 School groups should also function partially in the afternoon, said Plaga

School groups, in which primary school pupils could learn from May 25, will not function only in the morning. It will smoothly turn into something like a school group, said the Minister of Education Robert Plaga (ANO) at today's press conference. Even so, children from different groups will not be merged. According to Plaga, if the parents place the child in a school group, they should no longer be entitled to nursing allowance.

12:47 The world registers over two million infected

Official sources from around the world have reported over two million cases of infection since the beginning of the spread of the coronavirus. Based on its own monitoring, the AFP agency wrote this today, according to which more than a million infected people are registered in Europe alone. The Guardian notes that these figures appear to show a fraction of the true scale of the problem, as in many countries tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus are only carried out in seriously ill people.

12:46 It is not necessary or realistic to master everything that is in the curriculum, said Plaga

According to the Minister of Education Robert Plaga, evaluation is not primarily about grades. The minister wants to allow flexibility, for example, verbal assessment. According to him, communication and feedback are important, the specific conditions of each pupil should definitely be taken into account. He said that it is not even necessary to master everything that is in the syllabus by distance learning. It is advisable to concentrate on essential subjects and practice.

11:52 European Commission recommends states lift coronavirus restrictions in a coordinated manner

The countries of the European Union should start to gradually relax the coronavirus restrictions when the development of the infection allows it. At the same time, states should be based on their specific situation and at the same time coordinate their actions with others. This was announced today by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who presented a joint EU strategy for a gradual return to normal life.

11:46 Denmark has reopened nurseries, kindergartens and the first grade of primary schools

In a number of places in Denmark, nurseries, kindergartens and the first grade of elementary schools, which were closed on March 12 due to fears of the spread of the coronavirus, reopened today after a month. This was reported by the AFP agency, according to which the Kingdom of Denmark is the first European country to reopen facilities for the youngest children.

11:11 April oil demand to fall to lowest in 25 years

Oil demand will fall by 29 million barrels per day in April due to the effects of the coronavirus, reaching its lowest level in 25 years. The International Energy Agency (IEA) stated this today. In its regular monthly report on the situation on the oil market, it also warned that such a significant drop in demand, which the market is now facing, cannot fully compensate for the reduction in production. For the whole year, the IEA expects a drop in demand of 9.3 million barrels per day.

10:26 The European Commission has approved billion-dollar aid to the Czech Republic for small and medium-sized enterprises

The European Commission (EC) has approved state support for the Czech Republic for small and medium-sized enterprises that produce medical and protective equipment to fight the coronavirus. The total amount of aid can reach up to one billion CZK, the commission announced today in a press release. The Czech Republic intends to provide companies with 300 million crowns in the first phase of the program.

10:18 Free movement in public will be restricted at least until the end of April

The current restrictions on free movement and association in public due to the coronavirus pandemic will apply with precisely specified exceptions until the end of the state of emergency, which is currently valid until the end of April. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO) said this at today's press conference. Therefore, people should continue to leave their homes only in necessary cases, for example to work, for food or medicine, walks in nature or city parks are also allowed. A person should keep a distance of at least two meters from others, cover their nose and mouth and move no more than two at a time, unless they are, for example, members of the same household.

9:45 The International Monetary Fund is asking 100 countries for help due to the pandemic

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approached 100 of its 189 member countries with a request for emergency financial assistance to help them stop the spread of the coronavirus and mitigate its economic impact. Half of them belong to low-income countries. Gita Gopinath, chief economist of the IMF, said this in an interview with the Reuters agency. While the current credit capacity of one trillion USD (CZK 24.5 trillion) is substantial to help member countries cope with the pandemic, it is possible that more money will be needed when the coronavirus fully affects developing countries, she added.

9:16 Basic rules on movement restrictions will apply until the end of the state of emergency

The basic rules on movement restriction (staying at home, walking no more than two at a time) will certainly apply until the end of the state of emergency, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch said today.

9:03 AM There will be 10,000 cases of covid-19 in the Czech Republic at the end of April, according to estimates

By the end of April, according to the model prepared by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS), there will be cumulatively about 10,000 positively diagnosed cases of covid-19. It is also expected that about 25 percent of them will be seniors. ÚZIS director Ladislav Dušek told journalists today.

8:41 The Czech Republic has the pandemic under control, hospitals have handled the situation, said Vojtěch

The Czech Republic continues to have the coronavirus pandemic under control, it has been possible to prevent the uncontrolled spread of the covid-19 disease, the healthcare system is managing the care of the infected, including severe cases. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO) told journalists today. Thanks to this, the state can gradually relax some of the restrictive restrictions in the coming weeks, the healthcare sector can begin to resume normal outpatient and inpatient care and surgical interventions that have been postponed until now. However, according to Vojtěch, it will be important how the epidemic develops in the next two weeks.

8:30 25-30% of hospitalized patients in the Czech Republic require highly intensive care

Of the newly diagnosed cases, roughly 13-14% of patients in the Czech Republic end up in hospital. 25-30% of hospitalized patients require highly intensive care, said the director of the ÚZIS. According to Minister Vojtěch, the situation is relatively good, but we should not be swayed. According to him, the positive thing is that they have the pandemic under control, the number of patients in hospitals is basically constant.

6:00 Hospitals are preparing to resume operation of ambulances and planned operations

Hospitals in the Olomouc region are gradually preparing to resume the operation of their non-acute outpatient clinics and the start of planned surgical procedures, which had to be postponed due to the coronavirus epidemic, after a pause of several weeks. So far, only a minimum number of health workers have been infected with the new coronavirus in hospitals.

0:30 USA suspends funding to the World Health Organization

US President Donald Trump announced today that he has ordered his administration to at least temporarily cut funding to the World Health Organization (WHO). According to him, the reason is the way in which the WHO acted in the fight against the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. According to him, the current rate of spread of the virus could have been prevented if the organization had not spread "disinformation" presented by China, where the virus first appeared last year. This was reported by the Reuters agency.

WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL

22:45 The government discriminated against shopping centers with its proposal, the Association claims

The timetable for the opening of shops and services, which was approved by the government today, is discriminatory for shopping centers (OC). Jan Kubíček, chairman of the committee of the Association of Shopping Centers, told ČTK. It should only be opened in the last wave from June 8. At the same time, according to Kubíček, they can very well ensure the necessary safety and hygiene measures. According to him, the approved schedule is a reflection of a complete misunderstanding of how OCs work.

21:10 Publishers fear that even after opening, they will not survive without state support

According to the chairman of the Association of Czech Booksellers and Publishers, Martin Vopěnka, the book market in the Czech Republic is still threatened with destruction. He said this to ČTK today in response to the government's announcement about the gradual easing of measures against the coronavirus. "We don't know how the book market will survive this situation," he said. The director of the Albatros Media group, Václav Kadlec, said that the plan presented by the government reduces the hitherto high level of uncertainty with which publishers decide when and how to launch new books.

20:50 Many countries are behind the onslaught of the epidemic, there is talk of relaxation

The epidemic of the covid-19 disease progresses very unevenly across the continents, so while some countries such as the United States and Britain are now feeling its greatest impact, others are already out of the worst and dealing with the possible relaxation of quarantine measures. In Germany, for the fourth day in a row, the number of newly infected people is decreasing, the situation is apparently slowly improving in Italy and Spain as well. Small shops opened today in Austria. The Czech government wants to relax measures against the coronavirus in five stages.

20:30 Union: The government did not consult on the opening of shops and services, it is slow

The opening of shops and services closed due to the coronavirus is slow in five waves, the government has not consulted those affected by its proposals. Tomáš Prouza, president of the Trade and Tourism Association (SOCR), told ČTK today. According to him, the government's plan looks strange compared to the procedure in neighboring countries. According to Prouza, SOCR will issue a more detailed opinion on Wednesday.

20:00 There are 1,450 people with the coronavirus in Prague, 18 more than on Monday evening

Hygienists register a total of 1450 confirmed cases of covid-19 in Prague as of 18:00 today. In the last 24 hours, there have been 18 more in the capital. The total number of people cured in the capital rose from 123 to 168. The number of people who died from the coronavirus increased by six to 57 as of Monday evening. The Prague hygiene station announced this on its website. According to the website of the Ministry of Health, there are 1,456 patients with covid-19 in Prague. The hygienists' numbers, according to the ministry, do not include cases detected by other laboratories and not yet verified by hygienists.

19:45 France recorded the highest daily increase in the number of victims of the coronavirus

The number of people infected with the coronavirus who died in French hospitals and nursing homes rose by 762 in the last day to 15,729. The health authorities informed about it today. It is written by the AFP agency, according to which this is the highest increase in victims in a single day since the beginning of the epidemic of the covid-19 disease.

18:15 Athletes will be able to train in groups from Monday

From Monday, April 20, professional athletes in the Czech Republic can return to outdoor training, which was interrupted by the pandemic of a new type of coronavirus. Initially, they will only be able to prepare in smaller groups. Sports events with a maximum of 50 people will be possible from June 8. The government decided on it today.

6:10 p.m. Pupils will return to school gradually, the highest grades first

Teaching will not return to schools in full until July. The state plans to open them gradually. The proposal for the release of schools and school facilities, which was discussed by the government today, least counts on the return of 2nd grade elementary school students and lower secondary school students. At first, students could return to universities next week, but only to a limited extent, students of the last years during joint activities of no more than five. For example, state exams or rigorous exams could be held this way, said Minister Robert Plaga (ANO) after the government meeting. The further opening of universities will depend on the development of the epidemic, he added.

18:00 The government plans to relax the measures until June 8 in five stages

The government today presented a plan for opening shops and other facilities and establishments closed due to the new type of coronavirus. She divided it into five stages from the nearest Monday, April 20 to Monday, June 8. Artisans, farmers markets and car dealerships should open first, gradually adding more shops or events every week and later after 14 days. In the last wave, for example, all establishments in shopping centers could open, Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček (for ANO) told journalists.

17:10 Sales at farmers' markets will be allowed from Monday, the government has decided

From Monday, April 20, sales will be possible at farmers' markets. The operator will be responsible for compliance with the hygiene rules, the distances between the stalls will have to be observed. Disinfection will need to be in place. The government decided on this today, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a press release.

17:00 G7 representatives supported temporary debt relief for poor countries

The financial representatives of the G7 group of the world's most economically developed countries agreed on the need to provide financial and technical assistance to developing economies that are struggling with the negative effects of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. This was announced today by Japanese Finance Minister Taró Aso. The G7 officials also announced that they are ready to allow poor countries to temporarily suspend debt repayments if other states from the group of the world's largest economies, the G20, which includes, for example, Russia and China, join this step.

16:30 A plane with Czechs from Australia and New Zealand landed in Prague

A plane with more than 300 Czech citizens who returned from Australia and New Zealand landed in Prague this afternoon. This follows from information on the Václav Havel Airport website. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously stated that the current evacuation was the last repatriation flight it is organizing. There were also 35 citizens of other European countries on board the plane.

16:20 In Sweden, the number of victims of the coronavirus has exceeded one thousand

The covid-19 pandemic has claimed more than 1,000 lives in Sweden. In the Scandinavian country, which became famous for its liberal approach to the fight against the coronavirus, 11,445 people have been infected so far. According to the AFP agency, this follows from the official balance sheet of the Swedish authorities.

16:15 Soldiers will help ensure the operation of social service homes

The army will be deployed to ensure the operation of social service homes in which infection with the new type of coronavirus is proven. The government decided on it today. According to Minister of Defense Lubomír Metnar (for ANO), up to 360 soldiers will be able to be called up. In the past, the government has already decided on the deployment of soldiers at the border or on the involvement of the army in the so-called smart quarantine. Thus, more than 4,000 soldiers can be deployed.

16:10 There are another 778 dead with the coronavirus in Britain

An additional 778 patients infected with the coronavirus died in British hospitals in the last day, bringing the total number of dead to 12,107. This was reported by the Reuters agency today with reference to the Ministry of Health. The latest death toll represents an increase compared to the previous days, on Monday the authorities reported 717 new victims, compared to 737 the day before.

15:50 A man in his forties died directly from covid-19 at the General University Hospital in Prague

A man born in 1976 died on Tuesday afternoon at the General Faculty Hospital in Prague. According to the hospital, the cause of his death was apparently covid-19, reported CT.

15:30 Mobile data traffic is a third higher even after a month of quarantine

Even a month after the introduction of quarantine measures against the spread of the coronavirus, mobile data traffic is up to a third higher than it was on weekdays. The volume of calls from mobile phones is 20 to 40 percent higher. It follows from the information of mobile operators.

15:22 Belgium reports over 4,000 deaths from covid-19, the Netherlands almost 3,000

In Belgium, which was hit hard by the coronavirus, today the balance of the covid-19 epidemic rose by another 262 deaths to a total of 4157. The country with less than 12 million inhabitants reports more victims than a number of more populous European states, including Germany, over 1200 people infected with the coronavirus were hospitalized there today intensive care. Neighboring Netherlands reports 2,945 covid-19 deaths after the daily toll rose by 122.

14:40 The IMF expects the deepest recession of the global economy in 90 years this year

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the global economy to fall by three percent this year due to the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. Back in January, he predicted an increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) for this year, by 3.3 percent. The fund made the announcement today in its spring outlook for the global economy. According to the fund, the world economy is headed for the deepest recession this year since the great economic crisis of the 1930s.

14:35 IMF: The Czech economy will fall by 6.5 percent this year due to the coronavirus

The Czech economy will fall by 6.5 percent this year due to the effects of the coronavirus, while it grew by 2.6 percent last year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated this today in its spring outlook for the world economy. If the forecast comes true, it will mark by far the worst result in the country's modern history. The Czech economy did not experience such a significant decline even during the global financial crisis in 2009.

14:05 The Alzheimer center in Ostrava and the Iris home have been infected

The number of people tested positive for covid-19 increased in both facilities with mass infection in Ostrava. Alzheimer's Center Ostrava has added sick clients, their number has increased from the previously reported 40 to 42. The number of infected employees at the Iris Home for the Elderly has increased, which is eight, while the facility previously reported five. The number of clients reported so far has also increased from the previous 18 to 22 infected. This follows from the information provided today by Martina Svobodová on behalf of the Ostrava Alzheimer Center and director Michal Mariánek on behalf of the Iris home.

13:50 They rescued an infected dentist from Uničov in the Brno hospital

"Doctors at the clinic managed to save him, even though he was in a very serious condition on artificial lung ventilation and even had to be connected to extracorporeal life support for several days," said Lipovská. The man has been breathing on his own for several days. "He is without the support of artificial lung ventilation and is getting better from today," said Pavel Štětka, head of the anesthesiology-resuscitation clinic. According to Lipovská, the patient is now in isolation in the specialized intensive care unit, and may be transferred back to the Prostejov hospital within a week.

13:45 According to Schillerová, the state should buy ČSA

According to Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (for ANO), the state should buy Czech Airlines (ČSA). She told Hospodářské noviny. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO) have previously admitted that the state could enter key companies if they ran into problems due to the economic effects of the coronavirus epidemic. Schillerová expects that the MPO will prepare an analysis of which companies are so strategic that the state should save them.

12:50 Gymnasium principals are in favor of completing the year with distance learning

The Association of Gymnasium Directors (AŘG) is leaning towards the possibility of completing this school year with distance learning. According to her, the schools could possibly be opened for students from the grades that are preparing for entrance exams and matriculation exams. After the opening of the schools in mid-May, according to the association, classes would only take place for about two weeks. Subsequently, according to her, the schools would focus primarily on securing entrance and matriculation exams. This was announced on Tuesday by the chairman of the AŘG, Renata Schejbalová.

12:35 Builders demand the transfer of workers between the Czech Republic and Slovakia without quarantine

For strategic infrastructure construction, where specific experts are needed, the governments of the Czech Republic and Slovakia should allow workers to move between countries without mandatory quarantine. Without measures, it will not be possible to maintain continuous operation on these construction sites. In an open letter available to ČTK, the president of the Association of Construction Entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic, Jiří Nouza, and the president of the Association of Construction Entrepreneurs, Pavol Kováčik, jointly demand this.

12:30 The crisis team will address Czech suppliers of protective equipment

The group of the Central Crisis Staff for purchases will approach Czech suppliers who could supply protective equipment in large state tenders. The procurement documentation will be prepared within the next week, his boss and Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) said today after the meeting of the permanent working group of the staff. The state is already ordering protective equipment from some Czech companies, the Gumárny Zubří company, for example, delivered dozens of full-face CM6 masks last week.

12:10 Hamáček: The government should consider the impact of Easter when loosening the measures

When deciding on the further relaxation of the restrictions adopted due to the spread of the covid-19 disease, the government should take into account the possible impact of the Easter holidays on the increase in the number of infected people, said today after the meeting of the permanent working group of the Central Crisis Staff (ÚKŠ), Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček ( ČSSD). The minister expects that the number of people tested positive for the new coronavirus will increase. He did not want to comment on what position he would take on the gradual opening of shops before the government meeting.

11:55 The Czech Republic donated a million masks to North Macedonia

The Czech Republic donated a million masks to North Macedonia in connection with the fight against the spread of the new type of coronavirus. The Czech Embassy in Skopje reported on this on its website. Medical masks were transported to the country on Friday by a Czech army special vehicle.

11:35 In Spain, the death toll has started to rise again

18,056 people infected with the coronavirus have already died in Spain. In the last 24 hours, the number of deaths has increased by 567, which is 50 more than on Monday. However, the number of infected people has decreased over the last day, a total of 3,045. So far, 172,541 cases of infection with the coronavirus have been confirmed in the country, of which 67,504 people have already recovered, the Ministry of Health reported today, according to the newspaper El País.

11:30 The European Commission will recommend that states withdraw from declared states of emergency

The European Commission wants to publish a plan for the coordinated release of coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday, it has already submitted the proposal to member countries. After criticism from some states worried about pressure to lift restrictions too quickly, the commission came up with a strategy that recommends a gradual transition from states of emergency to targeted measures, without mentioning a specific timetable. According to the working text available to ČTK, Brussels first wants to coordinate the opening of internal borders between individual member states, which should be followed by the opening of the EU's external borders.

10:30 Record number of infected in Russia

Russia reported 2,774 new cases of coronavirus today, another record daily increase. In the past 24 hours, another 22 people succumbed to the disease. A total of 21,102 people have been infected, of which 170 have died and 1,694 have recovered, Russian media reported today, citing the operational staff for the fight against infection.

10:05 Rapid tests in Moravian-Silesian homes revealed 13 infected

In social residential services in the Moravian-Silesian region, the widespread verification of rapid tests has so far revealed ten workers and three clients with suspected covid-19. However, positive results must be confirmed by a classic laboratory test. Deputy Governor Jiří Navrátil (KDU-ČSL) said this on Tuesday. However, according to him, another widespread infection has not yet occurred in any facility.

9:40 a.m. Prague police officers recorded 3,758 violations of measures on Easter

During the Easter weekend, residents of the capital most often violated the regulations to cover their mouths and noses and the ban on congregating. Officers recorded 3,758 violations. Most of the cases involved a mask taken off. Irena Seifertová, spokeswoman for the city police, said this on Monday. Since the introduction of measures against the coronavirus, police officers have dealt with 14,634 cases.

9:10 a.m. The Polish government will begin to "unfreeze" the economy from April 19

From April 19, the Polish government will begin a "slow thaw" of the economy, crippled by measures against the spread of the coronavirus. Minister of Health Lukasz Szumowski stated this today on RMF FM radio station. He did not provide further details. According to government spokesman Piotr Müller, restrictions on trade could be eased and a decision is expected to be announced in the coming days.

8:45 a.m. There are 6,059 infected people in the Czech Republic

So far in the Czech Republic, 147 people have died in hospitals with covid-19, which is caused by a new type of coronavirus. Since early Monday evening, the number of victims has risen by four. 527 people have recovered, 519 people were cured on Monday evening. There are 6,059 infected people, 68 cases were added on Monday, which is the lowest increase since March 17, when the new coronavirus was confirmed in 67 people. But on the holiday Monday, laboratories performed the fewest tests since the end of March, namely 3,183. A total of 131,542 tests were performed. This follows from data on the website of the Ministry of Health as of 08:25 today.

8:15 A patient with covid-19 died in Brno

Another patient with covid-19 died at St. Anna University Hospital in Brno. Hospital spokeswoman Dana Lipovská stated this in a press release today. This is the fifth victim at the hospital, which cares for patients with the coronavirus in a serious condition. There are now five patients with covid-19 in serious condition. According to the latest information, there are 355 confirmed cases of infection with a new type of coronavirus in the South Moravian Region.

7:30 The government is to present scenarios for the release of epidemiological measures

The government should today publish scenarios for easing restrictions on shops and services that were closed a month ago due to the novel coronavirus epidemic. According to Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček (for ANO), the proposal envisages three waves of liberalization, not according to the type of shops, but their size. According to Havlíček, there could be weeks or ten days between individual waves. The cabinet will publish the plans after the afternoon session. It will also assess the possibilities of returning pupils to schools.

7:00 a.m. Starting today, people can travel from the Czech Republic in justified cases

From today, Czechs can travel abroad in necessary and clearly justified cases. They can go abroad, for example, for work reasons, to visit a doctor or family. However, due to the spread of the coronavirus, the borders remain closed and the entry ban for foreigners is still in effect. The Home Office has published details of the exemptions on its website. The police will register all persons upon departure and return. People who cross the borders of the Czech Republic will, with exceptions, have to undergo a mandatory fourteen-day quarantine.

6:00 a.m. The Hyundai carmaker in Nošovice resumed production after a shutdown

Today, the Hyundai automobile plant in Nošovice in Frýdecko-Místek resumed production after a three-week shutdown caused by the pandemic of a new type of coronavirus, as the first large enterprise in the Czech Republic. Initially, the factory will only work in two shifts instead of the usual three due to the smooth start of production.

TUESDAY

21:23 Macron extended quarantine measures until May 11

The French were addressed today by their President Emmanuel Macron, who announced the extension of quarantine measures until May 11. He admitted that the country was not properly prepared for the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. According to the head of the Elysee Palace, the spread of the disease is slowing down, but the French should still not let up.

20:37 Germany could begin to relax measures, say experts

Germany could start easing some of the measures the country has put in place in connection with the spread of the coronavirus. For example, the government of the Federal Republic could reopen schools, shops and restaurants, if it also ensures compliance with hygiene regulations and safe distances. This follows from a study by the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, which was published and which German Chancellor Angela Merkel intends to take into account when easing the measures.

19:45 Covid-19 is ten times more deadly than swine flu, WHO warns

The covid-19 disease caused by the new coronavirus is ten times more deadly than the so-called swine flu or influenza A (H1N1), which appeared in Mexico at the end of March 2009. According to AFP, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this today and called on countries to slow down the easing of strict measures. Swine flu claimed about 18,500 lives between 2009 and 2010.

19:15 The number of covid-19 victims in New York exceeded 10,000

The number of victims of the covid-19 disease in the American state of New York exceeded 10,000. There were 671 new deaths, 758 people died on Sunday. With reference to the local administration, Reuters reported about it today. However, the state, which is the worst-affected region of the United States by the coronavirus, is "out of the worst," according to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

19:10 In Italy, the death toll from the coronavirus has exceeded 20,000

In Italy, the number of victims of the covid-19 disease exceeded 20,000. In the last 24 hours, 566 people succumbed to the disease here, i.e. 135 more than the previous day. In total, the infection has claimed 20,465 lives here. The Italian Civil Protection informed about it. The test here has so far confirmed the coronavirus in 159,516 people. The official number of infected people is higher in Spain, next to the USA.

19:00 Epidemiologists are not in favor of the full opening of schools until the end of June

Epidemiologists do not recommend the full resumption of compulsory school attendance until the end of June. Priority should be given to those who finish the year with a final or progress exam. Jarmila Rážová, chief hygienist, said this in Radiožurnál's Twenty Minutes programme. The opinion of the epidemiologists will be discussed by the government, which will have the final say. Schools have been closed since March 11 due to the spread of the coronavirus.

17:28 The number of deaths in the Czech Republic has risen to 143, there are 6,022 positives

So far, 143 people have died of covid-19 in the Czech Republic. Four deaths have been added since Monday morning. The number of people cured has since increased by 52 to 519. This is according to data on the website of the Ministry of Health as of 17:25 today. There are 6,022 patients who tested positive, an increase of 31 more cases compared to the morning.

16:45 According to economists, a risk analysis should decide on the opening of schools

When deciding to open schools closed in mid-March due to the coronavirus epidemic, it is necessary to exclude emotions and act on the basis of knowledge of the real risks. KoroNERV-20 disputes some of the arguments of the petition, whose signatories ask that schools remain closed until the end of the school year. Read more here.

16:40 A man sick with the coronavirus died in a hospital in Hradec Králové

An 83-year-old man died today in Hradec Králové hospital, he had covid-19 and suffered from other serious diseases. This is the sixth death at the university hospital in connection with the coronavirus. Zdeněk Tušl, deputy director of the Hradec Faculty Hospital, told ČTK. There are currently 11 patients with covid-19 hospitalized in the hospital.

16:35 Hygienists in the south of Moravia created the first so-called memory map

Hygienists in the south of Moravia created a so-called memory map for a person with covid-19 for the first time. It is part of the smart quarantine, which is to begin to be fully expanded after Easter. However, there are now few cases in the south of Moravia where it could be tested, said the director of the regional hygiene station David Křivánek. The memory map after the consent of the infected person to use the movement data from his mobile phone and payment card for the past few days. The map is intended to be used by hygienists when talking to an infected person, so that they can better remember where they were, who they may have met, and therefore who needs to be contacted, possibly tested and placed in quarantine. In recent days, there has been criticism that hygienists still haven't started using the mentioned memory maps.

16:26 The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Russia increased by 2,558 to 18,328

In Russia, the number of people infected with the coronavirus increased by 2,558 in one day, the total number is now 18,328, the TASS agency reported today. This is the highest daily increase in absolute numbers to date, with local authorities reporting 2,186 new cases on Sunday. The number of deaths from the infected in Russia increased by 18 in a day to 148. Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that the situation is not improving and that army medics could also help in the fight against the infection. According to Putin, the epidemic has not yet reached its peak even in Moscow.

16:15 There were 717 more covid-19 victims in Britain, less than on Sunday

A further 717 patients who tested positive for the coronavirus have died in British hospitals. This is less than in recent days, when the country reported 737 new victims on Sunday. The UK death toll now stands at 11,329, the Department of Health said. 4,342 people were newly diagnosed with the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected people to 88,621.

15:00 The travel refund law is liquidating for some, travel agencies claim

The law, thanks to which travel agencies will be able to postpone refunds for tours canceled due to the coronavirus, is a liquidation for those agencies that organize only school tours. Representatives of some of these Central Committees wrote this in a letter to the Senate. The law has already been approved by the House of Representatives and will now be considered by the Senate.

14:10 The Czech Republic still fails to reach the limit of 20 or even 10 thousand tests per day

In the Czech Republic, only 89 newly infected persons were detected on Sunday. At the same time, however, the fewest tests were carried out in the last 2 weeks, namely 3,233. We write about it in detail here.

13:25 303 people died in Belgium in the last day, a total of 3,903

Belgium has another 303 deaths from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing the country's death toll to 3,903. Although the toll seems lower compared to some other European countries and the United States, Belgium has just over 11 million inhabitants. In terms of a million inhabitants, the pandemic affected it much more than, for example, Italy, noted the British newspaper The Guardian.

11:49 Spain has fewer people infected with the coronavirus and fewer deaths per day

In Spain, 517 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last day, which is a hundred fewer than the local authorities announced on Sunday. According to today's data, there were also fewer cases of infection, namely 3,477 against 4,167 reported on Sunday. In total, 169,496 people have been infected with the coronavirus in Spain so far, of whom 17,489 have died, while 64,727 have recovered.

11:40 Two Czechs are stuck in a Greek camp

Roughly 40 foreign tourists, including two Czechs, are stuck in a campsite in northern Greece due to coronavirus restrictions. The Greek daily Kathimerini reported about it today. According to him, some of the tourists praised the Greek government for taking early measures against the spread of the disease. Two British tourists recalled that Athens started these steps before the government in their country.

11:10 Another home for the elderly in quarantine

All ten employees who cared for the elderly in Dolní Újezd ​​are in quarantine. The charity is looking for help from professionals and volunteers. The client and four workers were diagnosed with covid-19. Jana Kalibánová, director of the Dolní Újezd ​​Parish Charity, said this on Monday. “I try to map out the clients that need to be tested and ensure all the services. We are asking the surrounding villages. I have one little sister left," said Kalibánová. She is not in quarantine herself because she is on sick leave.

10:25 The number of infected people is also growing significantly in Russia

In Russia, the number of people infected with the coronavirus increased by 2,558 in a day, bringing the total to 18,328, the TASS agency reported on Monday. This is the highest daily increase in absolute numbers to date, with local authorities reporting 2,186 new cases on Sunday. The number of deaths from the disease covid-19, which the coronavirus causes, in Russia increased by 18 in a day, of which ten people died in Moscow. A total of 148 people with this disease have died in Russia so far.

9:40 a.m. Spain has eased the coronavirus measures, people are allowed to go to work

Thousands of Spaniards are allowed to go to work again after two weeks from today. The measure by which the government stopped all operations not necessary for the running of the country because of the coronavirus has ceased to apply. However, other restrictions on free movement continue, as do schools, shops, restaurants, theaters and a large part of shops. According to the newspaper El País, the recovery of economic activity will mainly affect the industrial sector, construction and, for example, law firms.

9:27 Nurses and doctors escaped from the Polish retirement home from the coronavirus

According to Novinky.cz, the dramatic situation occurred in a home for the elderly in the Mokotow district of Warsaw, where there are 56 elderly people, mostly bedridden. "Most of them, and maybe all of them, are already infected with the coronavirus, only one nurse is taking care of them. Fearing for their health, the doctors and nurses ran away from the home a few days ago, and its director has been in quarantine for a long time," Onet.pl and Gazeta Wyborcza portals reported on Sunday.

8:56 There were less than 100 detected cases of covid-19 on Sunday

So far, 139 people have died of covid-19 in the Czech Republic. One person has died since early Sunday evening. The number of people cured has since increased by three to 467. This is according to data on the website of the Ministry of Health as of 8:30 a.m. today. The ministry registers 5,991 infected people. Their number rose by 89 on Sunday. This is the lowest increase since March 17, when, according to the ministry, 67 people were diagnosed with covid-19. On the weekend, however, the increments are usually smaller, because there are also fewer tests. On Sunday, the laboratories made 3,233 of them, which was the lowest in the past week.

8:22 Japan confirmed 530 new cases of infection

The Japanese Ministry of Health has confirmed 530 new cases of coronavirus infection over the past day. Four people died on Sunday, CNN reported. To date, the country has recorded at least 7,967 infections, including 712 cases of infection from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was docked in quarantine near Tokyo in February. The total death toll stands at 114, including 12 cruise ship-related deaths. Last Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures due to the coronavirus, which will last until May 6.

7:43 China reports the most newly infected with the coronavirus in five weeks

In mainland China, 108 new cases of infection with the new coronavirus were added in the last day, two more people died. With reference to the Chinese Health Commission, Reuters reported on this today. The number of infections is nine more than on Sunday and is the highest in more than five weeks. All but ten of the new cases of infection were detected in people who had returned to China from abroad.

7:22 Survey: The pandemic complicates life for three fifths of Czechs

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic and related measures are felt by almost three fifths of Czechs. Five percent of them lost their jobs, for 63 percent the current situation has an effect on the household budget. This results from a survey of the comparison portal Ušetřeno.cz among 1,837 respondents. Due to the quarantine, according to the survey, 26 percent of Czechs now work from home in a home office. Many employers have had to curtail business operations, so 22 percent are now working part-time. A fifth of the respondents state that as a self-employed person or a small entrepreneur they lose contracts. A tenth of those interviewed remain at home with their children as a result of the closure of schools and kindergartens.

7:00 Less than 100 new confirmed cases of covid-19 were added on Sunday

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in the Czech Republic rose to 5,991, with 89 new cases added on Sunday. It is the lowest increase since March 17, when, according to data from the Ministry of Health, the disease covid-19 was confirmed in 67 people. On the weekend, however, the increments are usually lower, because fewer tests are also done. The ministry has not yet published Sunday's number of tests. So far, 138 people have died from covid-19 and 464 people have recovered. Data on victims and recorded recoveries are valid as of early Sunday evening, the ministry publishes new numbers around 8:30 a.m. every day.

6:50 In Germany, the number of new cases of coronavirus continues to decrease

In Germany, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection increased by 2,537 in the last 24 hours to a total of 123,016. The local Robert Koch Institute informed about it today. The number of victims of the covid-19 disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has increased by 126. In total, the disease has already claimed 2,799 lives in Germany.

5:50 More than 22,000 people have already died from covid-19 in the US

In the last 24 hours, another 1,514 people died of covid-19 in the USA. In total, the balance of victims in the country has exceeded 22,000. This was reported today by the American Johns Hopkins University, which has been monitoring the situation surrounding the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus for a long time. There are already more than 557,000 confirmed cases of infection in the USA.

SUNDAY

22:05 Bocelli sang in an abandoned cathedral in Milan

The well-known tenor Andrea Bocelli, accompanied by the organist of the Milan Cathedral, Emanuela Vianelli, sang for about half an hour in an empty church, behind closed doors, without an audience or applause.

21:50 Bulgaria has re-introduced the mandatory wearing of face masks

Today, as part of the fight against the coronavirus, Bulgaria re-introduced the mandatory wearing of masks or other protective equipment in public. The Minister of Health announced the measure at the end of March, but soon canceled it, writes the DPA agency. The regulation is valid from today until April 26.

21:12 Turkish interior minister resigns due to unexpected declaration of quarantine, causing panic among Turks

“May my nation, whom I never wanted to harm, and our president, to whom I will be loyal all my life, forgive me. I am leaving the position of Minister of the Interior, which I had the honor to hold," Süleyman Soylu said in a press release.

20:39 The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is in quarantine

It is an operation of unprecedented size for the French military. He isolates the 1,900 sailors of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which has just arrived in the port of Toulon. 19 sailors have tested positive for the coronavirus.

20:15 At the nursing home in Dolní Újezd, 4 employees have covid-19

Four employees of a nursing home in Dolní Újezd ​​in the Svitavy Region have tested positive for the coronavirus. On Saturday, tests confirmed the infection in one client. Regional epidemiologist Olga Hégrová told ČTK today. "So far we have only tested employees. We have to make a strategy, we will conduct an epidemiological investigation," she said.

19:27 14,393 people died of the infection in France, 561 in the last day

The number of victims of the coronavirus in France increased by 561 in the last 24 hours to a total of 14,393, press agencies reported, citing French authorities. A total of 95,403 people have been infected so far. There are now 6,845 patients in intensive care units.

19:05 Germany is preparing for the "coronavirus presidency" of the EU Council

Germany has pledged strong leadership to help EU countries overcome the coronavirus pandemic when it takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1. In the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the country would take over the "coronavirus presidency for the EU to overcome the health crisis and its consequences".

18:40 The number of victims of the coronavirus in New York rose by 758 to 9385

In the state of New York, 758 victims of the coronavirus have been added in the last day, announced the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo. A day earlier it was 783. A total of 9,385 people have already died in the area. The total number of hospitalized people in the most affected American state reached 18,700.

18:20 In Italy, the number of victims per day rose by 431, the lowest since March 19

The number of victims of the covid-19 disease in Italy increased by 431 in 24 hours, which is the lowest intraday increase since March 19. On Saturday, Rome reported 619 dead. Similarly, the daily number of people tested positive for the coronavirus dropped to 4,092 new cases compared to Saturday's 4,694 positive tests. In total, the country already registers 19,899 victims of the pandemic, the Italian Civil Protection informed.

18:09 Safe distance even on the beach

With the warm weather, the Spanish authorities warn that a safe distance between people will have to be maintained even on the beach.

17:58 Poland registers 318 new cases of infection and another 24 deaths

Coronavirus infection has been confirmed in 318 people in Poland, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 6,674. Another 24 people have succumbed to covid-19 and the total number of victims is 232, the Polish Ministry of Health reported today.

17:35 Six more people died in the Czech Republic in connection with the coronavirus since this morning, the total number of victims is 138

A total of 5,952 people have been confirmed to be infected as of early evening, 464 people have recovered and 138 people have died in connection with the coronavirus.

16:55 There were 737 more victims of the coronavirus in Britain, less than on Saturday

An additional 737 people died in British hospitals, and the number of victims of the coronavirus in the kingdom rose to 10,612. This is the smallest increase in recent days, more than 900 patients have died each time in the previous two days, Reuters reported.

16:42 The number of victims of the coronavirus in the world is over 110,000, the university said

The number of victims of the coronavirus worldwide has exceeded 110,000. This was reported by the American Johns Hopkins University (JHU), which monitors the development of the pandemic worldwide. There are almost 1.8 million confirmed cases of infection.

16:20 The employees of the retirement home from Břevnice went for further tests

Employees of the retirement home in Břevnice near Havlíčkova Brod, where all clients are infected with covid-19, went for tests on Saturday and today. The condition of all 18 clients is stabilized, some have slightly improved.

16:03 The condition of one patient with covid-19 in Hradec Králové has improved

The condition of one patient infected with the coronavirus hospitalized in Hradec Králové has improved and could be disconnected from pulmonary ventilation today. Two people remain on the ventilator. The University Hospital in Hradec Králové is currently caring for 12 patients with covid-19. Zdeněk Tušl, deputy director of the hospital, told ČTK. "We have a sufficient reserve of beds ready for covid-19 patients," he added.

16:01 The number of infected in Iran has reached almost 72,000, the dead are 4474

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Iran has increased to 71,686 in the last 24 hours, tests have newly confirmed the virus in 1,657 people. Referring to today's statement of the Iranian Ministry of Health, Reuters reported about it. The country registers 117 new victims, so 4,474 patients have already succumbed to the covid-19 disease.

15:55 The Moravian Karst is full again, the guards have already issued six fines

Today, the protected landscape area Moravský karst is once again full of people who went out into nature during the restrictions on free movement due to the coronavirus. The problem is that some of them don't respect the law and go where they don't belong. The nature guards have already issued six fines for this today, two other people breaking the law escaped from them. Guard Filip Chalupka told ČTK.

15:20 The government will not relax measures when the number of infected people increases by 400 per day

The government will stop easing anti-epidemic measures if the number of people infected with the coronavirus starts to increase at a rate of around 400 per day. In the program Otázky Václav Moravec, this border was formulated today by the Deputy Minister of Health, Roman Prymula.

15:01 Most French are against digital surveillance

Only 46% of the French would agree to install an application on their smartphone that will enable the monitoring of patients with Covid-19.

14:08 14 more infected in Slovakia, total 742

In Slovakia, 14 new cases of infection with the coronavirus were added on Saturday, so the authorities register a total of 742 infected. The Slovak Ministry of Health informed about it today. Restrictions on the free movement of people, introduced by the government in connection with the Easter holidays, apply in the country until Monday midnight. State-run laboratories carried out 761 tests on Saturday, which detected the infection in 13 people. Private facilities secured 819 tests, of which one was positive.

13:55 The Jizera 50s raised over a million crowns to fight the coronavirus

13:39 Belgium reports 3,660 dead and the Netherlands 2,646

In Belgium, there are 29,647 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 3,660 people have already died in connection with the disease. In the Netherlands, they register 24,572 patients and 2,646 victims.

13:10 The Pope called on the world to end wars and show solidarity during the pandemic

Today, in his Easter message, Pope Francis called on the world to stop all armed conflicts and also to show solidarity during the current covid-19 pandemic. Today, the Pope pronounced the traditional blessing Urbi et Orbi (To the City and the World) shortly after celebrating Easter Mass in the nearly empty St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, which people from all over the world could watch live on the Internet or on television.

12:40 Havlíček: The government will publish the scenario for the opening of shops and services on Tuesday

After Tuesday's meeting, the government will publish scenarios for easing restrictions on shops and services. The Minister of Industry and Trade and the Minister of Transport Karel Havlíček (for ANO) said this today in the Czech TV program Otázky Václav Moravec. As he added, three waves of release are expected. Representatives of entrepreneurs in CT said that they still lack a release schedule.

12:25 In his Easter speech, President Zeman called for solidarity

President Miloš Zeman called for solidarity and belonging in a two-minute speech today. Cardinal Dominik Duka asked him to perform in connection with Easter, the biggest Christian holiday, the president said. In a speech broadcast in the afternoon on Czech Television, he emphasized that he did not want to focus on the economy, politics or the coronavirus epidemic, but on hope. "Of course, our society is not dead, but it is wounded, and we should all heal it," he said.

12:05 Zeman: Purchases from China were the only option, they saved many lives

Purchasing medical protective equipment from China to fight the new type of coronavirus was the only option at a time when European Union countries banned the export of this material. President Miloš Zeman said this today in the program Partie on TV Prima. He considered it polite to give thanks for the Chinese material, because the aids in the Czech Republic may have saved many lives.

11:57 Spain has another 619 victims of covid-19 and 4167 new infections

In Spain, 619 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last day. This is 100 more than the authorities announced on Saturday, when the figure was the lowest in almost three weeks. However, the number of new cases of infection today is about 700 lower than on Saturday. So far, 166,019 people infected with the coronavirus have been confirmed in Spain, of which almost 17,000 people have died and 62,391 have recovered, the Ministry of Health said today.

11:25 Zeman is in favor of continuing the current tougher style of fighting the virus

President Miloš Zeman is in favor of continuing the current restrictive way of fighting the epidemic of a new type of coronavirus in the Czech Republic. According to him, the more liberal approach that some other countries, such as Sweden, have taken to the spread of the covid-19 disease has not proven successful, Zeman said today in the program Partie on TV Prima. While the epidemic is growing in states with a more liberal approach, it is receding in the Czech Republic, he said.

10:42 Latin America has introduced strict quarantines, the exception being Nicaragua

In Latin America, there is still no easing of measures against the spread of the coronavirus in sight, and the Pan American Health Organization called for their strict observance this week. And while the majority of Latin Americans also commemorate Easter at home, and in Peru, for example, they had a curfew on Thursday and Friday, in Nicaragua, the authoritarian government called on residents to participate in public celebrations, although the Nicaraguan church holds mass without the faithful and canceled the traditional procession.

10:15 a.m. Police: People gather more often on Easter, offenses increased

In the first half of the long Easter weekend, people violated measures against the spread of the coronavirus more often than on other days. Police officers said on Twitter this morning that they had dealt with about 600 offenses a day during the holidays so far, which is half the usual number.

9:55 a.m. At the Anesthesiological Resuscitation Clinic of the FN at St. A patient with covid-19 died in the morning of Anny in Brno.

6 patients remain at this clinic, two are connected to so-called ECMO, four to pulmonary ventilation. Their state of health is serious, reports CT.

9:40 According to Von der Leyen, contacts of seniors with their surroundings will have to remain limited at least until the end of the year

"Without a vaccine, contact with the elderly must be limited as much as possible, especially those living in nursing homes," she said.

9:20 The epidemic in Australia and New Zealand is losing momentum

In both countries, the spread of the infection has slowed significantly, which is attributed to quarantine measures and strict adherence to social distancing. Australia's Department of Health reported 51 new cases today, the smallest daily increase this month. In total, the country registers 6,289 infected people, of whom 59 have died. New Zealand reported 14 new infections today with a total of 1,049 confirmed cases and four deaths. New Zealand authorities have also said that the number of recoveries exceeds the number of new infections.

8:35 Survey: 82 percent of construction workers have financial losses due to the coronavirus

Due to the current measures against the spread of the coronavirus, 82 percent of construction companies have financial losses. For this year, they expect a deterioration of their economic result by an average of 26 percent. They plan to largely cover the resulting financial losses from their own reserves, two-thirds plan to use financial incentives from the state, and one-fifth want to use a loan. This follows from a current survey by CEEC Research among 60 construction companies in the Czech Republic.

8:05 The Czech Republic reports 132 deaths related to the coronavirus

As of Sunday morning, there are 5,905 people infected with the coronavirus in the Czech Republic, 132 people have already died. 422 people have recovered.

7:55 Mainland China reported 99 new cases of coronavirus infection

Mainland China has reported 99 new cases of the coronavirus, more than double from the previous day. According to the Reuters agency, 97 of the infected are people who arrived from abroad. Thailand recorded 33 new infections today and the DPRK, which has not yet reported a single case of the coronavirus, wants to tighten epidemiological measures even more.

7:00 Germany already has 120,479 people infected with the coronavirus

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in Germany increased by 2,821 to 120,479 in the last 24 hours. Another 129 people died of covid-19 in the country, and the total number of victims of the disease is now 2,673.

SUNDAY 12.4.

22:50 Over 20,000 dead in the United States, the most on the planet

The Covid-19 epidemic has killed at least 20,071 people in the United States, the most in the world. The US thus surpassed Italy in the number of victims. 519,453 people are infected here.

22:05 Cuba stopped public transport due to the coronavirus

Today, in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Cuban government decided to stop public transport and close large shopping centers. With reference to the announcement of the cabinet on Twitter, the DPA agency reported on this today.

21:18 WHO warns Belarus against a new phase of the coronavirus epidemic

Today in Minsk, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) called on Belarus to adopt new measures that would slow down the spread of the coronavirus. "It's time to prepare for the worst," Patrick O'Connor, head of the WHO delegation that visited Belarus this week, told reporters.

20:55 The British will not be defeated by the coronavirus, emphasized Queen Elizabeth II.

British Queen Elizabeth II. today, in her second message to the nation in just one week, she stressed that the coronavirus "will not defeat us". The 93-year-old monarch, who is also the symbolic head of the Church of England, also assured on the occasion of the biggest Christian holiday that "Easter is not canceled."

20:15 The number of victims of the coronavirus in France is approaching 14,000

In France, the number of deaths from the coronavirus since the start of the epidemic has reached 13,832, press agencies reported today, citing the Ministry of Health. A total of 93,790 people have been infected so far. Ministry official Jérôme Salomon said 353 patients died in hospitals and 290 in nursing homes in the past 24 hours. On Friday, Salomon reported 554 deaths in hospitals and 433 in social facilities.

19:20 The German president called on the nation for solidarity and patience

Today, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on the people of Germany to exercise patience, discipline and solidarity during the coronavirus crisis. In an extraordinary speech to the nation, he praised the Germans for the way in which they approached the restrictive regulations. He also emphasized that it is not only politicians and health experts who decide on the relaxation of conditions, but above all, each of the citizens through their behavior. Steinmeier does not consider the covid-19 pandemic a war, but rather a test of humanity.

18:33 In Italy, the number of victims increased again in 24 hours by 619, more than on Friday

The number of victims of the coronavirus infection in Italy increased by 619 in the last 24 hours. This is the largest increase in the number of victims since April 6. On Friday, 570 people succumbed to the epidemic. The number of newly recorded cases of infection also increased, from Friday's 3951 to today's 4694. In total, the country already registers 19,468 infected. With reference to the Italian civil protection, Reuters reported about it today.

18:00 The state of New York reports 783 new victims of the infection, a total of 8627

In the US state of New York in the last 24 hours, the number of victims of the coronavirus infection increased by 783 to a total of 8627. This is a similar daily increase as the day before, when 777 people succumbed to the covid-19 disease. This was announced today by the state governor, Andrew Cuomo, according to whom the downward trend in the number of hospitalized patients and people in intensive care units continued today.

17:45 In the Czech Republic, there are now a total of 5,831 infected and 129 people have died

As of Saturday evening, the Ministry of Health in the Czech Republic announced that since the beginning of the epidemic, 5,831 people have been infected with covid-19, a total of 129 people have died and 411 have recovered from the disease.

17:30 In the Netherlands, 132 people died in one day

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 1,316 to 24,413 on Saturday, and the death toll by 132. A total of 2,643 people have died in the country related to the coronavirus, the Dutch National Institute of Health (RIVM) said.

17:20 Alzheimer Center Ostrava managed to secure staff

Alzheimercentrum Ostrava, where a mass covid-19 infection occurred, has already received several emergency packages of protective equipment from the region. It was also possible to stabilize the facility in terms of personnel, which was also helped by a call in the media.

16:44 Public schools in the American city of New York will not open until September

Schools in New York will remain closed until the end of the school year due to the covid-19 pandemic. Today, according to the AP agency, the mayor of the American city, Bill de Blasio, announced it. Schoolchildren will thus return to their classrooms only in September.

16:10 A 73-year-old patient with covid-19 infection died in H. Králové Hospital

A seventy-three-year-old patient who tested positive for covid-19 died this morning at the University Hospital (FN) in Hradec Králové. The man also had other serious illnesses. This is the fifth death in connection with the new coronavirus at the Hradec Králové hospital.

15:50 There were 917 more victims of the coronavirus in Britain, less than on Friday

An additional 917 people died in Britain, the total number of victims of the coronavirus in the kingdom rose to 9875 people, the press agencies announced today, citing the health authorities. The daily increase, which includes the situation as of 18:00 CEST on Friday, is lower than the previous day, Reuters reported

15:48 People mainly report to the Moravian-Silesian police about not wearing masks

15:47 The organizers sent a petition to the authorities for the closure of schools during the holidays

More than 80,000 people have signed a petition asking Education Minister Robert Plaga (YES) to keep schools closed until the end of the school year. According to the chairman of the Parents' Forum association, Petr Chaluš, the petition was sent to the Ministry of Education and other places today. The signatories fear that opening schools would accelerate the spread of the coronavirus. They also don't like the fact that children might be wearing face masks during class. According to earlier information, schools are expected to open after mid-May.

15:40 Vojtěch: Opening the borders is not a matter of weeks, maybe even months

Apparently, even in the coming months, the borders of the Czech Republic will not be fully opened. This follows from today's statement by the Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) on Czech television.

15:25 Relaxing the rules for masks was not a good solution, said Hamáček

Relaxing the rules for wearing masks was not a good solution. The Minister of the Interior and head of the Central Crisis Staff Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) told the iDNES.cz server today. According to him, the will to wear masks is waning. But people should continue to wear masks, the minister said. According to the server, police officers also register more offenses related to violations of government measures.

15:10 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's health continues to improve

The health condition of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is suffering from covid-19, continues to improve. Citing a government spokesman, Reuters reported on this today. According to Sky News, Johnson passes the time in hospital by playing sudoku and watching movies. He watched, among other things, the fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings.

14:50 A man in Germany got stuck in a suitcase where he was sleeping due to quarantine measures

During the drive home from Würzburg in Bavaria to Rostock in northern Germany, the driver could not find any hotel open due to measures against the coronavirus, so he decided to sleep in the trunk of his car. However, the lid of the trunk unfortunately clicked and the man could not get out, he then waited four hours to be freed, the German police said today according to the DPA agency.

14:24 Vojtěch: We could take off the masks in June. To the restaurant in May at the earliest

According to the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch, the easing of measures must take place gradually. According to him, in the first wave, the area of ​​the smallest shops and establishments should be up to 200 square meters. Business centers and services where there is physical contact will be the last to open.

14:20 The most popular Thai tourist island Phúket has closed

13:06 The football Bundesliga could start again on May 9

The German football league could start up again in less than a month after the break caused by the pandemic of a new type of coronavirus. According to the German media, the governing body of the two highest competitions is considering the fact that the interrupted Bundesliga season would be played again on the weekend of May 9 and 10.

12:50 People can start using the eRouška application

From today, people can use the eRouška application, which was prepared by experts working together on the COVID19CZ platform. The application is one of the components of the smart quarantine and is intended to help hygienists find out with whom a person infected with the new coronavirus came into contact. The program is published by the Ministry of Health on its developer account, it is now available for phones with the Android operating system and is free to download on Google Play. It will be available for the iOS operating system in a few days.

12:30 Justice investigates the head of a home for the elderly in Milan due to the epidemic

Judicial authorities in northern Italy's Milan are investigating the head of a local home for the elderly, where over a hundred people have died since the beginning of the covid-19 epidemic. The families of the victims, as well as the staff of the facility, believe that the management of the Pio Albergo Trivulzio home ignored preventive measures.

11:50 In Spain, almost 162,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus so far

In Spain, 4,830 people were infected with the coronavirus on Friday, and 510 people died of complications related to the infection. So far, 161,852 people have been infected in the country, of whom 16,353 have died, the Spanish Ministry of Health announced today according to Reuters.

11:42 The US reported 1,000 infected a month ago, now there are 500,000

The most affected country in terms of the number of people infected with the new type of coronavirus is now the United States, where the number of sick people has already exceeded 500,000. At the same time, a month ago, the USA reported a thousand infected. The United States is second only to Italy in the number of victims. In both countries, the number of victims is close to 19,000. The state of New York is the most affected, according to the balance of CNN, there are a total of 174,481 infected and 7,884 deaths. For comparison, in neighboring and significantly less populated Canada, the number of cases of coronavirus infection exceeded 22,000, and 569 people succumbed to the infection there.

11:30 Russia reports 1,667 new cases of coronavirus infection

Russia confirmed 1,667 cases of coronavirus infection and 12 deaths on Friday. Today, according to Reuters, the Russian authorities announced it. The total balance in the country so far is 13,584 infected, of which 106 have died and 1,045 have recovered. The daily increase for Friday was about a hundred less than for Thursday, which was a record. On Thursday, 1,786 people were infected in Russia.

11:20 Economists propose an amendment to the law to postpone the VAT levy

Economists from the citizens' initiative KoroNERV-20 are proposing an amendment to the law that would allow entrepreneurs to postpone the payment of value added tax (VAT) until at least January 2021. he left this money to entrepreneurs, who should have more money to pay debts and other things. This is a different group of experts than the team of the National Economic Council of the Government (NERV), whose activities the government resumed on Thursday.

11:02 In Poland, the number of people infected with the coronavirus increased to 133, 14 dead

Since Friday, there have been 133 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 14 deaths from the covid-19 disease in Poland. In total, the balance in the country rose to 6,088 infected and 195 dead.

10:40 Over 22,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus in Canada

The number of cases of coronavirus infection in Canada has exceeded 22,000. The portal of the Canadian government informed about it. So far, 569 people have succumbed to the infection in this North American country, and another 6,000 have recovered.

10:30 Apple and Google claim that their infection monitoring will guarantee privacy

Tech giants Apple and Google announced on Friday that they want to jointly use user data from Android and iOS phones to create a platform to warn other users about possible contact with an infected person to fight the coronavirus. Similar projects raise questions about personal data protection, but Apple and Google promise that privacy will be guaranteed. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the project appears to be trying to avoid the biggest privacy risks. US President Donald Trump still wants to check whether the platform violates personal freedoms.

10:20 A further 120 cases of infection with the coronavirus have been added in Hungary

In Hungary, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection increased by 120 in the last 24 hours. The total number of infected people in the country is now 1,310. Another eight people succumbed to covid-19. The death toll rose to 85, the government website koronavirus.gov.hu ​​reported today.

09:50 Epidemiologists: China is probably not out of the epidemic

Chinese epidemiologists have warned that China may not yet be out of the coronavirus pandemic and that the responses of the United States and Europe to the global health crisis will be key to how the epidemic continues to evolve. According to them, Covid-19 will not be eradicated in the near future and achieving herd immunity is not a practical solution to the problem, reports the South China Morning Post.

09:40 According to the Italian minister, training could begin on May 4

Italian Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora said that on May 4, football clubs and other sports organizations could start training. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday extended the nationwide quarantine by about three weeks until May 3, after which measures could begin to be eased in the country hit hard by the coronavirus.

09:25 Real estate companies expect record interest in cottages and cottages this year

The interest in renting or buying cottages and cottages will be record high this year. The reason is mainly the uncertainty regarding the possibility of a summer vacation abroad due to the current measures against the spread of the coronavirus. ČTK was informed by the representatives of the approached real estate companies. According to them, even at the present time, when sales of apartments have almost frozen, the demand for recreational facilities is not decreasing.

09:00 123 people infected with the coronavirus have died in the Czech Republic so far

In the Czech Republic, 123 people who were diagnosed with covid-19, which is caused by a new type of coronavirus, have died. According to updated data on the Ministry of Health's website, four more people have been killed since 17:30 on Friday. So far, 370 infected people have recovered, their number has increased by 24. There are 5,735 infected people, and 120,285 tests have been performed.

08:37 The number of new cases of infection is again low in South Korea

In South Korea, only three dozen new cases of coronavirus infection have been added in the last 24 hours. According to the specialized website worldometers.info, this is the second lowest number of new infections in one day since February 18. However, Seoul wants to continue tightening measures against the spread of the coronavirus.

08:15 Liverpool legend Dalglish tested positive for the coronavirus

Liverpool football legend Kenny Dalglish tested positive for the coronavirus. The 69-year-old former player and coach of the club is in hospital, but has no symptoms of covid-19.

07:48 Trump ordered his ministers to help Italy fight the virus

US President Donald Trump ordered the representatives of his administration to help Italy in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Aid should consist of providing medical supplies and humanitarian aid.

07:25 Germany has 117,658 infected with the coronavirus and 2,544 victims

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany increased by 4,133 to 117,658 in the last 24 hours. Another 171 people died in the country, making the total number of victims of the disease 2,544.

07:17 Over 2,000 people died of the coronavirus in the US in a single day

The United States became the first country in the world where more than 2,000 people died of the coronavirus in a single day. According to Johns Hopkins University, 2,108 deaths from the covid-19 disease increased in the country in 24 hours. The total number of victims in the country is 18,586, and there are almost 500,000 infected, AFP reported.

07:00 The number of people with covid-19 rose by 163 on Friday, the lowest in a week

There are 5,732 people in the Czech Republic with proven covid-19 disease. On Friday, 163 cases of infection with the new coronavirus were added, which is the smallest increase this week so far.

SATURDAY 11.4.

23:10 Due to covid-19, Alaska is holding primaries by correspondence only

In the US state of Alaska, the deadline for sending ballots in the Democratic Party's presidential nomination race ends today. This is now almost certainly secured by former Vice President Joe Biden, who remained the last candidate from a field of more than twenty contenders. The remote state should publish the results on Saturday.

21:30 Coronavirus: Google and Apple team up for digital surveillance

Google and Apple have formed an unexpected partnership to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. They want to enable up to a third of the planet's population to find out with the help of a technological device in a smartphone whether they have come into contact with infected covid-19 diseases. According to global agencies, the giant technology companies announced this today, saying that people will have to log into the system. It could monitor up to three billion inhabitants of the planet.

20:51 Fewer than originally predicted 100,000 people will die in the US, Trump said

In the United States, significantly fewer people will lose their lives in connection with the covid-19 pandemic than the originally predicted 100,000 people. President Donald Trump made the announcement at his daily press briefing. He added that the pandemic in the US is slowly approaching its peak, as the contagion has been brought under control in several of the worst-hit areas in recent days. The daily increase in the number of new infections is decreasing across the country, which Trump said is a sign that the pandemic is "flattening the curve".

20:44 France already has over 13,000 victims, the number of ICU patients is decreasing

In France, the number of victims of the coronavirus exceeded 13,000, 987 infected people died in the last day, of which 554 were in hospitals and 433 in social facilities. The Ministry of Health informed about it. There are over 90,000 infected, but the number of new cases was less than on Thursday. Ministry official Jérôme Salomon told a regular press conference that despite the tragic daily death toll, the declining number of patients in intensive care units can be considered good news. Already on Thursday, their number decreased by less than a hundred to 7,066, today another 62 beds became available in these wards.

19:57 The head of the WHO warned against canceling restrictive measures against the coronavirus

States should be cautious in relaxing the restrictive measures that their governments have taken to slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus worldwide. According to Reuters, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this. The WHO would like to see easing, but at the same time warns that "the lifting of restrictions could be premature

st to a deadly recovery", the general director of the organization declared at a press conference. According to him, no country "is immune to the coronavirus, no country can claim to have a sufficiently strong healthcare system".

19:27 The covid-19 disease has already claimed over 100,000 lives worldwide

Over 1.6 million people have been infected with the coronavirus, which causes the disease, and the infection has claimed over 100,000 lives. It was written by Reuters, which collected data from individual states. The Chinese city of Wuhan recorded the first death on January 9. The world passed the 50,000 dead mark 83 days later, but it took just eight days to cross the 100,000 mark.

19:00 980 people died in Britain in one day

An additional 980 patients with the coronavirus have died in British hospitals, this is the highest daily toll since the beginning of the epidemic. The total number of victims in the United Kingdom is already 8,958. Health Minister Matt Hancock said this at a press conference. In terms of the number of deaths in a single day, Britain has now surpassed the most tragic record in Italy, where the highest daily statistic from the end of March recorded 969 deaths.

18:28 In Italy, 570 people have died with the coronavirus, the balance is decreasing

In Italy, 570 people with the coronavirus died in the last day, which is less than on Thursday. The total number of victims is 18,849. The number of newly infected people is also lower than the previous day. It increased by 3,951 to 147,577. The Office of Civil Protection informed about it. The balance of new victims and newly diagnosed patients has remained roughly the same in recent days and has not increased as much as it did in previous weeks. According to experts, this means that the covid-19 epidemic has reached its peak and the situation may begin to improve significantly soon.

18:25 Prague still has the largest number of positive cases

The largest number of covid-19 cases remains in Prague. According to the ministry's data, 1,379 infected people were recorded there as of Friday evening, which is almost a quarter of all cases in the Czech Republic. Prague also has the largest proportion of cases per inhabitant. For every 100,000 inhabitants of the capital, there are more than a hundred cases of covid-19.

5,674 positive tests in the Czech Republic at 17:45, there are already 119 victims

The number of people tested positive rose to 5,674, an increase of 85 compared to Friday morning. By Friday evening, 119 people had died in connection with the disease caused by the new coronavirus, i.e. 6 more than in the morning. This follows from data on a special website of the Ministry of Health.

17:12 Ostrava City Hospital has 20 infected employees

There are currently 20 employees who have tested positive for covid-19 at the Ostrava Municipal Hospital. There were five new people with confirmed infection. The staff tests are not quite finished yet. Hospital spokesperson Andrea Vojkovská said it.

16:49 Inedible behavior was immoral, but not criminal, the public prosecutor's office decided

President Miloš Zeman's advisor Martin Nejedlý behaved immorally when he repeatedly violated the recommended quarantine after returning from China in March, but he did not commit a crime. This conclusion was reached on April 1 by the District Attorney's Office for Prague 7, the Deník N server reported today. Covid-19 caused by the coronavirus, which began to spread from China at the turn of December and January, was not yet on the list of contagious diseases under Czech law at the time. the dissemination of which is criminal.

16:12 MPs and senators are to remain without salary for half a year, suggested Klaus

Deputies and senators should remain without salary for half a year. It was proposed in the amendment by the unaffiliated MP Václav Klaus Jr. (Tricolor). According to him, the legislators would thereby express solidarity with people whose incomes have fallen due to the coronavirus crisis and who will be affected by the expected economic crisis. Other members of parliament have a reserved attitude towards the proposal, and also mention populism. The chairman of the STAN movement, Vít Rakušan, believes that it is appropriate to talk about the solidarity of MPs and senators and to decide on the adjustment of salaries according to the negative development of the economy. "But not receiving salaries for half a year is an absolutely populist cry. Parliament is my only job," said the Austrian. Moreover, it is not certain whether the legislators will discuss the amendment at all by the end of the election period.

16:11 The smart quarantine should be fully operational by the end of April

By the end of April, the smart quarantine should be in full swing, the form of which is now being finalized by experts across all departments. If the project is fully underway, it will be possible to gradually loosen the current blanket quarantine, said the director of the Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine (ÚMTM) of the Faculty of Medicine in Olomouc, Marián Hajdúch, who coordinates the domestic sample testing laboratories in the project.

15:32 Belgium has over 3,000 victims of the coronavirus, 496 deaths per day

In Belgium today, the number of victims of the coronavirus exceeded 3,000, the authorities recorded a record 496 deaths in the last day. But the media pointed out that the new balance included 171 people who succumbed to covid-19 between March 18 and 31 in homes for the elderly in Flanders. In the Netherlands, the death toll rose by 115 to 2,511, the Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said.

15:29 Italy wants to keep people at home for Easter, drones are also monitoring it

Easter holidays and pleasant spring weather in Italy would normally mean the movement of hundreds of thousands of people to the sea, to summer apartments or to the mountains, but due to the coronavirus and the nationwide quarantine, the authorities are now keeping a close eye on the travel ban being violated as little as possible. During the holidays, police checks will be tightened, some roads to seaside resorts will be closed, and helicopters and drones will also monitor people's movements, APA wrote.

15:05 New York is apparently burying some victims in mass graves

Images and a video taken from a drone have appeared on the Internet, showing workers in protective suits placing coffins in mass graves in New York. According to the BBC, it is likely that many of the newly buried were victims of the coronavirus. The US state of New York now has more confirmed cases of the coronavirus than any single country in the world. According to local authorities, the number of infected people rose by 10,000 to 159,937 on Thursday, and 7,000 people succumbed to the disease. A cemetery with mass graves is located on New York's Hart Island, where the bodies of the dead who had no relatives or money for a funeral are laid to rest.

14:38 Most ski areas will not open over Easter

Most ski areas in the Czech Republic will remain closed over the Easter holidays, even though there is plenty of snow on the slopes in many places. The Association of Mountain Resorts (AHS) does not recommend launching lifts. According to her, the easing of measures and the possibility to open outdoor sports grounds do not apply to ski lifts. This was said by the director of the Libor Knot association.

14:13 Doctors: Patients do not need to be afraid to visit the doctor's office, it is better to call them

Patients do not need to be afraid to visit a dentist's office or an outpatient specialist's office, according to doctors. At the beginning of March, doctors called on patients, especially due to the lack of protective equipment for ambulances, not to go to surgeries unless absolutely necessary. In an open letter to the government, the Association of Outpatient Specialists of the Czech Republic, the Association of Private Gynecologists of the Czech Republic and the Czech Stomatological Chamber warn that they too may have financial problems due to the limitation of care for ordinary patients. The first cases of the covid-19 disease appeared in the Czech Republic on March 1, and more than 5,500 people have fallen ill so far. Going out outside of necessary cases is limited, but a trip to the doctor is one of the exceptions.

13:46 Austria crosses the threshold of 13,000 people infected with the coronavirus

The number of confirmed cases of infection with the coronavirus in Austria has exceeded 13,000. 319 infected people have already succumbed to the covid-19 disease in the country, the Ministry of Health reported. For almost a week, however, the number of recoveries in Austria has been higher than the number of new infections. However, according to a current study by the Sora agency, the actual number of infected people in the country is significantly higher.

13:17 Culture Minister Zaorálek rejected criticism of private theaters

Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD) rejected the call of the owners of private Prague theaters to resign. It bothers them that none of the sum of 1.07 billion crowns, which was approved by the government on Thursday to save culture, will go to the sector that does not receive subsidies. "It doesn't surprise me that those who make a business out of culture are the ones who shout the most and attack professional commissions for not being able to appreciate their artistic qualities. I never said that I don't want to help those who run businesses in culture, run musical theaters, music clubs or even rock festivals," Zaorálek responded. He stated that in the first wave he managed to get money for the non-profit part of culture, i.e. for entities that do not generate profit and therefore cannot have any reserves.

12:05 According to his father, the British Prime Minister will need time to recover

“He needs to rest. As far as I know, they've moved him out of intensive care, but I don't think you can say he's completely out of the water now," Stanley Johnson, Boris Johnson's father, told the BBC. "He has to take his time. I don't want to believe that you can march straight into Downing Street after this and take the reins again," added the prime minister's father, who is 79 years old.

11:55 Spain has the fewest coronavirus victims per day since March 24

In Spain, 605 victims of covid-19 have been added since Thursday. According to the newspaper El País, this is the lowest daily increase since March 24. Confirmed cases of infection with the new coronavirus increased by 4,576. In total, the virus has already been detected in 157,022 people, the Spanish Ministry of Health reported today. The total death toll rose to 15,843.

11:35 57 people are already infected in the Ostrava Alzheimer Center

In the Alzheimer Center Ostrava, 40 clients and 17 employees have already been infected with the new type of coronavirus. The center is asking the region for personnel assistance and protective equipment. On Thursday, the center reported 24 positive clients and nine employees, but had the tests repeated for people who initially had a negative result. After retesting, 16 infected clients and eight employees were added. On Thursday, Governor Ivo Vondrák (ANO) said that one person died from this.

11:20 Senators thanked people for managing the epidemic in a relay video

In a one-minute video, the representatives of the senatorial factions thanked the people for behaving responsibly and helping each other in managing the coronavirus epidemic. The thanksgiving takes the form of relay performances by representatives of individual senatorial factions.

11:18 The owners of private theaters called on Zaorálek to resign

Owners of private theaters in Prague have called for the resignation of Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD). It bothers them that none of the sum of 1.07 billion crowns, which was approved by the government on Thursday to save culture, will go to the sector that does not receive subsidies. The radio station Frequency 1 reported about it today. The challenge was written by the producer and owner of the Prague Broadway Theater Oldřich Lichtenberg, and according to Frequency 1, other Prague private scenes are joining it.

11:05 AM Another 6 planes with protective equipment will arrive in the Czech Republic from China by Monday

On the extended Easter weekend, six planes of the carrier China Eastern will arrive in the Czech Republic from China with medical equipment to fight the covid-19 epidemic. The first of the planes landed today after 07:00 in Prague at the Ruzyn airport. Firefighters have already unloaded the cargo from the plane and set off with it to the police warehouse in Opočínek near Pardubice. From there, the firefighters will continue to deliver medical supplies to the regions. Firefighters' spokesman Rudolf Kramář told ČTK.

11:00 Russia recorded the highest daily increase in the number of people infected with the coronavirus

In Russia, 1,786 people have been infected with the coronavirus since Thursday, which is the highest daily increase so far, the country's crisis staff announced today. The total number of infected thus rose to 11,917. The number of dead increased by 18 to the current 94.

10:20 University canteens are experiencing a difficult time

Due to the spread of the coronavirus, after the schools closed a month ago, the operation of university catering facilities was also reduced or completely interrupted. The number of diners in canteens that continue to operate has dropped significantly. For example, at Charles University (UK), compared to normal operation, around five percent of meals are now cooked. For example, the University of Economics (VŠE) has a canteen open only for employees, the canteens of the University of Chemistry and Technology (VŠCHT) canteens now cook a third of the meals compared to normal. Some time ago, the Czech University of Technology (ČVUT) or the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague (ČZU) completely closed their canteens.

10:00 a.m. Due to the pandemic, there are no clappers, but the clatter is heard from the gardens

An unusual silence accompanies the Easter holidays this year in the small villages of the Olomouc Region. They are missing clappers who, like girls with a mayo or a fiddler, cannot go around houses due to the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, Easter customs have been observed in many villages for generations. However, a number of municipalities made up for the clattering and clapping in other ways. They called on the carolers to substitute the sound of wooden clappers for the ringing of the church bells that had flown to Rome at the appointed times at home in the gardens.

8:55 AM There are over 5,500 people infected with the coronavirus in the Czech Republic, 309 people have recovered

As of this morning, there were 5,589 people in the Czech Republic with proven covid-19 disease. On Thursday, their number increased by 257. According to updated data on the website of the Ministry of Health, the number of cured patients increased by eight compared to early Thursday evening to 309. The number of people infected with the coronavirus who died in hospitals rose by one to 113 over the same period. The laboratory in In the Czech Republic, 8,009 tests were done for the new coronavirus on Thursday, 155 less than the previous record Wednesday. The total number of tests performed thus rose to 114,854.

8:25 a.m. The ministry ordered testing of nursing home employees

Homes for the elderly and similar facilities must ensure that their employees are tested for the new type of coronavirus every 14 days from today. Facilities must keep records of examinations, employees must report infection to hygienists, who will order them to be quarantined. The regions and the capital Prague must supply social service providers with enough rapid tests. This follows from an extraordinary measure issued by the Ministry of Health on Thursday.

8:10 a.m. 1,783 people with the coronavirus died in a single day in the USA

In the United States, 1,783 people infected with the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus died on Thursday. This was shown last night by data from Johns Hopkins University (JHU), which monitors the spread of the coronavirus in the US and around the world. The total number of victims of the coronavirus pandemic in the USA has already exceeded 16,500. According to JHU, the infection was confirmed in approximately 460,000 people in the USA, and in approximately 1.6 million people worldwide. A total of roughly 95,000 patients died in connection with infection with the virus that causes the lung disease covid-19. In the meantime, approximately 350,000 people got rid of the infection.

7:40 Korea reports only 27 new cases of coronavirus, Daegu city none

The South Korean city of Daegu, worst affected by the coronavirus, has reported no new cases of infection today for the first time since late February. In general, there are a record low number of new cases in Korea, Reuters reported. Today, South Korea reported 27 new cases since the night before, with the daily increase still exceeding the 900 mark in late February, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said today. Tegu was the first major outbreak outside of China. There have been 6,807 confirmed cases reported from there so far, the majority of all South Korean cases, which number 10,450. The death toll rose by four to 208, according to the KCDC.

7:38 The number of people with covid-19 increased by 257 on Thursday to 5,569

In the Czech Republic, there are 5,569 people with confirmed infection with the new type of coronavirus. There were 257 more on Thursday. This is according to updated data on the website of the Ministry of Health. 112 people have died in hospitals from covid-19, which is caused by the virus, and 301 have recovered, according to the ministry. Data on victims and those cured are valid as of early Thursday evening. The most new cases of infection this week were on Wednesday, with 295. The least on Tuesday, when tests revealed 195 new infections. Laboratories in the Czech Republic have so far performed 106,845 tests for the presence of the coronavirus. The record was Wednesday with 8164 tests. The data for Thursday will be published by the ministry this morning. According to the permanent residence of the patient, the highest number of people with covid-19 is still in Prague, namely 1,342. It is followed by the Central Bohemian Region with 672 cases and the Moravian-Silesian Region with 584 cases

FRIDAY, APRIL 10

23:00 EU finance ministers agreed on a plan to revive economies

The finance ministers of the European Union countries agreed today that the eurozone countries will be able to use the ESM rescue fund without any conditions to revive the economies affected by the coronavirus crisis. This was announced by several ministers after today's Eurogroup video conference. On the other hand, the ministers did not reach an agreement on the issue of joint bonds, which the most affected countries such as Italy and Spain stood for. According to them, the leaders of the EU countries have to decide on other possible instruments.

22:02 The last two pensioners from Břevnice are suffering from the coronavirus

In the retirement home in Břevnice near Havlíčkov Brod, the last two seniors were also confirmed to have covid-19 during repeated tests. Hana Hlaváčková, director of the home, said this today. The rest of the 22 residents of the home were already infected at the end of March, as well as some of the staff. Two clients have since died, two are hospitalized. The device is in quarantine.

22:00 Hygienists examine the president's meeting with his team

Hygienists deal with the meeting of the president and his expert team in Lány. The opposition criticizes this for an irresponsible approach to measures against the coronavirus, as the participants sat close to each other. Police chief Jan Švejdar confirmed the information in a broadcast by Czech Radio.

21:40 1.5 million people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus

Coronavirus, which began to spread from the central Chinese province of Hubei at the beginning of this year, has already infected approximately 1.5 million people worldwide. This follows from data from the American Johns Hopkins University. 90,000 people succumbed to the covid-19 disease caused by the coronavirus. With more than 15,700 dead, the United States has surpassed Spain in the number of victims of the pandemic and ranked second behind Italy. The number of deaths in Italy increased again after two days, and Turkey, Russia and Ukraine report a record increase in infected people.

21:20 France reports over 12,000 victims

Since the beginning of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in France, 12,210 infected people have died. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Health of France, Jérôme Salomon. The number of deaths after hospitalization increased by 424 to a total of 8,044, the remaining victims of the covid-19 disease are reported from homes for the elderly. An additional 4,300 people have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus in French hospitals, bringing the total number of cases to 86,334.

20:40 Boris Johnson is no longer in ICU

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved from the intensive care unit to a normal inpatient ward. This was announced by representatives of the prime minister's office. Johnson and his health will continue to be closely monitored.

20:30 In his speech, Babiš called on citizens to stay at home for Easter

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) called on people to follow the rules and stay at home on Easter. According to him, they should not visit relatives, be in closed spaces with many people or go to carols. The Prime Minister said this in today's speech broadcast by three main television stations and Radiožurnál. He hopes that no one will think of visiting the elderly during the holidays, as the elderly are the most vulnerable group of residents, he said. According to the prime minister, Easter can become a holiday of hope in the fight against the coronavirus if people maintain discipline. He also thanked the health workers and praised the churches that held services online.

20:00 Prime Minister Johnson's condition is improving, says a spokesman

The health condition of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is suffering from covid-19, is improving. This was said by a government spokesman, according to whom the Prime Minister is still receiving oxygen. Johnson spent a third night in the intensive care unit and according to British media, he may not return to work for several months. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is now interim chief of staff, admitted he had not been in touch with the prime minister since he was taken to hospital. "The prime minister had a good night and his condition continues to improve in intensive care," Johnson's spokesman said after midday, adding that the prime minister was "in good spirits." According to the spokesman, the Prime Minister is still using supportive oxygen treatment, but is not connected to a lung ventilator.

19:57 Zeman signed a proposal for a contribution of CZK 25,000 for the self-employed

Entrepreneurs and other self-employed persons (SOVČ) will be able to receive a one-time contribution of 25,000 crowns from the state as compensation for the effects of the crisis related to the coronavirus. President Miloš Zeman signed the government proposal today, informed his spokesman Jiří Ovčáček. The draft was approved by the Senate today, and on Tuesday it was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies in an accelerated discussion. Independent farmers or doctors, for example, will be able to apply for the so-called compensation bonus in addition to self-employed people.

19:46 Turkey has a record number of deaths per day

In Turkey, the number of victims of the coronavirus increased the most in the last day since the beginning of the epidemic, 96 people died. The total number of deaths is 908. The authorities register over 42,000 infected people, 4,056 new cases have been added since Wednesday, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca informed today. According to the minister, the country has conducted the most covid-19 tests so far today – over 28,000. In total, almost 280,000 people have been tested in Turkey so far. Despite the ever-increasing number of people being tested, the daily increase in new cases is increasing only very slightly, Koca pointed out. There were 4,117 new infections on Wednesday, 3,892 on Tuesday and 3,148 on Monday.

18:40 USA records over 15,700 dead

The covid-19 pandemic has already claimed more than 15,700 lives in the United States. It was announced by the Reuters agency, which keeps its own statistics. The American Johns Hopkins University, which monitors the spread of the coronavirus worldwide, records over 14,800 victims in the USA. The state of New York, which is the most affected in the USA, announced today that 799 infected people died there on Wednesday. A day earlier, 779 people succumbed to the infection.

18:35 Britain reports another 881 deaths

At least 7,978 patients with a positive test for the coronavirus have already died in hospitals in Britain. The official tally increased by 881 cases over the past day, slightly less than the day before. British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab announced at a press conference that developments are not yet such that restrictions on the movement of residents can be relaxed. The quarantine regime has been in effect in Britain since March 23. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced its introduction, saying that the measure could be reassessed after three weeks. However, Raab has now made it clear that the restrictions will remain unchanged next week. "We're not over it yet. We have to persevere," he told reporters.

18:15 The number of dead and infected has risen in Italy

In Italy, 610 patients with the coronavirus died in the last day, which is more than in the two previous days. In total, the country already has 18,279 victims of the covid-19 disease. Compared to Wednesday, the number of newly infected people has also increased, the number of infected people is already over 143,000, the civil protection office informed today. Today's balance sheet indicated that the downward statistical trends of the last few days may not yet mean that the epidemic has receded. The number of newly diagnosed cases today is the highest since April 5. The positive news, however, is that for the sixth day in a row, the number of patients in intensive care units has been decreasing - there are now 3,605. The number of those who have recovered rose to 28,470 from Wednesday's 26,491.

18:08 Prague will introduce widespread testing of employees of retirement homes

Prague municipality will start widespread testing of employees in homes for the elderly for covid-19. The first to be tested will be the employees of the homes, where they are preparing for a voluntary quarantine, during which they will be with the clients in the home 24/7. Prague has also allocated social workers who will help families who want to take in a relative from home. Councilor Milena Johnová (Praha Sobě) told journalists today. In Prague, the infection appeared in the municipal home for the elderly in Chodov and in a private facility in Michli, where several clients have already died.

17:35 The Czech Republic has 5,467 confirmed infected, 112 dead, 301 cured

The total number of people confirmed to be infected with the new type of coronavirus rose to 5,467. So far, 112 people have died from the disease, and 301 have been cured. The website of the Ministry of Health provided the information.

16:43 The US and Britain warn against cyberattacks

The American and British cyber security agencies have drawn attention to the increasing hacker attacks, the perpetrators of which are trying to take advantage of the consequences of the covid-19 pandemic. In a joint recommendation, they warned against attempts by cybercriminals to exploit weaknesses in systems supporting work from home or against fraudulent e-mails that are passed off as World Health Organization (WHO) materials. The security risks associated with working from home were already pointed out by experts and government officials last month. They said that the change in working mode could introduce more security gaps in systems, while criminals would try to exploit people's fears about a health threat to steal passwords and spread malware.

16:30 The Senate approved CZK 25,000 for the self-employed

Entrepreneurs and other self-employed persons will be able to receive a one-off contribution of 25,000 crowns from the state as compensation for the effects of the crisis related to the coronavirus. Today, the government's proposal was approved by the Senate without changes. On Tuesday, it was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in an accelerated discussion, and now it will be signed by the President of the Republic. Independent farmers or doctors, for example, will be able to apply for the so-called compensation bonus in addition to self-employed people. Applications will be submitted to the tax authorities.

16:00 The government has resumed the activities of the National Economic Council of the State

Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (ANO) informed about the renewal of the council at a press conference after the cabinet meeting. The main task of the council is to search for possible problems in the functioning of the economy or make recommendations in the preparation of the government's strategic economic documents. The council should also evaluate the measures taken due to the spread of the coronavirus and propose measures related to the preparation of the state budget for 2021.

15:30 The government has included pharmaceutical manufacturers in the critical infrastructure regime

The government has decided to include pharmaceutical manufacturers in the so-called critical infrastructure regime. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) said this at a press conference after today's government meeting. According to the law, critical infrastructure are companies whose function would be disrupted if it were to have a serious impact on the security of the state, the provision of basic life needs of the population or the health of people. These are, for example, energy operations or operators of oil or gas pipelines. According to Vojtěch, the inclusion of pharmaceutical manufacturers in the critical infrastructure is appropriate, because pharmaceuticals are a strategic commodity. In the future, according to the minister, the state will have to work to keep pharmaceutical companies on its territory and not be so dependent on imports.

14:50 The government has relaxed the obligation to wear masks for autistic people and some drivers

Drivers of public transport in closed cabs will not have to wear masks, nor will household members traveling in the same car. On the relaxation of the obligation to wear masks or other protective equipment over the mouth and nose in public during the coronavirus epidemic for selected groups. Autistic people were also exempted.

14:40 Health care workers will no longer be prohibited from vacation

Taking into account the epidemiological situation, the government supported the cancellation of the emergency measure of the Ministry of Health, which introduced the ban, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) told journalists after the cabinet meeting. According to another decision of the Ministry and the Government, governors will receive a list of students in the last years of medical faculties who have been required to work during the state of emergency. "The work obligation still applies, we give governors the opportunity to make decisions, a list of students in individual fields so that they can allocate them," said Vojtěch.

14:30 The government approved a package to help culture, releasing 1.07 billion CZK

The government will release over a billion crowns to help culture affected by measures against the coronavirus. Independent art will receive 440 million crowns, and 300 million crowns will go to support regional culture. Contribution organizations in the resort, where the National Theater, the National Museum or the National Monument Institute are among the 29 institutions, will receive 300 million crowns from the package so far.

14:20 The government has resumed the activities of the National Economic Council of the Government

It will have 15 members from academia and business. After the government meeting, the Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO) informed about it. The main task of the council is to search for possible problems in the functioning of the economy or to prepare recommendations for the preparation of the government's strategic economic documents. The council should also evaluate the measures taken due to the spread of the coronavirus and propose measures related to the preparation of the state budget for 2021.

14:10 The Moser glass factory will temporarily close production, instead it will help the hospital

The Moser glass factory in Karlovy Vary will temporarily close production. The luxury glass manufacturer will discontinue it until the end of April. The reason is lower demand and employee protection from the coronavirus. Even so, Moser will help the Karlovy Vary Regional Hospital with a donation of protective equipment. "Unfortunately, we have to temporarily close the glass factory. We are led to this by the drop in commercial demand, but also by the fact that it is currently not possible to protect the health of the glassblowers in the manual production of crystal. The health and safety of our employees are a priority for us," said Kateřina Zapletalová, co-owner of the Moser glass factory.

13:55 Switzerland already has over 23,000 infected, Austria almost 13,000

In Switzerland, 785 new cases of infection with the coronavirus and 51 deaths from the covid-19 disease have been added in the last 24 hours. In total, there are already 23,574 detected cases and 756 deaths in the country, the Federal Health Office (BAG) reported today. In Austria, the number of new cases continues to decrease. Only 294 have been added since Wednesday, the previous increase was 343 new infections. Austria registers 295 victims of covid-19.

13:20 The government has extended the state of emergency due to the coronavirus until April 30

The state of emergency due to the threat to the health of the population due to the epidemic of a new type of coronavirus has been in force in the Czech Republic since 14:00 on March 12 and was supposed to expire on Saturday, April 11. The Cabinet had to ask the House of Representatives for the possibility of extending the state of emergency, which agreed to it on Tuesday.

13:00 Two clients of Ostrava homes with the infection died of covid-19

Eight people have died of covid-19 in the Moravian-Silesian Region so far. Among them are clients of the Ostrava Alzheimer Center and the Iris Home for the Elderly. Both women were born in 1924 and had other illnesses. The region wants to test staff in social facilities with the help of rapid tests.

12:40 TOP 09 wants a compromise version of state aid with rents

TOP 09 is preparing a compromise proposal, according to which the state would pay 40 or 60 percent of the rent of entrepreneurs whose operations have been substantially reduced or completely interrupted by government measures against the spread of the coronavirus. In the House of Representatives, the party did not push for compensation to be 80 and 100 percent.

12:15 Spain has over 15,000 dead and 150,000 infected

The number of victims of covid-19 in Spain exceeded 15,000, 683 people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours. This is a lower number of new victims than in the previous two days, Reuters reported, citing statistics from the Spanish Ministry of Health. The infection has been confirmed in the country so far in 152,446 people, which is 5,756 more than on Wednesday. More than 50,000 people from the total number of infected have already recovered.

12:05 In Poland, another six infected people died in a day, eight in Hungary

Since Wednesday, there have been 136 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in Poland and another six infected people have died, the Ministry of Health reported in Warsaw. In Hungary, according to the government website koronavirus.gov.hu, 85 people have been newly infected and there have been eight more deaths. 5,341 cases of infection have been diagnosed in Poland so far. 164 patients infected with the coronavirus have already died in the country.

11:50 The number of purchases via EET increased by 12 percent between the weeks in quarantine

In the third week of the coronavirus quarantine, the number of transactions among traders within the EET increased by 12 percent. Their average value increased by nine percent compared to the second week. The number of entrepreneurs who started a business increased by three percent in the third week. Roughly 66 percent of businesses are still out of business. This follows from the current statistics of eKasa

11:35 Johnson is still in the ICU, the government will discuss further steps

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is still in a stable condition after spending the third night in the intensive care unit due to the covid-19 disease. In an interview with the public broadcaster BBC, Deputy Culture Minister Oliver Dowden said that the Prime Minister is doing relatively well. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak said Johnson's condition was improving. Today, the British government will discuss the next step in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, which has already claimed more than 7,000 lives in the country.

11:25 Minister: The cure for covid-19 from Japan will be available in a matter of days

The Japanese drug favipiravir should be available for Czech patients with covid-19 within days. Japan will donate part, the Czech Republic will pay part to the local company, said Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO). "The medicine will be administered for the first time in the General University Hospital in Prague. Subsequently, it should also be used in other hospitals. It appears to be quite promising for moderate cases,” he said. The Czech Republic is among the twenty countries for which Japan has allowed the drug to be supplied.

11:15 Prague hospitals have enough protective equipment

The situation with the hospital's supply of protective equipment has stabilized and the facilities have enough of it. Deliveries from the state now come regularly. Since the beginning of the spread of the new type of coronavirus and subsequent government measures, hospitals have not received supplies such as protective masks and respirators. In addition to supplies from the state, the facilities also purchase the material themselves.

10:50 CNN: American intelligence knew about the new coronavirus since November

American intelligence services tracked the spread of the new coronavirus in China as early as last November. It was announced by the CNN news channel. The first news came to Washington several weeks before information about the dangerous virus was first included in a secret briefing for President Donald Trump, the station said, citing military sources.

10:38 The drop in tourism sales will be CZK 50 billion by the end of April

The drop in sales in the tourism industry from the beginning of the crisis to the end of April, until which the state of emergency can last, will reach 50 billion crowns. With the addition of services related to this sector, the losses will amount to over 75 billion crowns. This follows from data from employer and professional associations. They therefore call on the government to start looking into their proposals to save the tourism industry.

10:36 Czechs returning from abroad must report to embassies

All Czechs returning from abroad using their own funds must notify the Czech embassy in advance of the date and method of return. The information will be used by hygiene stations to monitor returnees, who will all have to undergo a two-week quarantine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs drew attention to this on its website. The regulation does not apply to people returning on special repatriation planes or emergency bus lines from European cities.

10:12 Sánchez: The covid-19 epidemic is coming to an end in Spain

The epidemic of the covid-19 disease in Spain will soon begin to come to an end, said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who spoke to the Spanish Parliament today before the vote on extending the state of emergency. According to the prime minister, the data from the last few days are encouraging, El País newspaper reported. "We are getting the fire under control," Sánchez said ahead of a vote to decide whether the country would remain in a state of emergency until April 26.

9:54 Study: The virus can throw about half a billion people into poverty

The economic impact of the coronavirus crisis could plunge roughly half a billion people into poverty. This follows from a study by the United Nations (UN). According to experts, poverty will see the first global increase in 30 years, the study predicts an increase in the number of people living in poverty by 400 to 600 million. "Our findings highlight the importance of dramatically expanding social service networks in developing countries," said Professor Andy Sumner of King's College London. By the time the pandemic caused by the coronavirus ends, according to the study, half of the world's population of 7.8 billion people could live in poverty, the BBC server quotes from the study.

8:48 Over 100 people have died in the Czech Republic with the coronavirus, there are over 100,000 tests

The number of people with covid-19 who died in Czech hospitals exceeded 100 cases. According to the updated statistics of the Ministry of Health, the number of deaths between Wednesday and today rose by 11 to 104. In total, there are 5,335 confirmed cases of infection with the new coronavirus in the Czech Republic as of this morning. Laboratories in the Czech Republic conducted a record 8,164 tests for the coronavirus on Wednesday. The total number of tests performed thus exceeded 100,000 and rose to 106,845 as of this morning.

7:20 a.m. Almost 5,000 people infected with the coronavirus increased in Germany on Wednesday

In Germany, 4,974 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours. This follows from data published today by the Robert Koch Institute. The number of new cases thus increased for the third day in a row after a previous decline, Reuters reported. A total of 108,202 people are infected in Germany, of which 2,107 have died due to the covid-19 disease. Compared to the previous day, the number of victims has now increased by 246. On Tuesday, the Federal Republic recorded a record increase in the number of dead.

6:50 Travel agencies will be able to give vouchers for canceled tours

Domestic travel agencies (TC) will be able to postpone refunds for canceled tours due to the coronavirus with scheduled departures from February 20 to August 31. They will issue vouchers to clients instead. The so-called protection period should apply until August 31 of the next year to postpone the payment. Clients who do not use the voucher by this date will be entitled to a refund of paid deposits. The law, which was approved by the Chamber of Deputies last night in a state of legislative emergency in an accelerated procedure, takes this into account.

6:40 There are another 63 infected with the coronavirus in China

There were 63 new cases of coronavirus infection in China on Wednesday. The local health authorities informed about it. According to Reuters, the country is experiencing an increase in new infections for the second day in a row. Of these, 61 were infected abroad, which is the most since March 25. In total, 81,865 people have been infected with the coronavirus in mainland China.

01:20 People with covid-19 increased by 295 on Wednesday to 5312

In the Czech Republic, 5,312 people have been diagnosed with covid-19, which is caused by a new type of coronavirus. On Wednesday, 295 were added.

00:00 Tenants without income will be temporarily protected from notice from apartments

Tenants without income will probably not be able to get a notice from the apartment due to the fact that, due to the coronavirus epidemic, they will not be able to pay rent until the end of July at the latest. However, they will have to pay off the rent owed by the end of this year. The House approved it on Wednesday. Homeowners and the right-wing opposition protested against the draft, according to which the law does not protect landlords and does not guarantee them that they will not lose money on rent.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9

23:12 Slovakia will close Roma locations where the coronavirus has been confirmed

Slovakia will close several locations with Roma residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Slovakia's chief hygienist Ján Mikas announced this evening. These will be the first cases of blanket quarantine in the country during the covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Igor Matovič added that the coronavirus was detected in five localities where Roma live.

22:46 University entrance exams could be 15 days after the opening of schools

In view of the coronavirus epidemic, universities could conduct them face-to-face or remotely, similar to state exams. The law, which was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives today, provides for this. It has extended the period in which accepted applicants will be able to provide an additional school leaving certificate, from the government's proposed 30 days to 45 days after enrolling in university. The norm will now be considered by the Senate.

21:00 The world registers over 1.4 million people with covid-19 and 85,000 victims

There are over 1.46 million confirmed cases of covid-19 in the world, more than half of which are in Europe. According to the AFP agency, it records over 60,000 of the total 85,000 victims of the coronavirus in the world. The covid-19 pandemic is also causing political disputes. US President Donald Trump has threatened to stop payments to the World Health Organization because, according to him, it has failed to handle the situation and is too pro-China. Disagreements also exist in the EU, whose ministers have not agreed on a plan to stimulate the economy. The EU states also did not agree with the European Commission on the coordination of the lifting of emergency measures. The EC proposed today to extend the closure of the EU's external borders until May 15.

20:20 Poland reported 30 deaths from the coronavirus in a single day

In Poland today, 30 people succumbed to the covid-19 disease, caused by the coronavirus. This was announced by the Ministry of Health. According to the newspaper Rzeczpospolita, this is the highest number of deaths in a single day in the country. Most of the victims of the disease were elderly people suffering from chronic diseases, the ministry added, according to the Onet.pl news website.

20:00 French hospitals report another 541 covid-19 victims

Today, the official balance sheet of the covid-19 disease epidemic in France increased by 541 deaths in a hospital environment. Hospitals across the country are currently registering 7,632 fatal cases of the disease from the coronavirus, another 3,237 victims have already been reported by nursing homes. New data from these devices was not provided by the French government today, Deputy Minister of Health Jérôme Salomon spoke at a press conference about "technical problems".

19:40 Companies with closed operations could be entitled to deferment of rent

Companies that are on rent and had to close their operations due to government measures against the coronavirus will probably be able to request a deferral of rent for the period from March 12 to June 30. They will have until the end of this year to pay the installments, the House of Representatives decided today on the proposal of ANO deputy Helena Válková. The government demanded this protection period until March 31, 2022. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO) agreed to the change. If necessary, the deadlines will be extended by another three months.

19:30 Hygienists register 1,224 covid-19 infections in Prague, Ministry 1,274

Hygienists have registered 1,224 cases of infection with a new type of coronavirus in Prague as of this evening. There were 37 more in the last 24 hours. The death toll from covid-19, which is caused by the coronavirus, was 37 in the capital, two more than on Tuesday evening. The Prague hygiene station published the data on its website. According to data from the Ministry of Health, there are already 1,274 infected in the capital.

19:00 A record number of people succumbed to the coronavirus in New York in one day: 779

In the US state of New York, the number of people who died of the covid-19 disease increased by 779 in the last 24 hours, which is a daily record. As of Tuesday, the increase was 731. So far, 6,268 people have died from the coronavirus in New York state, many times more than the more than 2,700 victims of the attacks on September 11, 2001. State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. According to Reuters, 149,316 cases of infection have been recorded in New York so far.

18:50 The corona virus infection has been confirmed in the caretaker of the home in Kunovice

A caregiver at a home for people with disabilities in Kunovice in the Uherskohradišť region has been confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus. Governor Jiří Čunek (KDU-ČSL) said this today in a broadcast on Facebook. Tests also showed infection in two other staff members at the home for the elderly in Nezdenice in the Uherskohradišť region, where a cook had previously been infected and five dozen people from the staff were then tested there.

18:30 In Italy, 542 people infected with the coronavirus died in one day. Again less than the previous days

In Italy, 542 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last 24 hours, which is less than in the previous two days. Corriere della Sera reported about it. The number of infections rose by 3,836 in a day, which is 800 more than the Italian civil protection announced on Tuesday, when the figure was the lowest in almost four weeks. A total of 139,422 cases of infection have been confirmed in Italy since the end of January, of which 17,669 people have died and 26,491 have already recovered.

18:20 Britain reports another 938 deaths from covid-19, a total of over 7,000

7,097 people who have been confirmed to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have already died in British hospitals. The new tally from the Department of Health means a daily increase of 938 deaths, a new high for Britain. The number of known infected people rose from 52,242 to 60,733, i.e. by almost 8,500. So far, the highest increase in this direction was recorded on Sunday, when almost 6,000 confirmed cases of infection were reported.

17:38 On Wednesday evening, there were officially 5,221 infected people in the Czech Republic, 99 people with the coronavirus died and 233 recovered.

The number of people who died from covid-19 in the Czech Republic rose to 99 today, with eight more victims since morning. The vast majority are people over 60 years old. Recovered patients increased by 52 to 233. According to data on the website of the Ministry of Health, 204 cases of infection with the new type of coronavirus have been added in the Czech Republic so far today, which is slightly more than on Tuesday. The total number of cases in the Czech Republic thus rose to 5,221. The number of tests for today is not yet known.

17:00 Slovakia recorded a record increase in the number of people infected with the coronavirus

Slovakia found 101 people infected with the coronavirus on Tuesday, which is more than double the previous daily maximum. Prime Minister Igor Matovič told journalists today. Three dozen residents of Roma localities have also tested positive, on which the authorities, in cooperation with the army, have focused their testing since last week, fearing that settlements with low hygiene standards may become a focus of infection.

16:45 The police will be able to fine offenses related to the coronavirus

Police officers and constables will apparently be given the option to impose fines of up to 10,000 crowns on people who violate measures against the spread of the coronavirus. The government's draft law, which was approved today by the House, albeit by a relatively narrow majority, takes this into account. Police officers could fine people, for example, for violating restrictions on movement or for not covering their airways. Critics from the ranks of the opposition pointed out that the measures of the government and the Ministry of Health are adopted from day to day and their interpretation is not always unambiguous. For example, it is not clear whether the police will fine the observance of two-meter distances in shops or the wearing of face masks in cars.

16:15 An 84-year-old patient with covid-19 infection died in H. Králové Hospital

An 84-year-old seriously ill patient who tested positive for covid-19 died this morning at the Hradec Králové University Hospital. In the afternoon, there were 11 hospitalized people with covid-19 at the Hradec Faculty Hospital. Six patients were in serious condition, of which two were connected to pulmonary ventilation. Zdeněk Tušl, the deputy director of the Hradec Klan University Hospital, said this. Two patients have already recovered from the infection at the FN.

4:00 p.m. The WTO expects trade to drop by up to 32 percent this year due to the coronavirus

World trade in goods will fall by 13 to 32 percent this year due to the covid-19 pandemic. This year's decline will thus be much sharper than during the global financial crisis ten years ago. Next year, when the pandemic subsides, trade is likely to recover if countries work together. The World Trade Organization (WTO) stated this in its outlook today.

15:50 Three Prague hospitals received lung ventilators from the city

Prague University Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Motol University Hospital and Bulovce Hospital received pulmonary ventilators from Prague. The devices are part of a gift from Taiwan. Vít Hofman, the spokesperson of the municipality, said this. The Czech Republic received 25 pulmonary ventilators as a gift from Taiwan, and nine of them are intended for Prague hospitals. Another delivery of medical supplies, of which the city is in short supply, is due to arrive in Prague.

15:40 28 migrants became infected in two Greek camps

Coronavirus infection was confirmed in two Greek refugee camps north of Athens in 28 migrants. According to the DPA agency, the Minister for Migration, Notis Mitarakis, announced this today in the Greek Parliament. A total of 4,800 people live in the Malakasa and Ritsona camps, which have been in quarantine for several days after the first cases of infection. According to the minister, the infection has not yet been registered in the camps on the Greek islands.

15:20 The third Smartwings plane with equipment from China is heading to the Czech Republic

Another Smartwings plane with medical supplies is heading to the Czech Republic from China. It should arrive at the Prague airport on Thursday around three o'clock in the morning. The next flight is scheduled for next week. Smartwings spokeswoman Vladimíra Dufková told ČTK. The state agreed with the Czech airline on seven flights, the first two of which took place already in the past weeks.

14:50 The hygienists do not use the smart quarantine, they do not contact the operators

Nobody currently uses the so-called smart quarantine system. Neither the creators of the so-called memory maps nor the operators have received any request from hygienists to find out where the infected person has been based on the mobile phone. It follows from the companies' information. As part of the initial testing, several hundred calls were made back in March, which included requests for consent, trace calls, calls to traced contacts or doctors.

14:11 Škoda Auto has extended the production shutdown again, until April 27

Today, Škoda Auto extended the production shutdown at all three of its Czech plants for the third time due to the coronavirus pandemic, until April 27. Production was originally scheduled to start on Monday, April 6. Today, the company communicated information about the extension of the shutdown to employees via an SMS message, which is available to ČTK.

13:51 The European Commission postponed the plan to relax restrictions after criticism from the states

The European Commission did not agree with the member states of the European Union on a joint plan that would coordinate the cancellation of emergency measures introduced due to the coronavirus. The EU executive originally wanted to present a draft strategy for their release today, but after the negative reactions of some countries, it postponed it for at least a week. The commissioners discussed today via video conference how to take into account the different situations in the member countries, announced the spokesperson of the EC.

13:09 EU countries have supported the further use of cohesion money to fight the infection

The states of the European Union supported the further use of money from the cohesion policy to fight the coronavirus. Today, the ambassadors of the EU countries approved the proposal of the European Commission, which will allow the money tied up in the structural funds to be used as flexibly as possible to support the healthcare sector or sectors affected by the current crisis.

12:44 WHO warns against lifting measures against the coronavirus too soon

The progress achieved in Europe in the fight against the coronavirus is still extremely fragile, and states should therefore carefully consider whether the time has come to ease measures against its spread. This was announced today by the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Europe, Hans Kluge, according to the AP agency. Austria, Denmark and the Czech Republic announced the cancellation of some measures taken in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in recent days.

11:17 The uncontrolled spread of covid-19 has been stopped in the Czech Republic, said Minister Vojtěch

In the Czech Republic, according to Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO), the uncontrolled spread of the covid-19 disease has been stopped and the country can start preparing for a return to normal life. At the end of April, he estimates 10,600 patients, a week ago there was talk of around 14,200 patients. He told journalists at a press conference today.

10:51 A number of parishes will conduct Easter services online

Roughly a quarter to a third of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Olomouc, which includes Olomouc, Zlín and part of the South Moravian and Pardubice regions, will try to provide the faithful with at least online services during the most important Christian holidays. The Olomouc archbishopric itself is preparing a live broadcast on Maundy Thursday, namely the missa chrismatis, a mass with consecration of oils. However, a number of ceremonies had to be canceled due to the number of people in one place or the irreplaceable atmosphere, said Jiří Gračka, a spokesman for the Olomouc archdiocese.

10:38 Pokorná Jermanová called for the extension of aid for self-employed people

Central Bohemia Governor Jaroslava Pokorná Jermanová (ANO) called on the government to expand aid for entrepreneurs. According to her, their VAT payments should be waived or postponed due to the effects of the coronavirus crisis. She has already written a letter to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), Finance Minister Alena Schillerová and Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček (both for ANO), Helena Frintová from the regional office said today.

10:19 The new application is intended to clearly inform about the coronavirus in the Czech Republic

The new mobile application Koronavirus COVID-19 informs about the current situation regarding the coronavirus in the Czech Republic. It also provides an overview of recommendations, prevention and professional psychological help. Charles University (UK) spokesperson Václav Hájek announced this in a press release today. The application can now be used for free by people in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is available for mobile phones with the Android operating system and can also be downloaded by iPhone owners.

10:18 New York has more infected than the whole of Italy

The state of New York currently reports 140,078 cases of infection, which is more than the whole of Italy, which records 135,586 infected. So far, 5,558 people have died in the state.

10:04 Slovakia has restricted the free movement of people due to the coronavirus

In Slovakia, due to the coronavirus, a significant restriction on the free movement of people began to apply today. Compliance with the regulations is checked by police patrols, which is why long lines have formed on the roads in some places. With the measure, which will last until Monday, the government wants to dampen travel during the Easter holidays and thus prevent the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Slovakia has also renewed border controls for the next ten days and allows entry into the country only through selected crossings.

9:25 The British Prime Minister remains in the ICU, his condition is stable

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in hospital due to covid-19, but is in a stable condition. This was stated today by Deputy Minister of Health Edward Argar, Reuters reported. Johnson spent his second night in the intensive care unit. Doctors had him transferred there after the Prime Minister's symptoms of the disease caused by the coronavirus worsened.

8:50 Jourová criticizes disinformation from Russia and propaganda from China

During the pandemic, more and more disinformation is spreading from Russia, the aim of which is to create fear and nervousness in society. Czech European Commissioner Věra Jourová said this in interviews published today by the German DPA agency and the Spanish newspaper El País. According to her, on the contrary, China relies on propaganda. According to Jourová, the European Union fights against it and against fake news with verified facts.

8:30 The number of infection cases in the Czech Republic has increased to 5,033

The number of cases of infection in the Czech Republic increased to 5,033, 91 people died. The number of those cured rose by 8 to 181.

8:28 President Trump threatened the WHO

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, threatened the World Health Organization (WHO) with the suspension of payments from American funds, which he justified by the fact that this UN agency could not handle the situation surrounding the spread of the coronavirus. He announced this on Tuesday evening local time (at night today SELČ) at a press conference in the White House. Even before that, he wrote on Twitter about the WHO that it "screwed up", that it is pro-China and that it issued bad recommendations at the beginning of the pandemic.

6:53 The field hospital in London received the first patients infected with the coronavirus The large field hospital in London, which has a capacity of 4,000 beds for patients with covid-19, began receiving the first patients infected. The British media reported on this last night, but the facility did not specify how many patients it had already received. The field hospital of the NHS state health system called Nightingale was created in nine days in the East London district of Docklands on the site of the ExCel exhibition and conference center. The opening of the crisis facility was attended remotely by the British Prince Charles, who recently recovered from the covid-19 disease.

1:47 In the Czech Republic, over 5,000 people have already been infected with the new coronavirus

The number of cases of infection with the new coronavirus in the Czech Republic has exceeded 5,000. On Tuesday, they increased by 195 to 5,017. Since the beginning of the epidemic, 88 people have died in hospitals from the disease covid-19, which is caused by the coronavirus. On the contrary, 172 patients recovered, according to data from the Ministry of Health.

TUESDAY

22:42 The Chamber of Deputies allowed people and companies to apply for deferment of loan repayments

In connection with the coronavirus epidemic, individuals and companies could suspend the repayment of loans and mortgages for either three or six months. They would be able to choose the length of the break they would have to request. The moratorium is introduced by the government's draft law on certain measures in the repayment of loans, which was approved by the House of Representatives today in a state of legislative emergency. It will now be considered by the Senate, it could be discussed on Thursday.

22:20 The House of Representatives approved a contribution of 25,000 crowns for the self-employed

Entrepreneurs and other self-employed persons will apparently be able to receive a one-off contribution of 25,000 crowns from the state as compensation for the effects of the crisis related to the coronavirus. The Government's proposal was approved by the House of Representatives today in a state of legislative emergency. The tax authorities will be able to apply for it in addition to self-employed farmers or doctors, for example. The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate and signed by the president.

21:20 Formula 1 cancels the ninth race

The Grand Prix of Canada, which was supposed to start the new Formula 1 season on June 14, according to the previous plans, was postponed due to the coronavirus. This was announced today by the organizers of the race in Montreal. This is the ninth Grand Prix this year that has been canceled or postponed.

20:10 Poland will not postpone the presidential election due to the coronavirus, there will be a postal vote

The lower house of the Polish parliament, the Sejm, on the night of Monday to Tuesday, after a long discussion, approved the plan of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party for an exclusively postal vote in the presidential elections in May. The Poles are to choose the head of state on May 10, and the current president Andrzej Duda is the favorite so far.

19:40 There are already over 10,000 victims of the coronavirus in France

Over the past day, 1,417 people died in hospitals and homes for the elderly, and the balance thus increased significantly more than on Monday, when there were 833 new victims. The Ministry of Health announced this today. The number of confirmed cases of infection has increased by 3,777 since Monday to 78,167. There are 30,902 reported infections in nursing homes today.

19:05 Russia has a record number of infected, 1100 cases have been added since Monday

In Russia, the record increase in the number of people infected with the coronavirus continues, compared to Monday, they increased by more than 1,100 to almost 7,500. 58 people died, 11 more than on Monday. In Ukraine, there are almost 1,500 infected, 45 patients have died.

18:30 Italy reports the fewest deaths in 25 days

In Italy, 604 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last day, less than the day before. The number of victims of the covid-19 disease in the country is already 17,127. The spread of the coronavirus is slowing down in Italy, 3,039 new cases of infection have been registered in the last day compared to the previous 3,599 cases. This is the lowest number since March 13, i.e. in 25 days.

17:42 122 infected and 8 dead in the Czech Republic, 45 people have recovered

The number of people who died from covid-19 in the Czech Republic increased by eight to 88, compared to this morning's data. As of 5:45 p.m., according to the Ministry of Health, the number of people who have recovered increased by 45 to 172. In total, the covid-19 disease, which causes a new type coronavirus, confirmed in the Czech Republic in 4,944 people. This follows from the current information of the Ministry

17:38 786 more dead in Great Britain, this is the highest daily increase

In Britain, 786 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last day, this is the most since the beginning of the epidemic. The total number of victims thus exceeded 6,000. The Ministry of Health informed about this today. The number of confirmed cases of covid-19 infection increased by 3,634 compared to the previous balance, the authorities register a total of 55,242 infected.

17:24 New York reports a total of 5489 victims of the coronavirus

In the US state of New York, the death toll from covid-19 increased to a record in the last 24 hours, local governor Andrew Cuomo announced. Authorities are reporting a new death toll of 5,489, which is 731 more than on Monday. According to Cuomo, however, the increase in the number of people who are hospitalized due to the coronavirus infection is slowing down in the state in the northeastern part of the USA.

17:00 Norway will gradually open schools

Norway relaxes some measures against the coronavirus. At the end of April, for example, kindergartens and schools will gradually begin to open. This was reported by the Reuters agency. According to Prime Minister Erna Solbergová, the spread of the coronavirus has been brought under control, but citizens must continue to follow hygiene rules as strictly as possible and work from home as much as possible.

16:53 The deputies approved the extension of the state of emergency until the end of the month

The government can only extend the state of emergency until Thursday, April 30. The House of Representatives agreed to this today due to the current coronavirus crisis. The cabinet itself can declare a state of emergency for a maximum of 30 days. Under the current situation, it would end on Saturday, April 11. The approval of the deputies was necessary for the extension. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) recommended the Central Crisis Staff to the ANO and ČSSD minority government for another 30 days.

16:35 The government deals with micromanagement, it doesn't even have time for a conceptual plan

The government deals with micromanagement during the coronavirus epidemic, it has no time or personality for a conceptual plan. Former President Václav Klaus said this in an interview on the Blesk.cz server today. He lacks a conceptual plan for further progress, at the same time he is concerned that the current restrictions will have a long-term negative impact on society and the economy. He expressed his belief that the threat of the coronavirus is being overestimated and that the statistics so far have been misleading. He had himself tested for the coronavirus about three weeks ago, the result was negative.

15:47 England and Wales report 777 new deaths from covid-19

Britain is facing another record increase in the covid-19 death toll today, after England announced 758 new deaths of people hospitalized after being infected with the coronavirus. Another 19 fatal cases of the disease were reported by Wales, the BBC news agency reported. So far, the worst day in this regard was Saturday, when the balance for the whole country increased by 708 dead. English hospitals are already registering 5,655 deaths related to the coronavirus epidemic, up from 4,897 on Monday. The NHS said that of the 758 new cases, 29 patients had no known chronic problems. The ages of these covid-19 victims ranged from 23 to 99.

15:35 Sweden reports 114 new deaths from covid-19, the highest number to date

In Sweden, the death toll from covid-19 increased by 114 over the last day, which is the most since the beginning of the epidemic. In total, there are already 591 victims of the coronavirus in the country, and there are almost 7,700 confirmed cases of infection. However, according to the Swedish Public Health Authority, the latest death toll was affected by the fact that it included victims from the last few days, which were not previously reflected in the daily statistics.

14:47 Israel will introduce mandatory wearing of masks from Sunday

Israel will introduce mandatory wearing of masks starting Sunday. This is stated in the new instruction of the Ministry of Health. The government approved a travel and curfew ban today. The ban is being issued due to the Passover holiday, which begins Wednesday evening. Israelis will not be allowed to travel out of their own village from 18:00 (CEST) today until 5:00 on Friday. The ban on going out to a distance of more than 100 meters from the residence will then apply between 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 6:00 a.m. on Thursday. Traffic will stop at 7pm today until Friday morning.

14:12 VFN could accept three covid-19 patients from abroad

The General University Hospital in Prague could accept three patients with covid-19 from France, and if necessary, its doctors can even travel for them. This was said by hospital spokesperson Marie Heřmánková. The French wanted to send six patients in a serious condition to the Brno University Hospital, but in the end they gave up.

14:11 There are 31 people infected with the coronavirus at the Alzheimer Center in Ostrava

At the Ostrava Alzheimer Center, 23 clients and eight employees were confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus. The device is still waiting for the test results of some clients. Most infected clients have no symptoms of the disease. The facility is still managing to take care of them, Martina Svobodová said today for the center.

13:58 The government has shortened the minimum period of stay abroad for commuters

The government shortened the minimum stay abroad for so-called commuters from three to two weeks. From next Tuesday, cross-border workers will be able to return to the Czech Republic after 14 days of work abroad, but they will have to go into preventive quarantine for two weeks, as before. Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) told journalists today. Exceptions to this rule are employees in healthcare, social services and the integrated rescue system. They will be joined by critical infrastructure workers.

13:25 Covid-19 has already killed almost 76,000 people worldwide

Almost 76,000 people worldwide have already succumbed to the covid-19 disease. At the same time, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was confirmed in about 1.36 million people. The most victims of the disease are still recorded in Italy (16,523), followed by Spain (13,798) and in third place is the United States with almost 11,000 dead. This follows from data from the American Johns Hopkins University, which monitors the development of the pandemic worldwide.

12:11 Amateur football competitions will not be completed, the cup has been postponed

All amateur football competitions in the Czech Republic from the third league below have been prematurely terminated due to the pandemic of a new type of coronavirus. The executive committee of the Football Association of the Czech Republic decided on it today. The FAČR management postponed the semi-finals and final of the domestic cup indefinitely, according to chairman Martin Malík, the MOL Cup could be played in June.

11:55 Austria has 243 covid-19 victims, quarantine has ended in Tyrol

To date, 12,332 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Austria. 243 people succumbed to the covid-19 disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the Austrian Ministry of Health reported. More than 4,000 people have recovered from covid-19. In the most affected federal state of Tyrol, the nationwide quarantine ended today, and the same measures as in the rest of Austria now apply in most local municipalities.

11:50 In Spain, the number of victims of the virus rose by 743 to 13,798

The number of victims of the coronavirus in Spain rose by 743 in the last 24 hours, which is about a hundred more than the previous day. A total of 13,798 patients have already died of covid-19 in this country. There are 140,510 confirmed cases of infection, i.e. 5,478 more than on Monday, the Spanish Ministry of Health reported today according to Reuters.

11:20 The state of emergency is in the interest of the residents, Babiš told the deputies

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) today asked the House of Representatives to extend the state of emergency by one month until Monday, May 11, in accordance with the government's resolution. According to the Prime Minister, the conditions for its declaration continue and the state of emergency is in the interest of every resident. Babiš also emphasized that the pandemic of a new type of cononavir will not mean a return to a strong and all-powerful state.

10:30 Bisnode: The state of emergency in the Czech Republic paralyzes a fifth of active entrepreneurs

According to the consulting company Bisnode, 204,000 natural persons - entrepreneurs had to close their businesses during the tough measures against the spread of the coronavirus. Indirectly, this regulation affected tens of thousands of other people, whose interest in goods and services has completely or substantially decreased. This mostly concerns entrepreneurs in catering, hairdressing and beauty services or retail, according to Bisnode's analysis.

9:55 There are ten people with severe covid-19 in St. Anna in Brno

Two patients with severe covid-19 disease have been added to the St. Anna University Hospital in Brno. There are ten of them in total. Hospital spokeswoman Dana Lipovská stated this in a press release today. In the South Moravian Region this morning, there are 289 confirmed cases of infection with a new type of coronavirus.

9:17 80 people have died from the coronavirus in the Czech Republic so far, 127 have been cured

According to the Ministry of Health, the number of people cured of covid-19 in the Czech Republic increased by six to 127 compared to Monday evening. The number of deaths infected with the coronavirus increased by two to 80 people in the same period. Laboratories have performed more than 91,000 tests for the presence of the coronavirus. This follows from data on the website of the Ministry of Health as of 08:30 today.

9:15 Johnson remains in the intensive care unit due to covid-19

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in intensive care due to covid-19. British cabinet member Michael Gove said this in an interview with the BBC news station today. According to Reuters sources, the prime minister's health has not changed since he was transferred to the intensive care unit on Monday. Johnson announced that he contracted the coronavirus at the end of March and was hospitalized this Sunday due to persistent symptoms of covid-19. At the time, a government spokesman described it as a "preventive" measure.

8:40 AM The ruling ČSSD prefers to extend the state of emergency by one month

The governing ČSSD prefers a one-month extension of the state of emergency in the Czech Republic, but is inclined to compromise if the will of the House of Representatives is different during today's vote. Jan Chvojka, the chairman of the Social Democracy Club, told journalists before the parliamentarians' meeting. According to him, the continuation of the state of emergency, which was declared in the Czech Republic on March 12 due to the coronavirus, is necessary primarily because of the purchase of protective equipment from abroad.

8:25 Remdesivir should be available for 140,000 patients at the end of May

The American company Gilead wants to have the experimental drug for covid-19 remdesivir for approximately 140,000 patients worldwide by the end of May. The number of doses for the Czech Republic will still be determined based on the incidence, severity and impact of the disease, Gilead representative Pavel Březina told Práv. Remdesivir treatment is to be provided by two hospitals in Prague and one in Brno. In the Czech Republic, one patient has received treatment at the General University Hospital so far.

8:00 MPs will discuss the extension of the state of emergency

Today, the House of Representatives will approve the government's request to extend the state of emergency due to the new coronavirus epidemic. Deputies will discuss in abbreviated mode in the state of legislative emergency another package of government laws to mitigate the effects of restrictions on the movement of people or trade and services on residents and companies. The meeting will most likely continue on Wednesday.

TUESDAY, APRIL 7

23:10 The Italian government has approved aid to companies in the amount of 400 billion euros

The Italian government today approved a new emergency decree, based on which companies affected by the coronavirus crisis will have access to liquidity and bank loans totaling over 400 billion euros (11.02 trillion crowns). Referring to Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's statement, Reuters reported on this.

22:00 The Ministry of Health has extended the closure of shops, restaurants and restrictions on movement

The Ministry of Health has extended the measures by which shops and restaurants are closed and the free movement of people is restricted until the end of the state of emergency. The government took note of the office's decision today, according to the results of the cabinet meeting on the website. Originally, all the measures mentioned were valid until Saturday 11 April 06:00.

21:50 The Faculty of Transport of CTU produces respirators and shields for doctors

Hundreds of respirators with replaceable filters and protective shields were handed over to doctors by researchers from the Faculty of Transport of the Czech Technical University. Several workplaces there are already preparing protective equipment. The faculty will also publish instructions for preparing respirators and shields on home 3D printers

21:40 Bulgaria has closed its borders to foreigners, with the exception of EU countries

Bulgaria, in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, has closed its borders to all foreigners, with the exception of citizens of 19 European Union states.

21:35 Netanyahu: Strict movement restrictions will apply in Israel over the holidays

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that a strict movement restriction will apply in the country from Tuesday to Friday, to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus during the several-day Jewish holiday of Pesach. There will be a curfew on Wednesday evening, when the holiday Seder dinner is held, to prevent relatives and friends from visiting. The measure still needs to be approved by the cabinet.

21:30 British Prime Minister Johnson is in the intensive care unit

The health condition of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was admitted to a London hospital on Sunday evening due to covid-19, worsened this afternoon. This was announced by the office of the Prime Minister. Johnson was moved to the intensive care unit on the recommendation of his medical team.

20:15 The European Judo Championship will not be held in Prague until November

The European Judo Championship in Prague has been postponed for the second time due to the coronavirus pandemic. Originally, the May championship will not take place even in the replacement date from June 19 to 21, but only at the beginning of November.

20:00 The French government reports almost 9,000 deaths from the coronavirus

Already 8911 deaths caused by the covid-19 disease are registered by the government in France. The death toll has risen by 833 since Sunday, with 605 reported by hospitals and the remaining 228 by nursing homes. Health Minister Olivier Véran further announced that 29,722 people are hospitalized in France due to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease, of which 7,072 are in a very serious condition.

19:46 Slovakia will restore border controls and introduce a de facto curfew for six days

Slovakia will resume border controls from Wednesday due to the coronavirus. The cabinet of Prime Minister Igor Matovič decided on this today, according to information on the government website. Only selected border crossings will be open, for example ten out of 15 road crossings with the Czech Republic. in an effort to slow the spread of the covid-19 pandemic, it will introduce a de facto curfew between April 8 and 13, with exceptions, over the coming Easter holidays.

19:20 The committee supported on-the-spot fines for coronavirus offences

Policemen and constables should be able to fine residents on the spot for violating the measures introduced by the government and the Ministry of Health to limit the spread of the new type of coronavirus, according to the parliamentary security committee.

18:45 The MPO plans to pay the nursing allowance to self-employed workers by April 26

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) has so far received 37,000 applications for the payment of sick leave for childcare for self-employed persons under the age of 13. He wants to pay all requests by April 26. He will start processing the first on Thursday, he plans to fully process the agenda after the Easter holidays.

18:40 The Ministry will allow doctors from third countries to work in hospitals

The Ministry of Health will allow doctors from so-called third countries, i.e. countries outside the EU, to work in hospitals without the necessary approval exams. This will be the period of the state of emergency and three months until its end, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) said today at a press conference after the government meeting. The proposed measure was approved by the government.

18:35 The US has 10,000 victims of the coronavirus, the crisis is at its peak in New York

In the United States, over 10,000 people have so far succumbed to the coronavirus. This was reported by the Reuters agency, which maintains its own balance sheet, on Monday. The American Johns Hopkins University, which also monitors the spread of the disease, currently records approximately 9,700 victims and less than 340,000 infected in the USA.

18:30 The spread of the coronavirus in Italy is slowing down, more victims have been added per day

In Italy, 636 people infected with the coronavirus died in a day, which is 111 more than the authorities there reported on Sunday, when this figure was the lowest in more than two weeks. However, the number of infected people over the last day was less than on Sunday.

18:20 Vojtěch: Bans apply even through Easter

This year's Easter will be different from what people are used to. According to the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch, people should stay in during the holidays, they should not gather with their relatives or hold large events. "Certainly there will be no carol singers or services this year," said Vojtěch.

18:15 Stricter rules in open establishments

In all open establishments, people will have to follow stricter rules, said Minister Karel Havlíček. "All customers will have to keep two meters apart from Thursday unless they are family members," he said. People will also be able to be closer to each other if one of them needs support. Stores must provide hand sanitizer, supermarkets will continue to be required to provide disposable gloves.

6:10 p.m. Collection centers will open on Tuesday, hardware stores and hobby markets on Thursday

From Tuesday, the government will allow the reopening of businesses that collect and buy raw materials, including composting plants, and on Thursday they can open hobby markets, construction product stores, hardware stores and shops and bicycle repair shops. Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček (for ANO) said this to journalists after today's government meeting.

18:00 Recovered from covid-19 increased to more than 120, deaths are 78

According to data from the Ministry of Health, the number of people who have recovered from covid-19 in the Czech Republic has exceeded one hundred, increasing by 25 to 121 people since this morning. The death toll in hospitals at 5.30pm today was 78, six more than in the morning. The number of cases of the disease caused by the new type of coronavirus has increased by 148 to 4,735 today.

17:50 Travel agencies will issue vouchers until the end of August 2021

Travel agencies that cannot afford to refund money for sold tours will issue vouchers for new tours of the same value. According to Minister Karel Havlíček, these should be valid until the end of August 2021

17:45 The government approved the proposal for the possibility of traveling from the Czech Republic after April 14

People may be able to travel from the Czech Republic after April 14 in justified cases. On Monday, the government approved the proposal of the Central Crisis Staff, said its spokeswoman Klára Dlubalová. According to her, the cancellation of the blanket travel ban, which was introduced due to the spread of the new coronavirus, will apply if the House of Representatives decides to extend the state of emergency.

17:30 Non-collective outdoor sports are allowed

Since Tuesday, the government has allowed outdoor sports of a non-collective nature. People will not have to wear masks during these sports (for example, cycling).

16:30 Slovakia has confirmed the first two deaths from the coronavirus

Slovakia has the first two cases of death related to the coronavirus. Health Minister Marek Krajčí told journalists on Monday. On Sunday, 49 people were infected in the country under the Tatras, bringing the total number of infected people to over 500.

15:00 Survey: Half of the people in the Czech Republic saw their income drop, a sixth by half

Half of Czech households saw their income drop due to the coronavirus measures. A sixth of people lost half or more of their original income. Because of the outages, they will have to reach into savings, some will limit consumer spending, borrow from family, sell part of their property or look for a cheaper apartment.

14:45 MF expects the economy to fall by 5.6 percent this year, public finances will end up in deficit

In its forecast, the Ministry of Finance expects the economy to decline by 5.6 percent this year due to the effects of the spread of the coronavirus. But next year, according to the office, the Czech economy should show growth of 3.1 percent. Public finances will end this year in a deficit of 4.1 percent of gross domestic product, the Ministry of Finance estimates in the macroeconomic forecast published today. The total public debt should then rise to 35.2 percent of GDP.

14:15 Switzerland has 21,000 infected, the first death in Liechtenstein

More than 21,000 cases of coronavirus infection have already been confirmed in Switzerland. In the last 24 hours, the number of infected people increased by 552, the Federal Health Office (BAG) reported. According to him, Switzerland now shows one of the highest daily increases in the number of infected people per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe. There are already 584 victims of the covid-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the country. Liechtenstein also has the first victim.

13:40 Patients from France will not arrive

According to information from the daily Echo24, six patients from France, who were supposed to fly to Brno and be hospitalized at the Brno General Hospital, will not arrive as planned. According to Prime Minister Babiš, France is managing the situation better and does not require hospitalization of its citizens in the Czech Republic. French Prime Minister Philippe thanked the Czech Republic for the offer of help.

13:10 Prymula is in favor of massaging the population, Babiš is against it

Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula has changed his opinion on smart quarantine, he currently defends the opinion that there should be a controlled eradication of the healthy population from Covid-19 diseases. He changed his opinion on the taint of society after China provided incorrect and apparently fabricated data on the number of people infected with the new type of coronavirus, he said. Prymula was met with resistance, especially from Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who considers the population to be "risky". "It's very risky. I can not imagine. We are following the path of a smart quarantine," he told Radiožurnálu. The Minister of the Interior, Jan Hamáček, in turn stated that such a discussion should first be held in the government or in the Central Crisis Staff and only then in the media.

12:20 Easter will be without a carol, says Hamáček

The Minister of the Interior and the Chairman of the Central Crisis Staff stated that the measures taken as part of the fight against infection with a new type of coronavirus will not change over Easter. "It's not possible at the moment," he said. A gradual easing of the measures could happen after the holidays. For example, there is currently talk of opening some other stores.

11:59 If the situation does not worsen by Wednesday, we can relax the measures, says Vojtěch

If the situation does not change by Wednesday, according to the Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (for ANO), the restrictions adopted due to the new coronavirus pandemic will be eased. Some stores could open, such as building materials or stationery. According to him, the population will gradually be wiped out by the virus, but it must not be uncontrolled. "Measures must not be introduced for half a year or a year. We are not able to last another months in the cramped conditions of the quarantine. At the same time, a smart quarantine must go with it," said the minister. According to him, stores will have to admit few customers so that queues do not form, disinfect and take the temperature of employees every day. Sports fields for individual sports should also be opened. Large events will undoubtedly be one of the last measures to be disrupted, he added.

11:30 Vojtěch: We will give each region 20,000 rapid tests for retirement home workers

"We will provide each region with 20,000 rapid tests for regular testing of workers in residential services for the elderly," said Health Minister Adam Vojtěch. He anticipates that the first group of nursing home employees will be tested now and repeated in, say, 10 or 14 days. Adam Vojtěch further mentioned that the ministry is changing its strategy to fight the coronavirus and will focus primarily on the purchase of the highest class FFP3 respirators and support for testing in laboratories.

10:15 Japan is considering a state of emergency, preparing fiscal measures

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promised to approve "unprecedented" fiscal aid to combat the economic impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic on the country. This was reported by the Reuters agency. According to a document available to the agency, the Japanese government refers to the coronavirus crisis as "the biggest crisis the world economy has faced since World War II." According to local media reports, the Japanese government could declare a state of emergency in the country as early as Tuesday. The situation in the capital Tokyo, where the number of confirmed cases of infection exceeded 1,000, caused concern in the country.

10:10 In Russia, measures are being relaxed despite the growth of the infection

Several Russian regions today relaxed the strict anti-epidemic regime that was required by the covid-19 pandemic last month. This decision, justified by the interests of Russian industrial enterprises, applies despite the fact that the spread of the disease has a growing tendency in the country. According to official statistics, almost 5,400 people are infected in Russia and 45 people have succumbed to the disease. Even according to official sources, the real numbers are higher. In the Orel, Samara or Novosibirsk regions, however, the shutdown of a number of operations, especially in industry and construction, but also in services, was called off. In Samara, with a population of one million, the metro started running again, and the two large car manufacturers Kamaz and Avtovaz resumed production. Virtually all restrictions have been lifted in Siberian Sayansk, Moscow radio announced.

9:30 a.m. Kurzarbeit starts at noon

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will launch the Antivirus program at noon, which will introduce kurzarbeit - state contributions to employee salaries. The entire program will run electronically, employers will apply through the website of the Labor Office.

9:15 a.m. The Czech Republic has 4,591 infected, 72 dead

The Ministry of Health currently registers 4,591 confirmed cases of infection with the new type of coronavirus, 72 people have died from the disease. 96 patients are cured. On Sunday, the number of infected people rose by 115, while on Saturday there were 282 newly discovered cases. Compared to Saturday, however, the tests performed decreased from 6,134 to 4,710. In total, medical professionals in the Czech Republic performed 85,014 tests.

8:30 a.m. Germany has 3,677 new infections per day, a decrease

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in Germany increased by 3,677 in the past 24 hours. The data was published by the Robert Koch Institute. According to him, there were 92 deaths during the same period. Germany now has almost 95,400 infected and 1,434 dead. According to the Institute, this is the fourth daily drop in the number of infections – since Friday, when more than 6,100 cases were added, followed by a drop on Saturday (6,082) and another on Sunday (5,936). In total, Germany now has 95,391 infected people, according to the institute's statistics. The number of dead also fell. While there were 184 deaths in Germany on Sunday, now there are 92. In total, 1,434 people have died in Germany from the covid-19 disease caused by the coronavirus.

8:10 European commissioners want a rescue fund for EU countries

The countries of the European Union should create a new common fund to help the EU economies recover from the consequences of the coronavirus crisis. States could raise money for it, for example, by issuing common long-term bonds or direct part of their tax revenues into it. This was stated in a joint statement by European Commissioners for the Internal Market and the Economy, Thierry Breton and Paolo Gentiloni. In a text sent to the European media, the Eurocommissioners write that the economic stimulus promised so far will not be enough to overcome the crisis.

6:40 a.m. The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection decreased significantly on Sunday

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in the Czech Republic increased by 115 on Sunday after an increase of 282 on Saturday. There are a total of 4,587 people in the Czech Republic with a proven disease of covid-19. This follows from data on the website of the Ministry of Health. According to the ministry's data, 96 patients have recovered from the disease, while 67 people with the coronavirus have died, four of them on Sunday.

6:20 Trump hopes the US sees the light at the end of the tunnel

US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the United States is "beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel" in some of the outbreaks of the coronavirus. The worst-affected US state, New York, on Sunday reported for the first time a slight decrease in the number of deaths compared to the previous day. But there were still nearly 600 deaths and more than 8,300 new cases. "Maybe that's a good sign," Trump told reporters. "We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel," he noted. But he added that this cannot be enjoyed at a time when so many people are dying.

MONDAY, APRIL 6

23:00 South Sudan has its first case of covid-19, Ethiopia its first death

South Sudan today announced the first case of covid-19 disease caused by the new coronavirus. The African country has so far been one of the few territories in which the disease has not yet occurred. Ethiopia then announced its first covid-19 death. Former interim Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril also succumbed to the disease today. The first confirmed patient in South Sudan is a 29-year-old woman who arrived in the country from the Netherlands via Ethiopia on February 28, Vice President Riek Machar said at a press conference. However, he did not disclose her nationality. The United Nations (UN) mission in the country said in a statement that the infected person was a member of its staff, AFP reported.

21:05 British Queen Elizabeth II. she spoke to the nation

For only the fourth time in history, the British monarch spoke in an extraordinary speech to the British nation, this time due to the coronavirus pandemic. Elizabeth II. she talked about the current difficulties that not only the British are going through now. "Today, many feel a sense of separation from their loved ones, but deep down we know it needs to be done," she said, for example, regarding quarantine measures.

20:25 Another 357 patients died of covid-19 in French hospitals

357 patients with covid-19 have died in French hospitals since Saturday, the local health authorities reported. According to them, this is the lowest number in the last week. The death toll in hospitals rose to 5,889 today. Including those who died in nursing homes, the total death toll is 8,078, up from 7,560 on Saturday.

20:05 Slovaks will probably limit free movement even on Easter

Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovič announced on Sunday that due to the covid-19 pandemic, he will propose to the government on Monday to approve restrictions on the free movement of people from April 8 to 13, i.e. also during the Easter holidays. Exceptions should be trips, for example, trips to work, to shopping or to a doctor's visit.

19:55 The Irish Prime Minister will help as a doctor

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has re-registered as a doctor and will work one shift a week in the health sector in an effort to help during the coronavirus epidemic. This was reported by the Reuters agency today with reference to Varadkar's spokesman. Varadkar worked as a doctor for seven years before embarking on a political career. He was struck off the register of health professionals in 2013 and, according to The Irish Times, re-registered in March this year at the start of the epidemic.

19:15 The bank received 5,900 applications for CZK 19 billion in the first round of COVID II

In the first round of the COVID II program, the Czech Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank (ČMZRB) accepted 5,900 applications for interest-free loans in the amount of 19 billion crowns from entrepreneurs affected by the coronavirus. The spokeswoman of the bank, Marie Lafantová, said this. Five billion crowns were originally supposed to be earmarked for the entire continuation of the COVID program, just as for the first wave, which would provide loans in the amount of 20 billion crowns to entrepreneurs and companies. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO), the COVID program for Prague companies will be launched by Easter. COVID III is also being prepared, which should amount to 20 billion crowns in the first phase and will increase to 40 billion crowns.

18:30 The dead in Italy increased by 525, the number of new victims decreases per day

In Italy, 525 people with covid-19 have died in the last day. The positive trend of the decreasing number of new victims from the last few days was thus confirmed. In Italy, 15,887 patients with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have died so far. The number of infected rose to 128,948, which is 4,316 more than on Saturday. On Saturday, Italy reported a daily rise of 681 deaths, the lowest in nearly two weeks.

18:20 Respirators for Olomouc are delayed, they will arrive at night

A large shipment of FFP2 level respirators, which according to the original schedule was supposed to arrive in Olomouc from China this morning, was delayed. The arrival date of the truck from the Ostrava airport was moved to the night hours. "The city will take care of their further distribution to all those in need, who, for example, are still significantly lacking in the performance of their profession," said Michal Folta, the spokesperson of the town hall, on Sunday.

18:00 There are 67 deaths from covid-19 in the Czech Republic, 96 people have recovered

In the Czech Republic, the number of deaths from covid-19 increased by five to 67 as of this morning. The Ministry of Health recorded 96 recoveries around 5:30 p.m., which was 18 more than in the morning. The number of infection cases rose by 71 to 4,543 as of Saturday midnight. This is according to information from the Ministry of Health on its website. The number of tests for today is not yet known, but on the weekend it is usually lower than on weekdays.

17:40 New York reports fewer victims of the coronavirus than on Saturday

594 people died of covid-19 in the US state of New York in the last 24 hours, which is less than the previous day. The number of newly confirmed cases also decreased significantly, from almost 10,800 to 8,327. The daily increase in people admitted to intensive care units is also smaller, while the number of people discharged from hospitals has increased. Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press briefing on Sunday that the data could be a sign that the worst-hit state has already reached the peak of the epidemic.

17:25 The opening of some sports grounds is also in play

Some stadiums and other outdoor sports venues such as tennis courts could be opened soon. Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula said this on DVTV. According to him, however, the opening of gyms and halls is still not on the agenda.

17:00 Babiš: Some shops may open on Thursday

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced that some shops can open on Thursday. He is to confirm this with other ministers at the government meeting on Monday. Among the open shops under consideration are, for example, stores for children's equipment, stationery, shoes, building materials, hardware stores or hobby markets. It will depend on the development of the infected curve.

16:55 Austria reports a smaller rate of increase in infected people for the ninth day in a row

The number of people infected with the covid-19 coronavirus disease in Austria has exceeded 12,000, and the number of dead is over 200. This was reported by the oe24.at server. According to him, a positive trend can be traced. For the ninth day in a row, the rate of increase in the number of infected units is in percent, and the number of patients in intensive care units has practically not changed for three days. On Sunday, there were 244, which is even one less than on Saturday.

16:45 The Czech Republic will accept the infected French, Babiš announced

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said that six Frenchmen will be transported to the Brno University Hospital. “France turned to us for help with the hospitalization of its patients. Due to the sufficient capacity, we complied with them," wrote Babiš. Babiš discussed the matter with the French ambassador in the Czech Republic. "In total, we offered 12 places, or 14, and other hospitals somehow joined, because of course we have sufficient capacity," he said. France is now having problems placing the infected in hospitals, some of its patients have been taken over by Germany, for example.

15:55 Italy is going to cancel the measures around the coronavirus, it has not set a date

Italy is preparing a plan to gradually lift the restrictions adopted in connection with the coronavirus epidemic. Health Minister Roberto Speranza told La Repubblica daily that it would be irresponsible to promise a date when the country will return to normal. The spread of the infection in Italy, which is the worst-hit country in the world with 15,362 victims, is probably already slowing down. On Saturday, 681 deaths from covid-19 were registered there, which was the lowest in almost two weeks.

15:50 In Britain, 621 victims of the coronavirus have been added in the last day

In the last day, 621 people succumbed to the coronavirus in Britain. A day earlier, the country recorded a sad record when the death toll rose by 708 in 24 hours.

15:30 Zeman banned lunch at the meeting, according to him, it was eaten under masks

Members of the president's expert team were able to sneak refreshments under cover at the Saturday meeting. President Miloš Zeman said this today in the program With the President in Lány on the server of the newspaper Blesk. He emphasized that due to the coronavirus, he banned lunch at the meeting of the expert group for the first time. Saturday's meeting of Zeman's advisers in Lány, from which the Prague Castle published a photo of the participants in masks and refreshments on plates in front of them, was today criticized by representatives of the opposition for an irresponsible approach to measures to protect against the coronavirus.

15:15 The extra league of handball players will not finish, no one will win the title

The Handball Extra League was prematurely terminated and the title for the 2019/20 season will not be awarded. This was decided by the executive committee of the Czech Handball Association after negotiations with the clubs. No one will be relegated from the highest competition, nor will they be promoted to it, provided that the same participants register for the next year.

15:00 Plaga does not want to grade pupils in physical education or music education

After Easter, the Ministry of Education will issue a decree that should give teachers instructions on how to classify children in the second half of the current school year. The Minister of Education Robert Plaga (ANO) said this today in the program Otázky Václav Moravec. According to him, part of the decree will be a recommendation not to classify "education", i.e. subjects such as physical education, music education and art education.

14:35 Ex-diplomat: The USA should follow the example of the Czech Republic regarding masks

While in the United States in recent days there has been a debate about the benefits and disadvantages of wearing protective face masks across the board, in the Czech Republic this issue was resolved a few weeks ago. At the same time, America should follow the Czech example, wrote Steve Kashkett, a former American diplomat and teacher from the Anglo-American University in Prague, in a commentary for the American newspaper USA Today.

14:20 Plaga: schools will open in the second half of May, I will propose teaching in groups

Minister of Education Robert Plaga (ANO) said on Czech television today that according to current plans, pupils and students could return to school in the second half of May. According to him, it is essential for the opening of schools to establish the conditions for such a step by the Ministry of Health - i.e. enough disinfection, masks or thermometers in schools. According to him, there are no variant plans for opening schools that would be based on the data of the Ministry of Health and the development of the spread of the disease.

14:05 ANO has 34.5 percent support according to the model

The ANO movement would win the parliamentary elections in March with 34.5 percent, ahead of the ODS with 14 percent and the Pirates with 13.5 percent. Other parties, including the ČSSD, would get six percent or less. This follows from the election model of the agency Kantar CZ, which was published today by Czech Television (ČT). The ANO movement is helped by the government's activity against the coronavirus, said Kantar CZ analyst Pavel Ranocha. 61 percent of people rated the political situation in the Czech Republic as good in March, compared to 37 percent in February. According to Ranochy, people value cooperation in times of crisis.

13:55 Maláčová: All infected seniors may have to go to hospitals

If the news is confirmed that two clients of the home for the elderly with mild symptoms died of covid-19 in the Havlíčkobrod hospital, it will probably be necessary to place all infected seniors in hospitals. This was stated by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Jana Maláčová (ČSSD), in the Czech TV program Otázky Václav Moravec. In any case, according to her, seniors should be tested as a priority so that they don't have to wait several days for the results.

13:30 Zeman has not been tested for the coronavirus, he does not suffer from any symptoms

Resident Miloš Zeman stated that, unlike his colleagues, he was not tested for the coronavirus. The infection did not appear in any of them, he said today in the program With the President in Lány on the server of the newspaper Blesk. According to him, the test was not necessary, as Zeman does not suffer from any health problems except for his sore feet. However, he complained several times during the interview that he could not hear the journalist's questions through her mask. Zeman also had a mask.

13:00 Zeman: We received favorable conditions from China, we should thank them

We should thank China for the supply of protective equipment, there were 80 countries on their waiting list. In addition, thanks to good relations, the Czech Republic received advantageous conditions regarding price and speed of delivery. President Miloš Zeman said this in an interview with the daily Blesk today. "China was the only country that was able to provide this supply," the president said. He added that, according to his information, the Czech Republic received priority ranking and improved price conditions thanks to fairly good relations.

12:40 Fiala and Bartoš criticize the meeting with Zeman for violating the quarantine

The chairmen of the opposition parties Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) and Petr Fiala (ODS) criticized the Saturday meeting of President Miloš Zeman's expert team for the approach to measures to protect against the coronavirus in a debate on Prima television. According to a picture posted on social media, more than ten participants of the meeting were seated close to each other around a table, and although they were wearing masks, refreshments were laid out in front of them. Bartoš stated that, evidently, during the meeting in Lány, a number of measures, which have been applicable to all residents of the Czech Republic for many days, were not observed.

12:20 Unemployment remained at 3 percent in March

Unemployment remained at February's three percent in March. But vacancies are decreasing. This was stated by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Jana Maláčová (ČSSD), in the Czech TV program Otázky Václav Moravec. According to her, even the first days of April point to "standard numbers" and the development during the month will show how companies and the entire market will react to the coronavirus pandemic and government measures.

12:15 The opposition will ask about extending the state of emergency

In the House of Representatives, the opposition will demand a detailed explanation from the government as to why it proposes to extend the state of emergency due to the new coronavirus infection. The chairman of the ODS, Petr Fiala, and the chairman of the Pirates, Ivan Bartoš, said this today in the discussion program Partie on Prima TV. According to them, only then can the proposal be supported, but not for 30 days. The ODS is talking about the possibility of a two-week extension, Bartoš mentioned an alternative until the end of April. According to the opposition, the government is now taking measures to fight the new coronavirus infection in a chaotic manner.

12:00 According to Zeman, the measures could last at least another month

President Miloš Zeman today supported the progress of Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Central Crisis Staff Jan Hamáček (ČSSD), who wants to extend the state of emergency in the Czech Republic by one month until May 11. The opposition, including the KSČM, which tolerates the ANO and ČSSD government, wants an extension only until the end of April. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) also agreed to this. The House of Representatives will decide on the extension of the state of emergency next week.

11:45 Spain reports 674 new deaths after infection, less than on Saturday

In Spain, the number of victims of the coronavirus has increased by 674 in the last 24 hours, the country has already recorded 12,418 deaths. This is a significant decrease compared to Saturday, when 809 deaths were reported. The number of infected people rose to 130,759 from Saturday's 124,736. With reference to the Ministry of Health, Reuters reported on this today.

11:05 Zeman will award epidemiologist Prymul the highest state award

On October 28, President Miloš Zeman will award epidemiologist and Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymul the highest state award. Prymula will receive an award for its work in combating the epidemic of the new type of coronavirus. Zeman stated this today in the program With the President in Lány on the server of the newspaper Blesk. Zeman said that he did not inform Prymul about the award in advance. According to him, Prymula is an erudite epidemiologist who took the lead in the war against the coronavirus.

11:00 Elizabeth II. it calls for self-discipline and determination

British Queen Elizabeth II. in today's special message to the public, he will emphasize the need for self-discipline and determination in managing the coronavirus crisis. This was reported today by the BBC, whose editors have a pre-recorded recording available. The queen appears like this only in rare cases. In the speech, he will express his condolences for the grief, pain and financial hardship facing the British public. He will also thank the NHS staff for their commitment and emphasize the role of the individual in managing the crisis.

10:30 a.m. The second patient died in the LDN in Havlíčkobrodsk, the staff is ill

On Saturday, the second patient from the home for the elderly in Břevnice in the Havlíčkobrod region died. The home is in quarantine due to the covid-19 disease. The staff is also sick.

9:50 a.m. Tokyo reports 130 infected per day, a new record

An additional 130 people were infected with the coronavirus in Tokyo in the last 24 hours. This is the highest daily increase in recorded cases of infection so far, in the Japanese metropolis there are already over 1,000. State television NHK reported this today, citing city officials.

9:35 Fishermen are afraid of a small market

Fishermen fear reduced sales before Easter. Every year before the holidays, it exports hundreds of tons of fish abroad, between March and April it is about 1,600 tons. This year, however, demand is significantly lower due to the pandemic and government regulations, restaurants, hotels or catering are closed, and there are long waiting periods at border crossings. Due to the closure of over-the-counter sales, interest in Czech supermarkets also dropped, Director of the Fishing Association of the Czech Republic Michal Kratochvíl told ČTK. However, it is still possible to sell it in boxes or in specialized stores, he reminded.

9:00 The Czech Republic has 62 victims, 78 people have recovered

According to the latest data so far, 4475 people have been infected with the new coronavirus in the Czech Republic. 62 people succumbed to the disease, while 78 recovered. Laboratories performed a total of 80,304 tests. These are data from the website of the Ministry of Health, valid at 8:30 in the morning.

8:50 ČSOB: Seven percent of companies would rather lay off workers than use kursarbeit

Seven percent of Czech companies prefer to lay off employees before using so-called short-time work. They explain this by saying that this help is not enough and it is more profitable to say goodbye to employees now and then hire them again. This results from an online survey by ČSOB among a hundred domestic managers. The poll was conducted on Thursday.

7:00 Mainland China reports 30 new cases of coronavirus infection

In mainland China, 30 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and three more deaths from the disease covid-19, which the virus causes, were added on Saturday. With reference to the Chinese Health Commission, Reuters reported on this today.

SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2020

23:51 Trump: The US is waiting for the most difficult weeks, during which many people will die

The United States is facing the most difficult weeks, during which many people will lose their lives. According to Reuters, US President Donald Trump said this today. At the same time, he reiterated that the United States must lift the restrictions put in place to prevent the further spread of the virus and reopen its economy as soon as possible.

23:30 USA: A government task force warns that the epidemic may cause food shortages

People could start experiencing shortages of some foods if workers in supply chains don't have personal protective equipment, an internal document from the US president warns, according to Yahoo News.

22:55 Over 300,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus in the United States

In the United States, more than 300,000 people have already been infected with the coronavirus. At the same time, 8,162 of them succumbed to the disease covid-19. This follows from statistics conducted by the American Johns Hopkins University, which monitors the pandemic worldwide.

22:50 US to deploy thousands more troops and military personnel to help states across the country

22:10 Egypt postponed the transfer of authorities to the new metropolis due to the pandemic

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi postponed for a year the transfer of a number of ministries and other offices to the new administrative capital, which was supposed to take place already this year, due to the coronavirus. According to Reuters, this is another blow to his ambitious project, which has already faced a number of unexpected obstacles.

21:20 Measures against the coronavirus are considered adequate by three quarters of Czechs

Government measures against the coronavirus epidemic are considered adequate by three quarters of Czechs, according to a Kantar CZ survey conducted at the turn of March and April. In mid-March, there were less than two-thirds of such people. At the same time, the number of people who see the measures as too mild decreased significantly, from 31 to 16 percent. The survey also showed that the epidemiologist Roman Prymula enjoys the most trust among the state representatives who decide on the restrictions. Its results were published today by Czech Television (ČT).

20:15 In France, 7,560 people succumbed to the infection in hospitals and institutions

In French hospitals and nursing homes, 7,560 people have died of covid-19, which is caused by the coronavirus, since March 1. Today, the Reuters agency reports on this with reference to the French authorities. To date, 5,532 deaths have been recorded in the hospitals themselves, which is 441 more than on Friday.

19:42 Babiš does not rule out state entry into private enterprises

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) did not rule out that the state could buy out shares in some private companies due to the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. He told Czech TV. It could be Czech airlines, construction or water management companies.

19:30 People limited access to tourist areas, the police did not intervene

People have limited access to tourist areas, Central Bohemian police officers did not have to intervene today due to the crowding of a large number of people. Checks of government regulations due to covid-19 are still ongoing, police spokeswoman Eva Haslová told ČTK today.

19:10 The British Prime Minister's pregnant fiancee has covid-19 symptoms

Carrie Symonds, the fiancee of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, with whom she is expecting her first child at the beginning of the summer, has symptoms of the coronavirus. After a week, he is said to be feeling better, Reuters wrote.

19:00 A client of the Ostrava Alzheimer Center has been diagnosed with covid-19

One of the clients of the Ostrava Alzheimer Center has been diagnosed with covid-19. The woman has milder symptoms and is now under the care of the infectious disease department of the Ostrava University Hospital for preventive reasons. Health workers have already taken samples from all clients and facility employees. Director of the center Simona Lipovská told ČTK.

18:15 Italy reports 681 new deaths per day

A total of 15,362 people have already died in Italy in connection with the coronavirus. Across the country, 124,632 people have been infected since the beginning of the epidemic.

17:59 New York recorded the highest number of deaths and infections to date

The American state of New York recorded 630 more deaths from covid-19 and over 10,800 newly infected with the coronavirus in the last day. For both data, this is the largest increase in 24 hours so far. In the state, which is the epicenter of the pandemic in the USA, a total of 113,704 people have been infected with the virus and 3,565 have died. Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement at a press briefing today.

17:50 A five-year-old child died of the new coronavirus in Great Britain

A five-year-old child has died of the new coronavirus in Great Britain, which on Saturday saw more than 708 more deaths in one day, a new record. Among those deaths are residents between the ages of 5 and 104. Forty of them (aged 48 to 93) had no other known health problems.

17:40 Istanbul metro installs thermal cameras, won't let people in with fever

In Istanbul, Turkey, because of the coronavirus, they have so far installed thermal cameras in the three largest metro stations to measure people's temperature. If passengers have a high fever, they will not be allowed on the subway and will be taken to the hospital.

17:30 The number of victims in the Czech Republic has increased to 59, the total number of infected in the Czech Republic is 4,362

The number of victims in the Czech Republic rose to 59 as of 5:30 p.m. today, and the total number of infected people in the Czech Republic is 4,362. 78 people have recovered from covid-19 in our country.

4:10 p.m. Prymula: We are not planning extensive testing of seniors in homes

The state plans to regularly test the staff of homes for the elderly for the new type of coronavirus, but this is not yet realistic for clients considering their number.

16:05 Another remdesivir will be tested in the Czech Republic: in Bulovka, Motola and Brno, announced Prymula

15:55 Venice ordered masks and gloves for shopping in supermarkets

The Italian region of Venice (Veneto) has tightened measures against the spread of the coronavirus, from today people can go to supermarkets to shop only with a mask or scarf over their nose and mouth and gloves.

15:50 France has already ordered almost two billion masks from China

"Regarding the masks we have ordered in China, we are approaching two billion and we are still ordering," said Health Minister Olivier Véran.

15:30 More than 60,000 people have already died after being infected with the coronavirus

60,000 people worldwide have already died from the covid-19 disease caused by the coronavirus, and the number of infected has exceeded 1.13 million. This follows from data from the American Johns Hopkins University, which has been monitoring the development of the coronavirus crisis for a long time.

15:21 There were 708 more deaths in Britain, which is the most in a day so far

The number of victims of the coronavirus in Britain rose by 20 percent to 4,313 over the last day. Reuters reports with reference to the Ministry of Health. Compared to the previous day, there were 708 more deaths, which is a new sad record. Tests showed 41,903 people infected with the coronavirus.

15:00 Zeman and his advisers supported measures against the coronavirus

President Miloš Zeman and his advisory team expressed recognition and support for the measures taken against the coronavirus, according to the ministers of the interior and defense Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) and defense Vladimír Metnar (for ANO). It is necessary to continue and endure, the ministers told journalists after the four-hour meeting. According to Hamáček, it is not yet time to radically relax the measures, even if the spread of the disease is being limited better than expected.

14:10 Australia wants all visitors and temporary visa holders to leave the country

There are 2.17 million foreigners in Australia on various temporary visas, including 565,000 international students.

13:40 Liberec will start delivering masks to seniors free of charge from Monday

Liberec will start delivering face masks to all city residents over the age of 65 free of charge from Monday. Delivery to mailboxes will be taken care of by volunteers from the Kontakt Liberec Community Center, officials of the Liberec municipality and volunteer firefighters.

13:10 Russia has more than 4,700 people infected with the coronavirus, 43 have died

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Russia has increased by 582 in the last 24 hours. The country has a total of 4,731 infected people, the Interfax agency reported, citing the crisis response team. Another nine patients succumbed to the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus. The total number of dead thus rose to 43. Georgia also announced the first death today.

12:40 21 new cases of coronavirus were added to Slovakia on Friday

The number of new cases of the disease COVID-19 in Slovakia rose by 21 on Friday. In total, Slovakia has 471 confirmed cases of infection. Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovič announced this today. 1,889 people were tested on Friday.

12:10 Another 809 people died in Spain with the coronavirus

In Spain, 809 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last 24 hours, compared to Friday's data, the daily number of victims is one hundred fewer. A total of 11,744 people have already died in the country with the disease COVID-19, the infection with the coronavirus has so far been confirmed in Spain in 124,736 people. There have been 7,000 new cases since Friday.

11:47 Znojmo will give people in addition to masks and disinfection, every household will receive one

Znojmo has purchased a large amount of hand sanitizer, which it will distribute to citizens. Each household will receive about 0.7 liters of disinfectant, Znojmo mayor Jan Grois (ČSSD) said in a press release today. In addition, the town hall is already distributing masks among citizens. As of this morning, there are over 250 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in the region, around forty of them in Znojmo. There are almost 4,200 confirmed cases in the Czech Republic. City Hall will begin distributing disinfectant on Tuesday.

11:25 a.m. 37 health workers from the Prachatka Hospital have not tested positive for COVID-19

The tests of 37 health workers of the internal department of Prachaty Hospital did not confirm the coronavirus. Everyone can return to work after a few days of quarantine. Iva Nováková, spokeswoman for the holding of the South Bohemian Hospital, told ČTK. Five doctors and another 32 health workers have been in quarantine since Tuesday because one of the hospitalized patients was in contact with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus and hid this fact. Subsequently, tests also found the patient herself to have COVID-19.

10:50 Another infected elderly woman from a home in Michli died in VFN

A woman born in 1928 who contracted a new type of coronavirus in a home for the elderly in Michli died today at the Prague General University Hospital. ČTK was informed about this by hospital spokesperson Marie Heřmánková. According to her, the immediate cause of death was heart trouble. According to previous information, this is the fifth infected client of the Michel Home who has died in recent days. According to the Ministry of Health, a total of 56 people with COVID-19 have died in the Czech Republic so far.

10:40 a.m. The meeting of Zeman's advisory team on the coronavirus began in Lány

10:28 The hospital in Břeclav has six infected health workers and nine patients

Three doctors, three nurses and nine patients are infected with the coronavirus at Břeclav Hospital. Hospital director Petr Baťka told ČTK today. On Friday, the hospital only reported on infected staff and patients, but did not provide numbers. According to Baťka, another 50 tests were negative. The ward may not be closed, but intern B is not accepting any patients.

10:06 The bishops called on the faithful to celebrate the resurrection of Christ by candlelight

Czech and Moravian bishops call on believers who will not be able to attend the Easter Vigil to light a candle outside the windows of their homes on Holy Saturday after dark. They can also display a picture of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead on the night of Sunday, which is popularly called Easter.

10:04 Six more people have died of COVID-19 in Hungary, for a total of 32

The number of people with confirmed COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus in Hungary rose by 678, and another six people died in the last 24 hours. This follows from data published today by the Hungarian government on its website. 32 people have already died of the disease in the country, 58 have recovered. There are currently 11,399 people in home quarantine in Hungary. The authorities carried out a total of 19,424 tests.

9:55 a.m. Fathers can visit newborns at the Opava hospital

Dads can visit newborns at the Opava hospital from today. But he will only see them through the glass and must meet a number of other conditions. These measures are to prevent the introduction of the coronavirus infection into the medical facility.

9:27 A microbe and a mask are among the most common emojis in the time of COVID-19

A microbe and a surgical mask are among the most used characters in the text known as emojis, which people insert into messages on Twitter during the spread of the coronavirus. But two emoticons are even more common, found the website Emojipedia, which analyzed more than 200,000 messages containing the word coronavirus or COVID between March 7 and 8. As reported by the Daily Mail server, two smiley faces with tears in their eyes were at the top of the emoji list during this period, followed by a mask, a thoughtful face and a microbe.

9:20 Vindicia: Contagion among front-line employees is an occupational accident

Healthcare workers and other workers who go to work during quarantine are entitled to compensation in the event of infection with the coronavirus. The procedure should be the same as for a normal work accident. At the same time, employees do not have the obligation to prove that they were infected directly at work. This was reported by the legal team of Vindicia, a company that helps victims get compensation.

8:30 Four more infections were added to the Czech Republic by Saturday morning. A total of 56 people died

The number of people cured of the disease COVID-19 increased by two to 74 in the Czech Republic as of Friday evening. The number of people who died from the coronavirus infection increased by three to 56. As of this morning, the Ministry of Health recorded 4,194 confirmed cases of infection on its website. There were 332 more on Friday, the most in the last seven days. At the same time, 6,889 tests were performed on Friday, which is the highest daily number since testing began.

8:10 Another group of tourists returned to the Czech Republic after being isolated in Austria

Another group of Czech tourists from Austria, who had been staying in Tyrol since mid-March due to the coronavirus quarantine, returned to the republic. A special convoy of several cars and two buses arrived in České Budějovice before midnight on Friday.

7:30 a.m. Ministry: Teachers should now not grade during distance learning

Teachers should not currently use assessment as a form of coercion when teaching online. Instead of grading, children should be assessed verbally and given a choice of tasks of varying difficulty.

7:10 Mainland China reports 19 new cases of coronavirus infection

In mainland China, there were 19 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and four more deaths from the disease COVID-19, which the virus causes, on Friday. With reference to the Chinese Health Commission, Reuters reported on this today. The number is 12 lower than it was on Thursday. With the exception of one, all new cases of infection were detected in people who had returned to China from abroad.

1:14 AM There were 4,190 infected people in the Czech Republic on Friday, the increase was the highest in a week

The number of people infected with the new type of coronavirus in the Czech Republic rose to 4,190 on Friday. There have been 332 cases since Thursday, which is the most in the last seven days. According to the latest data from early Friday evening, 53 people have died and 72 people have recovered from the disease, according to the ministry.

0:48 In the US, it is now recommended to wear cloth masks due to the coronavirus, Trump will not do it

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Americans help limit the spread of the coronavirus by wearing cloth masks. This was announced by US President Donald Trump. But he emphasized that such face covering is not mandatory and pointed out that he himself does not intend to do it. "It will be a truly voluntary thing. You can do it, you don't have to do it," the US president said, according to Reuters. "I choose not to do it," he added.

21:40 Persons in contact with Trump and Pence have a mandatory rapid test

Anyone who wants to get in close proximity to President Donald Trump or Vice President Mike Pence will have to undergo a rapid test for the presence of the coronavirus. This was announced today by White House spokesman Judd Deere. Test results will be available within fifteen minutes at the latest.

20:50 WHO changes its stance on masks in the fight against the coronavirus

The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) Michael Ryan spoke out today in favor of the wider use of home-made masks. This was reported by the Reuters agency. According to the emergency coordinator, covering your nose and mouth to protect against coughing or sneezing is not a bad idea.

20:40 In France, over 6,500 people have already succumbed to the disease COVID-19

In France, 6,507 people have already succumbed to the disease of COVID-19. In the last 24 hours, 588 patients with the coronavirus died in French hospitals, which is the largest one-day increase to date. In addition, the authorities also announced another 532 deaths in hospitals for long-term patients or homes for the elderly since the beginning of the epidemic.

20:15 The curfew will be extended in Turkey, masks will be mandatory

In Turkey, due to the coronavirus, the curfew will be extended to people under the age of 20, and citizens will be required to wear masks in public places. This was announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In addition, vehicles will not be allowed to enter or leave 31 cities, including Istanbul and Ankara, from the coming midnight. The only exception will be supply, Reuters reported.

19:45 The contribution of 25,000 will be for all self-employed persons

In order to receive a one-off contribution of 25,000 crowns, self-employed people will not have to prove a drop in income. All self-employed persons affected in connection with the coronavirus who were in business before March 12, i.e. before the declaration of the state of emergency, will be entitled to support. Entrepreneurial students under the age of 26 and cooperating persons will also be entitled to the allowance.

19:30 Babiš: The government could open stationery stores and shoe stores on Monday

By Easter, stationery stores could be open again, as well as shoe stores. This was stated by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) on Czech Television and Radio Z. According to the Prime Minister, the government could also decide on the re-opening of some outdoor sports grounds on Monday.

18:30 Italy reports 766 dead with coronavirus, fewer infected

In Italy, 766 patients with the coronavirus died in the last day, bringing the total number of deaths since the beginning of the epidemic to 14,681. The authorities report almost 120,000 infected people, but the number of newly infected people is now increasing at a lower rate than in the previous week. In the last 24 hours, 4,585 people tested positive for COVID-19, while at the end of March the daily increase of infected people was around 6,000.

18:10 Pilsen Region Governor Bernard has tested positive for the coronavirus

The Governor's COVID-19 disease was only confirmed by a repeated test. He took the first test late last week and announced on Monday that it was negative. However, because he felt the symptoms of the disease, he had another test done, which was already positive. Two members of the regional council Radka Trylčová (ODS) and Zdeněk Honz (ČSSD) also announced positive tests earlier.

6:00 p.m. Today, the Czech Republic reports 53 deaths and 4,091 people infected with the coronavirus

There are currently 4,091 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Czech Republic, 233 cases were added on Friday, and 72 patients have already recovered. The number of people who died from the coronavirus rose by seven to 53.

17:50 Hamáček: We want to extend the state of emergency for another month. The smart quarantine is still in the pilot phase

From the point of view of the crisis team, anti-coronavirus measures are working, but we must continue to be patient, said its chairman Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) at a press conference. However, he emphasized the need to extend the state of emergency for another month, i.e. until May 11. "I cannot imagine that the Czech Republic will be in such condition that the state of emergency can end at the end of April," said Hamáček. However, the Chamber of Deputies must decide on the extension of the state of emergency, the government will respect the decision, Hamáček said. According to Hamáček, the smart quarantine is still in the pilot phase. It is not yet known when it will start working across the board.

17:35 There are already 21 health workers with the disease COVID-19 at the Pardubice cardiology center

The number of medics in the Cardiology Department of the Pardubice Hospital with proven COVID-19 has increased from ten to 21, three of whom are doctors. The department is closing. The new infected revealed another round of testing five days after the first sampling.

17:30 New York has over 100,000 infected, over 10,000 added per day

In the American state of New York, the coronavirus has already been confirmed in more than 100,000 people. At the same time, the number of infected people rose by almost 10,500 in the last day. Another 562 people succumbed to the disease of COVID-19 there during the same period, which is the largest one-day increase since the beginning of the pandemic. This brought the total number of victims to 2,935.

16:30 Kindergarten registrations will be without children in the first half of May

Enrollment of children in kindergartens will take place in the first half of May this year without children present. Kindergartens should organize registrations so that even parents do not have to attend them in person. It should be possible to send the application electronically or by post. The Ministry of Education stated this today in its measure due to the coronavirus epidemic.

16:00 The crisis is causing huge losses to carriers, demand is at a tenth

The coronavirus crisis, which has reduced passenger transport to a tenth of its original number, is causing carriers in the Czech Republic huge losses in revenue. For example, České dráhy estimates the economic impact of the crisis in the order of billions of crowns, and other carriers also expect hundreds of millions of damages. However, according to the companies, there is no threat of layoffs. This follows from the carriers' answers to ČTK's questions. Because of the losses, some carriers will probably consider limiting investment in new trains.

15:30 Britain reports a new record in the number of victims, 684 people died in a day

The number of victims of the coronavirus infection in Britain increased by a record 684 over the last day, a total of 3,605 people have succumbed to the disease. A total of 38,168 infected have already been recorded. Referring to the statistics of the Ministry of Health, this was written by the Reuters agency. Britain ranks among the worst hit in the world.

15:00 Pharmacists: Preventive use of paracetamol does not protect against infection

The Czech Chamber of Pharmacy (ČLnK) warns against the use of medicinal products containing paracetamol as a prevention against coronavirus infection. Preventive administration of paracetamol not only does not protect the patient, but can also significantly burden the organism. ČLnK stated this in a press release today. Medicines against fever, which is one of the accompanying phenomena of the disease COVID-19, have been running out in some pharmacies in the Czech Republic in recent days.

14:14 China is experiencing a new wave of xenophobia

During the past few weeks, when Chinese health officials reported on "imported" cases of the coronavirus almost every day, foreigners living in China experienced a change. They began to be turned away from restaurants, shops, gyms and hotels, forced to undergo additional health checks, shouted at by locals and shunned in public spaces, The Guardian news site wrote.

13:44 Due to the coronavirus, the price of drugs in Britain is rising

As a result of more frequent police checks and government measures restricting the movement of the population, the price of drugs is rising in Britain. This follows from the findings of Sky News television, which refers to persons from the London drug environment.

13:00 The patient who was treated with remdesivir is recovering

A patient with one of the most serious courses of the disease COVID-19 in the Czech Republic, who was treated at the General Faculty Hospital in Prague (VFN) with the experimental drug remdesivir, is conscious and, according to the attending physician, is in the recovery phase. Doctors plan to test his spontaneous pulmonary ventilation without devices. Martin Balík, head of intensive care at the Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Medicine of the VFN and the 1st Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, told journalists today. According to him, however, it is not possible to say whether the drug remdesivir was essential for the patient's recovery.

11:50 Spain currently has the second highest number of infected

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Spain increased by 7,472 in the last 24 hours to 117,710, which is the second highest number in the world after the USA. However, Italy, which has been hit hard by the disease, has not yet announced today's data.

11:29 Advocátní Koroporadna dealt with 3,000 questions, often dealing with alimony

Koroporadna, which was founded by the Union of Family Advocates to, among other things, advise people with legal questions due to the declaration of a state of emergency, handled almost 3,000 questions in the three weeks of its existence. Due to income shortfalls, people now most often ask about adjusting the amount of alimony. Daniela Kovářová, president of the Union of Family Advocates, announced this today. She added that a temporary loss of income is not, according to the Civil Code or court jurisprudence, a reason for adjustment of alimony, the decrease in income would have to last for a longer period of time.

11:02 In the event of a state of emergency, the ban on sales on holidays does not apply

If a state of emergency were to apply on Easter Monday, stores over 200 square meters would be allowed to open. However, the measures of the government and the Ministry of Health regarding the ban on retail sales would still apply. The exception would thus apply mainly to food chains, which under normal circumstances would have to be closed according to the law on sales hours. Jiří Frölich, spokesman for the Czech Trade Inspection, announced this today.

10:45 Pirates criticize that the MMR needed a delay for the EC's response

The pirate party calls it scandalous that the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) did not have time to respond to the European Commission (EC) audit regarding the conflict of interests of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) within the four-month deadline. The resort asked the EC to postpone the deadline by two months due to the coronavirus, the commission agreed this week and moved the deadline to June 5. The head of the Pirates parliamentary club, Jakub Michálek, questioned the Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálova (for ANO) about the delay, the party said in a press release.

10:45 Czechs have already given millions to help with the coronavirus via crowdfunding

Czechs gave tens of millions of crowns to crowdfunding projects to help with the spread of the coronavirus. In this way, they finance the production of lung ventilators or masks, they can also support entrepreneurs affected by the measures of the government, which closed some shops and establishments as a precaution. This follows from information on crowdfunding servers. So-called crowdfunding is used to finance projects or perhaps purchases through smaller contributions from the public, mostly on online portals.

10:41 A giant field hospital opens in London, Charles will open it

A giant field hospital will open today in London, which will provide medical care to up to 4,000 patients. Britain's Prince Charles, who recently recovered from the disease caused by the coronavirus, COVID-19, will attend the inauguration remotely, The Guardian reported.

10:34 This year, according to Morgan Stanley's estimates, the US economy will decline the most since 1946

The United States economy could shrink by 5.5 percent this year, which would be the deepest drop since 1946. The unemployment rate could rise to a record 15.7 percent in the second quarter. This follows from an estimate published today by the Morgan Stanley bank.

10:23 According to The New York Times, Trump's company is seeking a loan deferral

The conglomerate The Trump Organization, which covers the business activities of the family of US President Donald Trump, is seeking a postponement of loans and rent payments due to the effects of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. This was reported by The New York Times (NYT), according to which the company started informal negotiations with the German banking institution Deutsche Bank in March. Neither the bank nor a spokesperson for The Trump Organization have commented on the report, according to Bloomberg.

10:15 Business activity in the eurozone weakened more than expected in March

Business activity in the eurozone weakened more than expected in March. Its aggregate index fell to 29.7 points in the final settlement from February's value of 51.6 points, IHS Markit, which monitors activity, announced today. The dominant service sector was particularly hard hit by the pandemic caused by the coronavirus, which was hit hard by the orders of the governments of many European countries to close restaurants and other businesses where more people gather.

9:42 a.m. The Archbishop of Athens moved the Easter celebrations to May

In Greece, due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's Easter liturgical ceremonies will be held without the faithful and will be able to be transmitted via the Internet, the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord will be celebrated by Greek believers together in churches until May 26, if conditions permit. It was decided on Wednesday by the leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church, headed by Archbishop Hieronymus of Athens. The APA agency informed today.

9:35 At the CNB meeting, considerations were made to reduce rates by only 0.5 points

At the meeting of the banking board of the Czech National Bank on March 26, Tomáš Nidetzký and Oldřich Dědek discussed lowering rates by only 0.50 points. The other members of the bank board were leaning towards a more drastic step. This is according to the minutes of the council meeting published today. The CNB Banking Council then unanimously reduced the base interest rate on it by 0.75 percentage points to one percent.

9:23 The cost of the pandemic may reach up to 4.1 trillion USD

The costs of fighting the economic effects of the pandemic could reach up to 4.1 trillion dollars (104.5 trillion CZK) worldwide, which is about five percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP). This is estimated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It will mainly depend on the extent to which the disease COVID-19 spreads in Europe, the United States and other major economies.

9:20 Břeclav Hospital has infected staff again, now in the internment

Břeclav Hospital has new cases of infection with the coronavirus among doctors and nurses. All of them are from the internal department, the director of the hospital, Petr Baťka, said today. He did not want to specify the number yet. Several patients are also infected. The hospital is not accepting new patients online. Newly tests all patients admitted to hospital. Earlier, due to two infected doctors and two infected nurses, the facility had to close the ARO and ORL, which it reopened at the weekend.

9:12 The Prague expressor Bém has also been infected with the coronavirus

Psychiatrist and former Prague mayor Pavel Bém was tested positive for the new coronavirus last week. He does not experience any symptoms of the disease COVID-19 and is in home quarantine, which also required several health professionals with whom he came into contact. Bém, who works at the Addiction Clinic of the General Faculty Hospital in Prague, confirmed this to today's Hospodářské noviny. Bém returned from Canada in mid-March. "Then I followed all the rules. I wear a mask or a respirator," HN said. He wanted to be tested for the coronavirus upon arrival by the hygienists, but because he had no symptoms of infection, he was refused. He therefore had the test done in a private laboratory, which confirmed his infection with the coronavirus last Thursday. "The medical colleagues I saw had to be quarantined, of course. It was lucky that thanks to the e-mail from the laboratory, I missed the visit to the patients," Bém told HN. He added that many of his patients fall into the risk category, they are old people with chronic problems or multiple diseases at once.

9:02 Confidence in Merkel's government has risen sharply in Germany

In Germany, confidence in the government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel has risen sharply over the last month, when the country is fighting the coronavirus. According to a survey for public television ARD, 63 percent of citizens are satisfied with the work of the cabinet, compared to only 35 percent at the beginning of March. The popularity of Merkel and other government politicians also rose significantly.

8:37 46 people have already died in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, 46 people have already died in connection with the disease COVID-19, there are 3,869 cases of infection, and the number of those who have been cured has risen to 71. In total, medical professionals have performed 67,281 tests.

8:05 Czechs who were stuck in Austria due to the coronavirus have returned to the Czech Republic

Approximately a hundred Czech tourists returned to the republic early this morning from the Austrian Tyrol, where they had to stay due to the quarantine of the area ordered due to the coronavirus epidemic. A special convoy from the locality was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It consisted of a bus and several cars. The convoy arrived in České Budějovice around 2:30 a.m., South Bohemian fire department spokesperson Vendula Matějů said.

8:04 Germany has almost 80,000 cases, over a thousand dead

The number of confirmed cases of infection with the coronavirus in Germany has already reached almost 80,000. In the last 24 hours, 6,174 people were infected, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported today on its website. More than a thousand people in the country have already succumbed to the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The death toll has risen to 145 since Thursday.

8:03 The number of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,858 on Thursday, the increase is slowing

The increase in the number of confirmed cases of the disease COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus continued to slow down in the Czech Republic on Thursday, with an increase of 269 per day to a total of 3,858. This is according to data on the website of the Ministry of Health. The highest incidence of the coronavirus is still in Prague and the Olomouc region. According to the latest information from the ministry on Thursday evening, 67 people have recovered from the disease in the country and 44 people have died with COVID-19.

8:02 Cruise ships with passengers with the coronavirus docked in Florida

Two large cruise ships with dozens of passengers infected with the coronavirus docked in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The cruise ships Zaandam and Rotterdam, which had over 2,500 people on board, were not wanted for a long time by any country, the AP agency reported today. Most of the passengers should fly straight home from Florida, but some will be admitted by local hospitals and others will remain on quarantined ships.

8:01 The mayor of New York called for covering the mouth and nose

The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, called on residents of the city to cover their noses and mouths in public, thus preventing the further spread of the coronavirus. According to him, people can use scarves, scarves or any home-made masks, but surgical masks should be left to medical professionals. The AP agency reported about it today. According to her, the federal government is preparing a recommendation to cover the face, but experts have not yet agreed on its form.

8:00 a.m. The US Navy has removed the command of the captain from the ship with the coronavirus

The US Navy has relieved the captain of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, on board of which several dozen cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed. The AP agency reported about it today. According to the Secretary of the Navy, Captain Brett Crozier caused a panic when he addressed a letter asking his superiors for help to too many people. The writing was subsequently published by the American media.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3

23:45 Fines of up to 5 thousand Canadian dollars in Toronto for those who do not respect the 2-meter distance in the park

Toronto Mayor John Tory said anyone caught walking within 2 meters of another person in a public park could be fined up to 5,000 Canadian dollars.

23:20 There are more than 1 million confirmed infected people in the world

According to Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 1 million confirmed people infected with the coronavirus. Around 3.9 billion people – roughly half of all people on Earth – are trapped in their homes by the pandemic.

22:57 Plaga: Meter spacing and phasing of teaching are impractical

Meter distances between pupils or phasing the start of lessons are impractical in Czech schools. Education Minister Robert Plaga (ANO) said this on Czech Television (ČT) today. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) mentioned such measures after the reopening of schools in an interview on the Blesk.cz server. Plaga believes that pupils and students will be able to return to all types of schools in the second half of May, but it will depend on the recommendations of the Ministry of Health. Schools have been closed since the first half of March due to the coronavirus epidemic.

22:31 Trump by decree ordered the government to support the production of ventilators

United States President Donald Trump today, using the Defense Production Authorization Act, ordered the government to ensure enough raw materials for six US manufacturers of shortage ventilators. The White House announced it. According to the president, the reason is to expand the production of medical equipment, which the nation needs most during the coronavirus crisis.

22:10 SB is ready to provide up to 160 billion USD due to the coronavirus

The World Bank (SB) is ready to spend up to 160 billion dollars (roughly four trillion crowns) in the next 15 months to help countries deal with the health consequences of the spread of the coronavirus and to support economic recovery. The bank announced it today.

21:34 Turkey already has 356 victims of the coronavirus and over 18,000 infected

The number of people who died from the coronavirus infection in Turkey rose to 356 today, with 79 more victims added in 24 hours. There are now 18,135 infected in Turkey, 2,456 more than on Wednesday.

21:30 At least 884 elderly people have died of coronavirus in French nursing homes

20:50 Reuters: The German government is negotiating a financial injection for Lufthansa

The German government is negotiating to provide aid to the largest German airline, Lufthansa, in the order of billions of euros. As part of this aid, the government could acquire a stake in the company. Sources familiar with the situation told Reuters today.

19:55 Over 4,500 people have already died from the coronavirus in France

An additional 471 patients with the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, died in French hospitals in the last 24 hours. The total number of victims of the disease has already exceeded 4,500 in the country. Citing data from the Ministry of Health, the AFP reported this today. Confirmed cases of infection have increased by more than 6,000 since Wednesday evening.

19:40 Among those cured is a 96-year-old patient from Prague, Minister Vojtěch announced

19:30 Germany will bring in helpers for the harvest from abroad by plane

Germany is at risk of labor shortages for the upcoming harvest. Seasonal workers, mainly from Eastern Europe, regularly helped with this, but the German borders were closed to them as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus. At the insistence of agricultural unions, the Berlin government has now agreed to an exception for roughly 80,000 foreign workers. Special planes will transport them to Germany to work in the fields. Today, according to the DPA agency, German Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer and Minister of Agriculture Julia Klöcknerová agreed on this.

19:00 In an Italian hospital, they treat the infected with blood transfusions from cured patients

In a hospital in Pavia, northern Italy, they treat people infected with the coronavirus with blood transfusions donated by cured patients with developed antibodies. Doctors in China have already tried the procedure, the APA agency reported today.

The first blood donors were two doctors who had already recovered from the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus. The results of this test treatment have been described by experts as positive, although the official information has not yet been published. The hospital has already invited cured patients to come and donate blood.

18:32 Italy reports another 760 victims of the coronavirus, 115,000 infected

Italy recorded another 760 victims of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours. A total of 13,915 people have already died here from the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus. The number of infected rose to 115,242 today. Referring to the health authorities, the Reuters agency reported on this today. Italy is the most affected country in the world in terms of the number of victims.

18:20 New York state has over 90,000 infected, more than 2300 victims

The American state of New York has registered 92,381 people with the coronavirus to date. At the same time, their number increased by 8,669 in the last 24 hours. Since Wednesday, 432 more people have succumbed to the disease of COVID-19 there, bringing the total number of victims to 2,373. According to Reuters, the governor of this worst-hit American state, Andrew Cuomo, announced this today.

18:10 EC apologized to Italy for little solidarity in the coronavirus crisis

The European Commission has apologized to Italy for the lack of European solidarity in dealing with the coronavirus crisis. She promised more help to deal with the economic downturn. With reference to a letter from EC President Ursula von der Leyen, Reuters reported on this today.

18:09 European media ask for help from states, some packages take them into account

In some European countries, support for the media and publishing houses is part of the government aid packages in the coronavirus crisis. Elsewhere, media houses are still asking for help from the state. For example, in Italy or Hungary, the media are partially exempt from paying taxes. In Sweden, Finland, Ireland or Romania, they apply for exemption from value added tax. This is according to an overview prepared by the World Association of Newspaper and News Publishers WAN-IFRA.

17:40 In the Czech Republic, 44 people have already died in connection with the coronavirus

This follows from data from the Ministry of Health at 5:30 p.m. The total number of positive tests is 3805 and the number of recovered is 61.

17:38 The Karlovy Vary region has its third victim of the coronavirus, the number of patients is 113

The Karlovy Vary region has a third victim who died in connection with the corona virus infection. The seventy-two-year-old man also had other health problems. A total of 113 people have already been infected in the region. Nine cases have been added since Wednesday, Michaela Zajíčková, spokeswoman for the Regional Hygiene Station of Karlovy Vary, informed ČTK today. In the Karlovy Vary region, ten people have already recovered. 1068 people completed the testing. In the last day, 58 people were tested.

17:25 Oil prices are rising sharply, an announcement of a significant reduction in production is expected

Oil prices are rising sharply - they temporarily added more than 30 percent and could show the sharpest one-day increase in history. They are responding to US President Donald Trump's announcement that Russia and Saudi Arabia will soon announce that they have agreed to cut production by ten million barrels a day or even more. U.S. WTI crude added 23.5 percent to $25.08 a barrel around 5:00 p.m. CEST. Brent North Sea crude rose 17.5 percent to $29.07 a barrel. Both species briefly rose in price by 33 percent today.

17:20 The National Gallery has canceled exhibitions planned for the end of the year

The National Gallery Prague (NGP) has canceled most of the exhibitions scheduled for the second half of this year, citing the situation caused by the coronavirus. The decision also affected the presentation of the Jindřich Chalupecký Prize finalists. Although it was supposed to start in mid-October, the NGP canceled it on Wednesday in a letter to the organizers of the award, citing the need for an investigation due to the drop in sales.

17:17 Half of humanity is limited by the pandemic

Approximately 3.9 billion people – roughly half of all people on Earth – are stuck in their homes or in quarantine due to the pandemic.

17:02 Putin has extended non-working days until the end of April, he wants tougher measures

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced today the extension of the current non-working week regime in Russia due to the coronavirus until the end of April. In a televised speech, he said that the pandemic had not yet reached its peak in the world or in Russia, and pointed to the need to adopt tougher restrictions in many regions of the country to fight the infection.

16:59 The pandemic has boosted plans to build high-speed 5G networks

After the end of the coronavirus pandemic, experts in the US predict a boom in high-speed 5G networks, the American server Politico wrote today. The massive use of video conferencing and increased communication on social networks in conditions of general isolation has highlighted the need for reliable and fast connections that next-generation networks can provide.

16:55 Italy expects a crushing fall in industry

Italian industry fell by 16.6 percent in March compared to the previous month - the most since 1960, when the figure began to be published. This was stated today by the Italian industrial union Confindustria. For the first quarter as a whole, the industry weakened by 5.4 percent compared to the previous quarter, posting the steepest decline in 11 years. In the second quarter, the drop is expected to deepen further to 15 percent.

16:42 The Czech Republic has a third of the cases against Germany, a quarter against Austria

The Czech Republic has roughly a third of the number of cases of infection with the new type of coronavirus compared to Germany per million inhabitants, and roughly a quarter compared to Austria. However, the Czech Republic almost equals both neighboring countries in the number of tests per million inhabitants. This follows from statistics available on the website of the National Agency for Communication and Information Technology (NAKIT). In Austria and Germany, the infection started spreading four days earlier than in the Czech Republic.

16:30 Jindřichhohradecka Hospital placed 18 employees in quarantine

Jindřichhohradecka Hospital placed 18 employees in quarantine. It is related to the case of a nurse from the internal department, whose tests proved to be infected with the coronavirus. The normal operation of the hospital is not restricted. In a press release, the spokeswoman for the South Bohemian Hospital holding, Iva Nováková, informed about this.

16:25 A 79-year-old patient with COVID-19 died in H. Králové Hospital

A seventy-nine-year-old patient with the infection of COVID-19 died this morning at the Hradec Králové University Hospital. The woman had other serious illnesses. In recent days, she was hospitalized at the infectious disease clinic of the university hospital.

16:22 There will be no Village of the Year competition this year due to the coronavirus

The twenty-sixth edition of the Village of the Year competition was canceled this year due to the coronavirus. This was announced today in a press release by the Ministry of Regional Development. Together with the cancellation of the competition, the organizers canceled all related events. The organizers will return the money for the registration fees to the municipalities.

16:20 Owners: MMR's proposal on the impossibility of terminating the lease is unacceptable

The proposal of the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR), according to which the tenant may not be terminated from the apartment if he is unable to pay his obligations as a result of the coronavirus crisis, is unacceptable. It is a dangerous precedent for excessive government action in times of crisis. It is about transferring the responsibility of the state to a randomly selected and thus discriminated group of residential real estate owners. In a statement available to ČTK, this was stated today by the Civic Association of Homeowners in the Czech Republic.

15:50 Protective equipment is still missing for caregivers in the field

They usually only have a fabric mask at their disposal. They also do not know in advance whether their client is in quarantine or has an infection. Jiří Horecký, president of the Association of Social Service Providers (APSS), told ČTK on Thursday. The Czech Association of Nursing Services (ČAPS) also drew attention to this. According to her, caregivers take care of more than 100,000 people, mostly seniors over 80 years old.

15:45 Great Britain reports over 500 deaths per day, this is the highest number so far

An additional 569 people have died of the disease COVID-19 in Britain in the last 24 hours, narrowly surpassing Wednesday's sad record, when the authorities announced the death of 563 people. The total number of victims of the disease there rose to 2,921, the coronavirus has already been confirmed in 33,718 patients in Britain. Referring to the statistics of the Ministry of Health, this was written by the Reuters agency. Britain ranks among the worst hit in the world.

15:32 The interest-free loan program has reopened, the limit has risen to 5 billion

The receipt of applications for interest-free loans in the first round of the COVID II program was resumed on Thursday afternoon, and its limit was increased from 1.5 billion to five billion crowns. Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO) stated this on Twitter. Entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs could start applying for loans from Thursday morning, but the original limit was used up in three hours. The Czech Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank (ČMZRB) launched the program due to the economic impact on entrepreneurs of restrictions imposed by the government against the spread of the new type of coronavirus.

15:15 The coronavirus in New York is spreading mainly in poorer neighborhoods

The coronavirus epidemic has hit the largest American city, New York, hard, but there are significant differences in the number of infected people in its individual parts. The AP agency drew attention to it today. In wealthier neighborhoods populated mainly by whites, such as Manhattan or some parts of Brooklyn, the number of patients is lower, while in Queens, where African Americans and members of minorities live to a greater extent, the spread of the coronavirus is many times higher.

15:10 Businesses request an increase in support and acceleration of its processing

After the first round of applications for interest-free loans in the COVID II program ran out in three hours today, representatives of businesses are requesting an increase in support and speeding up its processing. This follows from a ČTK poll among business unions. According to the Czech Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank (ČMZRB), more than 700 entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized entrepreneurs applied for the loan, which is limited to CZK 15 million.

14:50 A record 6.7 million Americans apply for unemployment benefits

About 6.65 million people filed for unemployment benefits in the United States last week. This is a record and roughly double the number from the previous week. The US Department of Labor informed about it today. American businesses began laying off workers due to the spread of the coronavirus, which forced many businesses to close. Analysts, on average, had expected about the same number of people to apply for support as a week earlier. Right now, people are losing their jobs mainly in the sectors that are most affected by the pandemic, which are hotels, restaurants or companies in air transport.

14:22 Poles working in the Czech Republic ask Warsaw to remove obstacles

Poles working in the Czech Republic are asking the Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, to change the current restrictions and make it easier for them to cross the border on a daily basis. A petition with this request appeared on the Internet on Wednesday evening and this morning there were about 3,000 signatures under it, reports the PAP agency.

13:43 There is a shortage of the most sought-after gold bars and coins on the market

The increase in demand and the difficulties caused by the crisis due to the spread of the coronavirus meant that the market is now short of the small gold bars and coins that are most popular with consumers. Those who manage to get to this metal then have to pay significantly more than the current price per troy ounce on the financial markets in London or New York, writes Bloomberg.

13:42 The Ministry of Finance has already released CZK 6.6 billion for the purchase of protective equipment

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) released an additional 4.3 billion crowns from the budget reserve for the Ministry of the Interior for the purchase of protective equipment. Thus, the Ministry of Finance has already released 6.6 billion crowns for aids. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (for ANO) announced this on Twitter today.

13:41 Tests confirmed the infection in another doctor of the Ostrava FN

In connection with the infection of two doctors at the Ostrava University Hospital, approximately 200 employees of this medical facility were tested. The hospital has so far the results of 125 tests, one other doctor had a positive result. Some people will still be tested. Hospital spokeswoman Petra Petlachová said this today.

13:37 The state has started negotiations with Czech manufacturers of protective equipment

The fire brigade, the Ministry of the Interior and Czech companies producing protective equipment have started negotiations on priority deliveries of means for protection against the coronavirus for the state. Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) told journalists today after the meeting of the permanent working group of the Central Crisis Staff. According to him, the state wants to take a large part of the production of Gumáren Zubří masks and filters from the companies Sigma VVÚ and Avec Chem, and also plans to take 6,000 pressure cylinders from the company Vítkovice Cylinders. On Tuesday, the government approved the order that six domestic manufacturers of protective equipment against the new coronavirus should be supplied by the Ministry of the Interior as a matter of priority.

13:21 Prague police caught a fine seller of hundreds of FFP3 respirators

Police officers caught a fine seller of hundreds of respirators of the highest class FFP3 in Prague, capable of capturing viruses. These were three men, with whom the police found a total of 660 FFP3 respirators. Police spokeswoman Violeta Siřišťová announced this on the website of the Prague police today. Due to the spread of the coronavirus, from the beginning of March in the Czech Republic, it is allowed to sell FFP3 class protective equipment only to state institutions and organizations, or to companies supplying the state.

13:20 Schillerová wants to change the proposal introducing support of CZK 25,000 for self-employed

Finance Minister Schillerová wants to change the proposal introducing support of CZK 25,000 for self-employed people in the lower house. He should be more accommodating. She told Czech Television.

12:47 Babiš sees no reason for personnel changes in the government

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) sees no reason for personnel changes in the government, even after the end of the crisis surrounding the coronavirus epidemic. According to him, the government works in a crisis and there are no problems. He said this today in an interview on the Blesk.cz server. He also rejected criticism for the fact that the state did not provide citizens with masks and that, according to the Supreme Administrative Court, the government canceled the additional senate elections in Teplice outside of its authority.

12:40 European Commission will support short-term work with 100 billion euros, free up more money

Today, the European Commission (EC) published another package of support measures to help economies recover from the worst effects of the coronavirus crisis. As part of the new short-term employment support system, Brussels is offering member countries up to 100 billion euros (roughly 2.7 trillion CZK), which the commission wants to borrow using government guarantees. The EC also wants to expand the already created crisis investment fund with additional money intended for cohesion policy. It also intends to offer farmers more flexible withdrawal of money from the common agricultural policy funds.

12:36 Schools should be opened gradually from lower grades, said Babiš

Schools should start opening gradually, first kindergartens and the first grade of primary schools. Certain protective measures will need to be taken for this, for example ensuring at least a meter distance between pupils. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said this in an interview on the Blesk.cz server today. He expressed his belief that pupils and students of all types of schools will return to standard classes before the summer holidays. Schools have been closed since the first half of March due to the coronavirus epidemic.

12:31 Babiš has not yet been tested for the coronavirus, he sees no reason

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) has not yet been tested for the coronavirus, he sees no reason for such a step. He would undergo tests if he had any symptoms of infection, he said today in an interview on the Blesk.cz server. Babiš's daughter was in preventive quarantine due to her stay abroad, but the prime minister stated that she lives separately from her family due to the current situation.

12:32 KSČM will support extending the state of emergency until April 30

KSČM will support the extension of the state of emergency until April 30, according to them, a longer period is not needed. Its chairman Vojtěch Filip told Czech Television.

12:27 TOP 09 will not support extending the state of emergency by one month

According to the head of the TOP 09 parliamentary club, Miroslav Kalouska, the opposition is preparing a joint amendment to the government's proposal to help entrepreneurs whose business has been limited by measures against the coronavirus epidemic. He described the one-time 25,000 crowns as a cruel mockery of the self-employed, given the fixed costs that most of them have. TOP 09 in the House next week will also not support the government's proposal to extend the state of emergency by one month. He wants to hear from the government the reasons and its plans for using this time. TOP 09 is ready to vote for a two-week extension.

12:16 According to Hamáček, representatives of the opposition have agreed to extend the state of emergency

The representatives of the opposition in the Central Crisis Staff (ÚKŠ) also agreed to the extension of the state of emergency by 30 days on Wednesday. Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) said this after today's meeting of the staff leadership. He added that he is ready to explain the request in Parliament. The extension of the state of emergency was approved by the government on Wednesday, and the House of Representatives still has to decide on it.

12:04 Some South Moravian homes for the elderly choose complete quarantine

Some homes for the elderly in the South Moravian Region will choose a complete quarantine to prevent the possible spread of the coronavirus. This was said today by the Governor's deputy for social affairs, Marek Šlapal (ČSSD). According to him, it will be a big sacrifice for the employees, who will stay there 24 hours a day even with an overnight stay, but this will give them time to prepare beds for potentially infected seniors. Regions should set aside 60 beds per 100,000 inhabitants for elderly people with the coronavirus, i.e. around 700 beds in South Moravia. The infection has not yet appeared in South Moravian homes.

11:55 Life in the Czech Republic could return to normal in May or June

Life in the Czech Republic could return to normal at the end of May or in June, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) estimated today. The turning point in terms of the coronavirus epidemic will be the end of April, the Prime Minister said in an interview on the Blesk.cz server. At that time, Babiš expects the peak of the epidemic, there could be roughly 10,000 to 15,000 infected people with COVID-19 in the country. According to him, the Czech Republic is inspired by the handling of the epidemic in Singapore or Hong Kong.

11:50 The main thing is that the quotas have ended and the Czech Republic does not have to accept migrants, said Babiš

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) considers it important that the Czech Republic will not accept any migrants and that the quotas have ended in the meantime. He said that it is not important that the Czech Republic together with Poland and Hungary lost the dispute at the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU). He came to the conclusion that the three Visegrad countries failed to fulfill their obligations under EU law by refusing the mandatory redistribution of refugees.

11:49 The number of victims of the coronavirus in Spain has exceeded 10,000

The number of victims of the coronavirus in Spain exceeded 10,000, when 950 deaths from the infected were added in a day, the Ministry of Health reported today. The coronavirus was newly confirmed in 8,102 people. In total, 110,238 people have been infected in the country, of which almost 27,000 have recovered. The number of deaths in the last 24 hours is today the highest in Spain since the outbreak of the disease in the country.

11:33 The first round of the COVID II program was exhausted after three hours

The first round of applications for interest-free loans in the COVID II program is exhausted after three hours. More than 700 self-employed and small and medium-sized entrepreneurs applied for a loan. The Czech Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank (ČMZRB) will evaluate the applications in the next ten working days. The second round of the program will start on April 20. The information was published by the ČMZRB on its website. 1.5 billion crowns were earmarked for the first round, according to the ČMZRB, the value of the submitted loans exceeded this amount.

11:21 Pay TV viewership increased by a fifth

Viewing of paid TV services increased by roughly a fifth in the last two weeks. The reason is measures against the spread of the coronavirus. The greatest interest is in news channels, children's channels, and adult stations are also among the most popular programs among viewers. It follows from the broadcasters' information.

11:20 a.m. The Liberec Region rejects the general definition of beds for sick seniors

The Liberecký Region rejects the general demarcation of 60 beds per 100,000 inhabitants for seniors who have tested positive for COVID-19. For the Liberec region, this would mean allocating 290 beds. The county management considers it pointless, it would mean evicting an entire county hospital. The region absolutely rejects that, it is not possible to evict the Jablonecká hospital and put pensioners there," Liberec Governor Martin Půta (Mayors for the Liberec Region) said today.

11:18 In Quebec, a quarter of homes for the elderly are infected with the coronavirus

The province of Québec, which is the region most affected by the coronavirus in Canada, is struggling with the spread of the infection in homes for the elderly. At least one case of the infection is in a quarter of Quebec's care facilities, according to the AP agency, Prime Minister Francois Legault said.

11:00 Some of those infected with the coronavirus show neurological problems

A smaller proportion of those infected with the coronavirus also show neurological problems, including confusion, seizures or stroke. According to The New York Times (NYT), doctors around the world are reporting such symptoms in some patients. The typical symptoms of the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus, are cough, fever and difficulty breathing. Scientists have also noted unusual symptoms in the form of loss of smell and taste or heart problems, so now they also mention neurological problems.

10:35 The coronavirus will cost social services up to 10 billion, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is preparing subsidies

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Jana Maláčová (ČSSD) anticipates the impact of the coronavirus on social services in the amount of up to ten billion crowns. ČTK wrote that next week it wants to open a subsidy program for roughly 5,000 applications. He will issue an extraordinary grant title in accordance with the Social Services Act. Homes for the elderly with a shortage of staff can already apply for support for the employment of students according to the current rules.

10:25 Jurečka asks Babiš to guarantee an increase in money for social services

Chairman of the KDU-ČSL Marian Jurečka in an open letter asks Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) to guarantee an increase in money intended for social service providers. Jurečka stated in the letter that the facilities are facing a lack of staff and protective equipment during the current coronavirus crisis. This year, social services lack 6.83 billion crowns in subsidies compared to what they requested, Jurečka said. Labor Minister Jana Maláčová (ČSSD) wrote to ČTK that a special subsidy program for social services could start operating as early as next week.

10:20 Russia is already in the same situation as the Czech Republic

In Russia, the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus has risen to 3,548, after today the operational staff for the fight against the coronavirus announced a record increase of 771 new cases in the past 24 hours. This was reported by the Reuters agency. The infection is found in 76 of Russia's 85 regions, according to authorities. A total of 30 people in Russia have succumbed to the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus, and 235 patients have recovered.

10:10 A man is suspected of threatening a member of the Central Crisis Staff

Criminal officers arrested a man who, according to them, sent e-mails to one of the members of the Central Crisis Staff in which he threatened to kill him and his family. He is suspected of making threats with the aim of influencing a public authority. Although this act is not one of those that are punishable by a higher criminal rate during a state of emergency, its commission is clearly aggravating circumstances during a state of emergency.

10:00 Trump is losing public support

American President Donald Trump is losing public support in the fight against the coronavirus, 40 percent of Americans now consider his actions correct. This is according to a recent poll by Politico and Morning Consult, according to which 47 percent of respondents think the president is not doing enough to stop the infection.

9:55 The Israeli Minister of Health and his wife have the coronavirus

Israeli Minister of Health Yaakov Licman and his wife Chava have contracted the coronavirus. The Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel wrote this with reference to the official statement of the ministry, which was published on the night of today.

9:45 a.m. There is a migrant camp in quarantine in Greece, where there are already 20 infected

The Greek authorities have ordered a two-week quarantine starting today for the migration camp in the village of Ritsona, north of Athens, in which 2,500 people live. This happened after at least 20 refugees from this center were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus. This was reported today by the Greek Reporter server, which also drew attention to the danger of the spread of the disease on the islands in the Aegean Sea.

9:40 Bloomberg: The nightmare of the founders of the euro may materialize in Italy

Twenty years after the introduction of the euro, one of the main fears of its founders is materializing in the region's third largest economy, plagued by the coronavirus. The lingering suspicion that Italy's profligate borrowing would eventually become a Europe-wide problem was a recurring nightmare for German financial institutions in the 1990s. Bloomberg writes about it.

9:35 UN: The global economy may shrink by almost 1% this year

The global economy could drop by almost one percent this year due to the new coronavirus. It stated this in its report to the United Nations. Before the pandemic, the UN, on the other hand, expected growth of 2.5 percent. At the time of the global financial crisis, in 2009, the world economy shrank by 1.7 percent.

9:25 The Philippines threatens to shoot

Citizens who disobey the curfew announced in the Philippines due to the spread of the coronavirus and disrupt the order could be shot. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced this in a speech on Wednesday evening. Activists criticized the president's harsh words, accusing him of inciting violence, just like his anti-drug campaign, which has killed 7,000 people over the past four years, mostly small-time traffickers and drug addicts.

8:40 Another person died, over 3,600 are infected

The number of cases of infection with the new coronavirus rose to 3,603 in the Czech Republic. There was one death, a total of 40 people succumbed to the disease of COVID-19, and the number of people who have recovered is 61. This follows from updated data from the Ministry of Health, the data comes from this morning.

8:15 Babiš will perform at Bleska at 11:00

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will appear on the Blesk.cz server's Epicentrum program, where he will talk about the latest news regarding the pandemic and government measures. The president's spokesman Jiří Ovčáček informed about it on Twitter, saying that Miloš Zeman will deliver his speech on Sunday at 11:00 a.m., also on Blesk.

8:10 a.m. Legendary jazzman Ellis Marsalis succumbed to the coronavirus

Legendary American jazzman Ellis Marsalis died on Wednesday in New Orleans at the age of 85. This was reported by the AP agency with reference to the musician's son. He told the agency that his father died of pneumonia caused by the coronavirus.

8:05 Border protection with Germany and Austria will last until midnight on April 24

Checks at the borders with Germany and Austria will last until midnight on Friday, April 24. On Wednesday, the government decided to extend internal border protection by 20 days. She gave the Ministry of the Interior 18.1 million crowns from the government's budget reserve for inspections.

8:00 There are 3,589 infected people in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic reports 3,589 people infected with the new coronavirus. The number of recovered remains at 61, the dead are 39. This follows from the website of the Ministry of Health. The data on the infected come from the night from Wednesday to Thursday.

7:47 US soldiers are leaving the aircraft carrier on which the coronavirus was spreading

Due to the spread of the coronavirus on the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt anchored off the Pacific island of Guam, at least 2,700 crew members will be able to leave it. Acting Minister of the Navy Thomas Modly informed about it on Wednesday local time. He added that they are still looking for ways to quarantine the soldiers. According to the AP agency, the army is considering, for example, rooms in hotels. 93 crew members tested positive for the coronavirus, Modly said. Symptoms of the disease manifested themselves in 86 of them, but none had to go to the hospital. A thousand soldiers have already left the ship, another 1,700 will follow them in the coming days. Soldiers are awaiting repeated tests for the coronavirus.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2

22:32 The Netherlands proposes a fund for states hit hard by the coronavirus

Today, the Netherlands proposed the creation of a fund to support the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus and called on other members of the European Union to also contribute to it. According to Reuters, this was reported by Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra.

22:20 Union: 17,000 people would lose their jobs due to the closure of shops on Sunday

The forced closing of shops on Sunday would put at least 17,000 people out of work. In addition, it would increase the concentration of customers in stores on Saturdays and Mondays. The proposal contradicts all epidemiological data on the spread of the coronavirus and opposes the interests of everyone who wants to take care of themselves and not rely on the state, said Tomáš Prouza, president of the Trade and Tourism Association, when asked by ČTK today.

22:15 American stocks fell significantly due to concerns about the coronavirus

US stocks started the second quarter with a significant decline. They are pushed down by growing investor concerns about the effects of the spread of the coronavirus on the United States economy. The Dow Jones index, which includes shares of thirty leading American companies, lost 4.44 percent today and ended trading at 20,943.91 points. The broader S&P 500 index fell 4.41 percent to 2,470.50 points and the Nasdaq technology index also fell 4.41 percent to 7,360.58 points.

22:05 The Financial Administration registers 17 employees with the disease of COVID-19

The Financial Administration records 17 employees who have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus as of today, 14 of them are from Prague and Central Bohemia. There are 121 employees in quarantine.

21:30 If a non-negligible part of the affected self-employed people did not fit the criteria for various reasons, then it was not fair

Alena Schillerová shared it. We are working on the adjustment, says the minister.

21:20 Army recruits were welcomed in Vyškov under extraordinary measures

Under extraordinary conditions, a basic training course for new soldiers began today in Vyškov. Under strict hygiene measures, 492 newcomers joined it. The army announced this on its website today. Compared to the past, the course will be shortened to six weeks due to the coronavirus epidemic, and the training will be more intensive.

21:00 Worldwide, more than 900,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus

The number of people infected with the coronavirus worldwide has exceeded 900,000. This follows from data from the American Johns Hopkins University, which monitors the situation around the world. In terms of the number of infected people, the United States is the worst hit by the pandemic, with almost 200,000 people infected. In terms of victims, it is Italy, where over 13,000 people succumbed to the disease of COVID-19. The disease claimed more than 45,000 lives worldwide.

20:55 Survey: 25 percent of entrepreneurs have ever borrowed money to pay taxes

One in four entrepreneurs used a loan to pay taxes in the past, i.e. during economic prosperity. This follows from a survey by Lidya, which was attended by 320 self-employed people and companies with up to 50 employees. The data was collected from February 27 to March 1, i.e. before the effects of government measures related to the coronavirus. According to the authors of the survey, it can now be expected that the share of those who will have to borrow to pay taxes will increase significantly. The government has postponed the deadline for submitting the tax return by three months, i.e. until July 1.

20:50 MPO will offer CZK 3 billion in a subsidy program to fight the coronavirus

Companies implementing innovations related to the fight against the coronavirus will be able to benefit from reimbursement of 100 percent of demonstrable costs from the state. Today, the government approved three billion crowns for the subsidy program Country for the Future. The funds will thus be able to be used by companies that need to convert their production to the production of, for example, medical devices. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO) said this today at a press conference after the government meeting.

20:12 In France, the fourth country in the world, the number of victims of the virus has exceeded 4,000

4,032 people with the coronavirus have already died in French hospitals. As of Tuesday, there were 3,523 deaths; the daily increase in casualties thus exceeded 500. France has now become the fourth country where the number of deaths has exceeded the 4,000 mark. Altogether, at least 56,989 people have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in France, with 52,128 confirmed cases on Tuesday, the French authorities announced today.

20:10 The government has banned the export of more than three hundred medicines due to COVID-19

The government eased the two-week-old blanket ban on the export of medicines abroad, which it introduced on March 17. The new ban applies to approximately 300 medicinal products. These are drugs tested for infection with a new type of coronavirus, other antiviral drugs, but also drugs to reduce fever with paracetamol or the antibiotic penicillin.

20:00 Six companies will supply protective equipment to the state as a priority

Today, the government approved the Central Crisis Staff's proposal that six domestic manufacturers of protective equipment against the coronavirus should be supplied by the Ministry of the Interior as a priority. Staff spokeswoman Klára Dlubalová told ČTK that. According to her, the ministry will agree on the number of products that the state will buy with individual companies.

19:50 The police may be given the opportunity to fine coronavirus offences

Police officers may be given the authority to impose on-the-spot fines of up to CZK 10,000 on people for violating the measures introduced by the government and the Ministry of Health due to the spread of a new type of coronavirus. Today, the Cabinet, on the proposal of the Central Crisis Staff, approved the draft of the Ministry of the Interior, which takes this into account.

19:45 The law should limit notices from apartments due to unpaid rent

The government has approved a bill according to which a tenant may not be evicted from an apartment if he is unable to pay the rent due to the coronavirus epidemic. He will be able to repay the rent debt by the end of May 2021. Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálova (for ANO) said this at a press conference after today's government meeting.

19:40 In Austria, 148 people have died with the coronavirus, in Switzerland 482

The number of people with the coronavirus in Austria has reached 10,553 and the number of dead is 148, about twenty more than on Tuesday. According to the APA agency, the number of infected people is valid as of 4:30 p.m. CEST today, the number of victims as of 10:00 a.m. CEST. Switzerland reports 17,749 infected and 482 dead.

19:36 Disinfectant gel and mask can be bought in vending machines in Brno

The people of Brno will be able to buy masks, respirators, gloves and disinfectant gels from machines in several places in the city. They will be both in the city center and in some peripheral areas. The city management has agreed with the manufacturer of protective equipment Batist Medical, which will sell them in cooperation with the company Pick Up 24 hours. Mayor Markéta Vaňková (ODS) stated this in a press release today.

19:32 The government has agreed to a higher public finance deficit for 2021

Today, as part of an amendment to the Budget Responsibility Act, the government increased the structural deficit to four percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for next year. This is the public finance deficit adjusted for the effect of the business cycle. The goal is to enable work on the preparation of the state budget for next year. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (for ANO) informed about this at a press conference. An increase in the structural deficit is allowed by EU rules. The proposal still has to be discussed by the Parliament.

19:29 Prymula: There are about 30 percent of undetected cases in the population

According to the estimates of Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula, there are about 30 percent of the population of undetected cases of COVID-19 in the Czech Republic. He said this tonight on Czech TV. As of this afternoon, there are about 3,500 confirmed cases. If 30 percent of undetected cases are included, this would mean about 4,500 sick people in the population, and about a thousand infected people would not have been tested or isolated yet.

19:20 The government wants to extend the state of emergency for another 30 days

The government wants to extend the state of emergency for another 30 days, so it would be valid until May 11. After the cabinet meeting, Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) said this today. The Chamber of Deputies must decide on the extension, it should vote on it next week. Some parties have previously expressed reservations about such a significant extension. The state of emergency in the Czech Republic has been in effect since 14:00 on March 12 due to the coronavirus epidemic.

19:17 Household goods stores with protective equipment will not be closed

Homeware stores that will offer protective equipment will be able to be open from 06:00 on Thursday. The government approved it today, Minister of Transport and Industry Karel Havlíček (for ANO) said at the press conference after today's meeting. This is another exception to the ban on retail sales and the sale of services in establishments, which the Cabinet extended on Monday until Saturday, April 11, 06:00.

19:15 Deputy Minister of Transport Čoček is among those infected with the coronavirus

Deputy Minister of Transport Tomáš Čoček has contracted the coronavirus. The deputy said he had been in quarantine and working from home for the past 14 days.

19:13 In the regions, 60 beds per 100,000 inhabitants are to be created for the elderly

In all regions, 60 beds for every 100,000 inhabitants are to be prepared for seniors infected with the coronavirus. The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Jana Maláčová (ČSSD) informed about the government's extraordinary measure on Twitter. Earlier, the representatives of the government agreed with the governors that special facilities would be created in the regions if necessary.

19:00 There are already more people infected in the state of New York than in mainland China

In the US state of New York, almost 8,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have increased in the last 24 hours. A total of 83,712 are already infected, Reuters reported with reference to local governor Andrew Cuomo. There are already more infected people in New York state than in mainland China, from where the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus began to spread to the world at the beginning of the year. The number of dead increased by 391 compared to Tuesday's data. In total, the disease of COVID-19 in the state on the east coast of the USA has already claimed 1,941 victims.

18:55 In the regions, 60 beds per 100,000 inhabitants are to be created for the elderly

In all regions, 60 beds for every 100,000 inhabitants are to be prepared for seniors infected with the coronavirus. The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Jana Maláčová (ČSSD) informed about the government's extraordinary measure on Twitter. Earlier, the representatives of the government agreed with the governors that special facilities would be created in the regions if necessary.

18:50 The government approved a moratorium on repayment of loans and mortgages

People and companies will apparently be able to suspend repayment of loans and mortgages for three or six months. The choice of length will be up to the clients. The bill of the Ministry of Finance was approved by the government today, the ministry informed. People and companies must apply for deferment of installments and declare that it is due to the pandemic. Banks won't look into it. Interest and principal payments will be suspended. Banks will not charge for interruption.

18:45 Škoda Auto has extended the production shutdown again, until April 20

Automotive Škoda Auto has extended the production shutdown at all three of its Czech plants for the second time due to the coronavirus pandemic, until April 20. Production was originally scheduled to start on April 6. AND

18:44 Vojtěch: The state ordered thermal cameras from Switzerland, not from China

The state did not order 500 temperature sensing cameras for hospitals from a Chinese company, but from a Swiss one. Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) stated this on Twitter today. He was reacting to the contribution of the Czech company Workswell, which produces thermal cameras, which stated on its Twitter that it had been warning the government about the necessity of preparation, including the offer of training, since January. According to the company, the cabinet rejected the offer and subsequently bought 500 cameras from China.

18:30 Italy has over 13,000 victims of the coronavirus and more than 110,000 cases

Italy recorded another 727 victims of the disease COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. The total number of victims of the coronavirus infection in this worst-hit European country thus reached 13,155. The coronavirus has already been confirmed in 110,574 people, an increase of 4,782 compared to Tuesday.

18:20 FNKV is now operating a drive-in examination tent for COVID-19

Královská Vinohrady University Hospital in Prague started operating a drive-in examination tent on Tuesday, March 31 for the collection of material for coronavirus infection. The collection point directly from the car is intended for patients with requests from a doctor. It is necessary to order the examination electronically in advance. The advantage is the speed of collection and the minimization of contact between the healthcare professional and the patient.

18:05 The head of the Senate Vystrčil stated that he did not contract the coronavirus from a colleague

President of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil (ODS) announced that he did not get infected with the new coronavirus from his colleague Pavel Karpíšek. At the same time, he stated that this was the end of the two-week period of his quarantine. He shared this on his twitter.

17:55 175 Czechs from the USA returned safely to the Czech Republic this afternoon on a special repatriation flight

Another 5 Czechs were picked up by the plane while refueling in Iceland. The police of the Czech Republic will accompany them home, where they will begin a mandatory fourteen-day quarantine.

17:50 Operators: Measures against the coronavirus have already cost a billion CZK

Measures in connection with the fight against the coronavirus cost domestic mobile operators a total of more than one billion crowns in the last three weeks. In the coming months, they will also have to invest significantly in the networks to maintain the quality of the connection. This was announced today by the Association of Mobile Network Operators after joint negotiations with the Czech Telecommunications Authority and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

17:40 In the Czech Republic, 39 people died in connection with the coronavirus

The number of people who died in connection with the coronavirus rose to 39 in the Czech Republic today. The total number of people infected today increased by approximately 300 to 3,508, and 48 people have recovered from the disease COVID-19 to date.

17:35 The government will submit the postponement of the Teplice elections to the House of Representatives for approval

The Ministry of the Interior will prepare a special law to postpone the by-elections to the Senate in Teplice. Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) told ČTK about this. The procedure depends on the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court, which, according to Hamáček, insists on a narrow interpretation of the constitutional law. The court stated today that when the government postponed the elections due to the coronavirus epidemic, it acted beyond its authority. According to the NSS, the cabinet should have submitted a law on postponing the elections to the Parliament.

17:32 Trump: Covering your mouth is not a bad idea, a scarf is suitable

Covering your nose and mouth in public due to the spread of the coronavirus is not a bad idea at all, according to US President Donald Trump. But people should rather use scarves, masks should be left to the medical staff in hospitals, the head of the White House was quoted by the BBC news website today. According to the AP, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now considering whether to issue a recommendation for people to wear mouth and nose covers in public. The decision has not yet been made.

17:30 Pendler asked the court to cancel the government's travel restrictions

cross-border worker Jan Staněk turned to the court with a proposal to cancel the government's crisis measure, which limited the so-called commuters' ability to travel to Austria and Germany for work. Czech Television drew attention to the administrative lawsuit filed by attorney Michal Staněk today. The spokeswoman for the Prague Municipal Court, Markéta Puci, told ČTK that the court had received the lawsuit and that it had not yet set a date for its hearing.

17:19 Tennis players will be without Wimbledon for the first time since World War II

Tennis Wimbledon will not take place this year. Organizers from the All England Club canceled the famous Grand Slam tournament today due to the coronavirus pandemic. London grass will not be played on for the first time since World War II. "We regret to announce that the tournament will be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, which threatens the general health of the population. The 134th edition will take place from June 28 to July 11, 2021," the club announced.

17:10 Food banks doubled their turnover at the beginning of the crisis

Food banks have redistributed 330 tons of food over the past two weeks, the Ministry of Agriculture announced in a press release today. Their turnover in warehouses thus doubled compared to the normal situation. As the director of the Czech Federation of Food Banks, Veronika Láchová, told ČTK, after the government ban on serving food in restaurants, the Prague bank gathered a lot of raw materials that would otherwise have been thrown away by businesses, there were not so many donations in the rest of the country.

17:00 Festivals in Edinburgh have been canceled for the first time in more than 70 years

Summer festivals in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh have been canceled after more than 70 years due to the coronavirus epidemic. According to Reuters, the organizers announced this today. Five international cultural events take place in Edinburgh every August, such as the International Music and Art Show or the Fringe Theater Festival.

16:40 UEFA has postponed the June national team matches due to the coronavirus

The European football union UEFA has postponed all June international matches due to the pandemic of a new type of coronavirus. Among other things, there was to be a play-off for promotion to the European Championship, which had already been moved to next year. Most of the national teams, including the Czech national team, have not yet had specific opponents for June. UEFA has also extended the suspension of the European Cups - the Champions League and the Europa League - until further notice, following today's video conference with the general secretaries of all 55 member countries. The executive committee of the union then completely canceled the European championship for under-17 footballers in May and the Euro for under-19 players in July.

16:30 5,000 residents of Prague will be tested as a sample, said ČT Prymula

Testing a representative sample of the population for the coronavirus will concern 5,000 residents of Prague. Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula told Czech Television (ČT) today. In this way, he wants to find out the rate of infection, i.e. the proportion of infected people among the Czech population. He wants to have the residents of Litovelsk in Olomouc tested as well, where a quarantine was in force until Monday along with neighboring Uničovsk because of the high number of infected people, Prymula told Czech Radio - Radiožurnál already this morning. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) said at today's press conference that testing the entire population is not expected.

16:20 The authorities could start paying Kurzarbeit allowances after April 10

State contributions to wages in companies affected by the imposed restrictions due to the spread of the coronavirus could start to be paid out by labor offices after April 10. Employers could start applying for support on April 6. The Ministry of Labor stated this in the description of the Kurzarbeit employment protection program Antivirus. Money from the state for wages is supposed to prevent layoffs. Employment agencies can also obtain them.

"It is desirable to compensate employers for the emergence of all types of obstacles to work that arise in causal connection with the infection of COVID-19," the ministry said.

16:15 Prince Charles, who has been cured, praised the work commitment of the health workers

British Prince Charles, who overcame the coronavirus infection, praised the selfless work commitment of health workers. According to him, the country is going through a strange and threatening time. The 71-year-old heir to the throne left isolation on Monday after showing only "relatively mild symptoms" of the COVID-19 disease; his office reported that he was in good health.

16:10 A number of entrepreneurs have reservations about the proposal for a one-time payment

A number of entrepreneurs have reservations about the government's proposal for a one-time payment of 25,000 crowns to those affected by the coronavirus. For some, the conditions are restrictive, others lack a strategy and outlook for help in the coming months. This follows from a ČTK survey among business associations.

16:05 Ruslan arrived in Pardubice today with 45 tons of protective material

A Russian An-124 Ruslan aircraft landed at the Pardubice airport today. He brought another 45 tons of medical supplies from China against the coronavirus. The prepared 30 trucks will deliver it to the warehouses of the State Material Reserves Administration in Sedlčany and Kostelec nad Černými Lesy.

"Today's shipment contains the overwhelming majority of material ordered by the Ministry of Health. There are also about 35 pallets ordered by the Ministry of the Interior," Pavel Švagr, chairman of the State Material Reserves Administration, told reporters. The Ministry of Health will receive about a million FFP2 respirators, protective suits and rapid tests from the shipment.

15:55 CNB relaxed the limits of indicators for providing mortgages

Today, the Czech National Bank released the limits of three credit indicators for assessing applications for new mortgages. The mortgage limit in relation to the value of the mortgaged property (LTV) increased to 90 percent from 80 percent. The ratio between the monthly repayment of all loans against the total net monthly income (DSTI) increased from 45 to 50 percent. The ratio of the amount of debt to the net income of the loan applicant (DTI indicator) was cancelled. The CNB informed about this in a press release today.

15:50 German cruise ship refused to leave the shores of Western Australia

The crew of the German cruise ship Artania, which is anchored in Fremantle, Western Australia, refused to obey the instruction to leave the port. Several passengers have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus. Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has asked the federal government to force the vessel to leave Fremantle. There were 800 foreigners on the ship, which belongs to the German company Phoenix Reisen. Many of them were evacuated and could fly home.

15:40 Jan Švejnar will lead the economic team of the Central Crisis Staff

An advisory team of economists met today for the first time as part of the Central Crisis Staff, which will also deal with the long-term effects of restrictions related to the coronavirus infection on society. It will be led by Jan Švejnar, director of the Center for Global and Economic Policy. Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) announced this at a press conference after the staff meeting.

15:30 The number of deaths from COVID-19 in Britain increased by 563 in a day

In Britain, the number of victims of the disease COVID-19 continues to rise sharply, which the local government already registers at 2352. After Tuesday's increase in the balance by 381 deaths, a new record came today, when 563 deaths in the hospital environment were added. The number of known cases of infection increased by 4,324 over the last 24-hour period to a total of 29,474. Even in this case, it is a record daily growth.

15:10 The staff will send the government a proposal for priority deliveries by companies for the state

The central crisis staff will propose to the government that, on the basis of the crisis law announced due to the infection with the new coronavirus, it should order some companies to make priority deliveries for the state. It should be a manufacturer of protective equipment of a higher type, i.e. masks and filters of the P3 type. After the staff meeting, Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) told journalists today. According to him, the state could also solve the issue of sufficient stocks of pressurized oxygen cylinders and their valves by means of a regulation.

14:22 Two doctors from Ostrava University Hospital have been diagnosed with COVID-19

Two doctors of the Ostrava University Hospital have been diagnosed with the disease COVID-19. The regional hygiene station ordered epidemiological measures there. Its director Pavla Svrčinová told ČTK today. The disease also appeared in the Ostrava Municipal Hospital. One of the patients tested positive when she returned from the hospital to the Iris Nursing Home.

14:13 The European Commission has proposed a European short-term support system

The European Commission (EC) today proposed a system to support short-term employment for people who might otherwise lose their jobs due to the economic effects of the coronavirus. According to Brussels, states should support so-called short-term work to mitigate the social consequences of the pandemic. This was announced today by EC President Ursula von der Leyen, but she did not provide details on possible European financing of the system. Some countries, including the Czech Republic, have already resorted to state support for short-term jobs.

14:06 The staff will propose to the government the extension of the state of emergency by 30 days

The central crisis staff will recommend the government to ask the House of Representatives to extend the state of emergency by 30 days. After the meeting of the staff, its chairman, Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) told journalists today. According to him, the state of emergency will not affect the possible loosening of government regulations in the event that the situation leads to this. The staff met in full for the first time today after Hamáček replaced epidemiologist Roman Prymula as its head.

13:57 Russian President Putin prefers to work from home during the coronavirus

Russian President Vladimir Putin temporarily renounced shaking hands with his colleagues, keeps his distance from other people and prefers to work "remotely" from his residence due to the risk of infection with the coronavirus. The president's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists today.

13:29 NATO countries want to strengthen cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus

The countries of the North Atlantic Alliance want to make the best use of their capacities in helping each other in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease. The foreign ministers of the NATO countries will therefore debate remotely on Thursday about how to speed up aid between partners and further expand the alliance's ability to operate. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this today, according to which the ministers should also agree on strengthening the training mission in Iraq.

12:57 Belarus confirms the second death, Lukashenko downplays the pandemic

Today, the Belarusian Ministry of Health confirmed the second death from the disease COVID-19, caused by the coronavirus. It emphasized that both cases involved elderly patients suffering from other, chronic diseases, the Tut.by news website reported. Currently, 157 people are under the supervision of doctors or undergoing treatment, he added in this connection.

President Alexander Lukashenko noted during a meeting with the head of the parliament that the country is currently experiencing the peak of "viral diseases" and that he is praying that this peak will pass by Easter. Anyway, they try to arrange things so that "businesses work and people get paid". Even in the fight against the coronavirus, according to the head of state, it cannot be forgotten that there are many other patients with other diagnoses who also need medical help, all the more so because "we have a hundred times more deaths from other diseases than from the coronavirus." And he congratulated the "guys" among the doctors who, according to him, have already cured a hundred patients from the disease.

12:38 Self-employed persons can apply for sick leave through the Ministry of Industry

From this morning, self-employed persons (OSVČ) can apply for nursing home allowance for children under 13 in connection with the closure of schools. They are entitled to 424 crowns per day, with a maximum of 13,144 crowns per month. 100 million crowns are earmarked for support, applications are accepted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. People can fill out the completed form online, send it via mailbox, e-mail or post. Applicants can find detailed information and the form on the Ministry's website. The trade authorities will also help with filling out the application.

12:37 Tourists will not return to Airbnb before a year from now

Entrepreneurs in short-term rentals such as Airbnb are facing high losses due to the coronavirus. Agencies focused on this activity have monthly losses of hundreds of thousands to millions of crowns. Part of the real estate is now on offer for three months, part for long-term lease. Even after the borders are opened, it will take some time before foreign tourists, who are the most frequent guests of this accommodation, return to the Czech Republic. Their increase again cannot be expected earlier than in a year. David Bureš, the chairman of the Czech Association of Landlords and Accommodation Providers, announced this today.

12:36 Commuters have founded an association, it is supposed to negotiate with the government to ease the measures

Commuters traveling abroad for work founded the civic association Commuters without Borders. They want to push for an easing of the government's strict measures, which they say have drastically limited the ability to travel for work. They demand, for example, an exception for the most disadvantaged single mothers and single fathers, like medical personnel who can travel across the border daily. The association wants to establish a dialogue with the government, said today Jan Průha from Plzeňsk, chairman of the preparatory committee of the first umbrella grouping of commuters from the entire Czech Republic.

12:32 Independent theaters do not agree with the government's proposal for the self-employed

The Association of Independent Theaters (AND), which was the first to draw attention to the effects of government measures on independent artists, does not agree with the government's proposal for self-employed persons (OSVČ). Many artists who are not employed are dependent on the revenue from the shows they play. They often work in the self-employed mode. The chairman of the board of the association, Štěpán Kubišta, told ČTK today that the government's proposal for a one-time payment of 25,000 crowns is restrictive for a large group of self-employed persons.

12:15 Regions must create special sets of protective equipment for social services in case of infection

According to the decision of the crisis staff, the regions must create special sets of protective equipment for social services in case of infection with the coronavirus. Other aids are distributed by the region as standard. The facility can report the lack of aids to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Jana Maláčová, informed about it.

12:15 The repatriation flight from the USA will arrive in the afternoon, bringing 180 Czechs

The repatriation flight from the United States will arrive in Prague this afternoon, and 180 Czech citizens will return to their homeland on board. Zuzana Štíchová, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated this when asked. Czech diplomacy does not count on organizing further repatriation flights from the USA. However, the embassy in Washington warns the Czechs about the possibility of buying a ticket for a charter flight organized by Slovakia, which will take place next week from Miami to Bratislava.

12:06 The weather will be less predictable due to the suspension of flights

Due to the suspension of air travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, the weather will be less predictable and climate observations less accurate. Weather models lack the data normally provided by aircraft sensors. With reference to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the DPA agency informed about it today.

12:05 The Ostrava Iris home for the elderly has three infected clients

The Ostrava Iris home for the elderly in Ostrava has so far three clients who have tested positive for the disease COVID-19. Two women are still in the care of his employees. The third is in the Faculty Hospital. Director of the facility Michal Mariánek told ČTK today. However, he only knows the test results of part of the samples taken so far. They began to be collected at the facility when the infection was confirmed in one direct care worker.

11:46 In Spain, over 100,000 people have already been infected with the coronavirus

Over 100,000 people have already been infected with the coronavirus in Spain, with 7,719 new cases per day. Out of a total of 102,136 confirmed cases of infection, 22,600 people have recovered. Spain has already registered 9,053 victims from among the infected. For the fifth day in a row, over 800 people died in the previous 24 hours in the country, El País newspaper reported. In addition to Spain, Italy and the USA have so far recorded more than a hundred thousand cases of infection.

11:29 There are already ten health workers with the coronavirus at the Pardubice cardiology department

The number of health workers infected with the coronavirus at the cardiology department of the Pardubice Hospital increased from nine to ten on Tuesday. The disease was also proven in eight patients. Kateřina Semrádová, spokeswoman for the Pardubice Region Hospital, said this. The cardiology department is still working in emergency mode.

11:18 Jindřichův Hradec Hospital temporarily closed the ICU of the internal department

Jindřichův Hradec Hospital has temporarily closed the ICU of the internal department, the reason for the temporary closure is the discovery of a positive test for COVID-19 in one nurse, three doctors, eight nurses and one paramedic are headed for quarantine.

10:49 The Na Františku Hospital is ready to receive infected seniors

In Prague's Na Františku Hospital, a department set aside for elderly patients infected with the coronavirus has started operating. The facility allocated three rooms with nine beds for them. In doing so, the hospital responded to the Ministry of Health, which reserved a total of 329 beds for seniors with COVID-19. In Prague, also in the Bulovce Hospital and further on in the Toušeň Spa near Prague and in Těchonín in Orlickousteck.

10:38 Russia refuses to provide medical care to residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine

Russia refuses to provide medical care to residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and to inform them about the COVID-19 pandemic. It thus exposes the people there, exhausted by many years of occupation, to the mortal danger of a pandemic. The Embassy of Ukraine in the Czech Republic informed about it.

10:35 In March, 10,033 self-employed people stopped their business

Since the beginning of March, 10,033 self-employed people have discontinued their business, i.e. 47 percent more than in the same period last year. Entrepreneurs in the field of catering and hairdressing services interrupt their business the most. This follows from the analysis of the company Bisnode. According to her, the reason is the measures taken in connection with the spread of the coronavirus, when many entrepreneurs cannot do business or interest in their goods and services has decreased significantly.

10:00 There are 24 infected seniors in Thomayer Hospital

In the follow-up care department of the Thomayer Hospital in Prague, 24 seniors are infected with the new type of coronavirus. Another 11 patients tested positive. The infection was confirmed in five other nurses from this department. All infected employees are in home quarantine. The hospital stated this on the website. However, according to the hospital's spokesperson Peter Sulek, the workplace is stabilized and operates in a limited mode. The quarantine regime and the ban on visitors still apply at the workplace.

9:52 am The European Commission has extended the deadline for the response to the audit report on the alleged conflict of interest

Minister Dostálova told Czech Television that the European Commission extended the deadline for the response to the audit on the alleged conflict of interests of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) in relation to Agrofert and the subsidies allocated to this group. The new date is June 5. Her office requested a postponement in connection with the state of emergency declared due to the spread of the coronavirus.

9:14 The reproduction number has decreased since the restriction of the movement of people to 1.1

The reproduction number, i.e. how many people one infected individual infects, has decreased since the restriction of the movement of people to 1.1. Reducing the value below one would mean that the epidemic is under control, said the director of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic.

9:04 Minister Vojtěch: About 6.1 percent of those tested are infected

According to the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch (for ANO), it is not the case that the Czech Republic tests too little. According to him, the number of tests is above average in an international comparison. There were over 6,200 tests on Tuesday, 1,000 more than on Monday. The share of positive patients in the total number of tests is 6.1 percent. He told journalists at today's press conference.

8:42 Prymula is preparing a widespread test for the coronavirus in a sample of the population

Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula is preparing a widespread test for the coronavirus among a sample of the population. In this way, he wants to find out the rate of infection, i.e. the proportion of infected people among the Czech population. It was announced today by Czech Radio - Radiožurnál. The deputy has not yet specified when and where the testing will be carried out. He wants to have the residents of Litovelsk in Olomouc tested as well, where, together with neighboring Uničovsk, quarantine was in force until Monday due to the high number of infected people. Until now, Prymula led the Central Crisis Staff and, according to the government's decision, he will now focus on the so-called smart quarantine project.

8:39 There are 3,330 cases of coronavirus in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has 3,330 cases of coronavirus. 55,017 tests were performed. So far, 45 patients have been cured and 32 have succumbed to the infection.

8:38 A coronavirus infection is spreading on an American aircraft carrier

The captain of the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, whose crew is struggling with the coronavirus infection, called on the Pentagon in a letter to quickly help stop the spread of the infection on board. According to Captain Brett Crozier, it is also necessary to consider transporting sailors to land. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has ruled out evacuating the vessel for now, saying he has not yet had a chance to read Crozier's letter.

8:22 Iraqi tribes refuse to bury victims of the coronavirus

Iraq, marked by decades of fighting and death, has no mercy for those now dying from the coronavirus. People are refusing to provide cemeteries and plots for graves, morgues are filling up with victims of the COVID-19 disease. Tribal customs are the law, and the tribes categorically refuse to provide their land to bury people killed by the coronavirus, the AFP agency wrote.

8:21 5,453 cases of coronavirus were added in Germany on Tuesday

Germany confirmed 5,453 cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the total to 67,366 cases. This follows from the statistics of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

8:20 The White House expects up to 240,000 victims of the coronavirus in the USA

The pandemic of the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus, will claim 100,000 to 240,000 victims in the United States. According to the AP agency, the White House assumes this if the existing preventive measures are followed. President Donald Trump has warned that the country will face two difficult weeks, but that the US will overcome. At the same time, he called on fellow citizens to avoid social contact in the interest of the fight against the coronavirus. The infection has claimed more than 4,000 lives in the US, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University, with New York City alone reporting more than 1,000 deaths. There are almost 190,000 infected in the whole country.

7:42 The number of cases of coronavirus in the Czech Republic increased by a tenth on Tuesday to over 3,300. Cases of infection with a new type of coronavirus in the Czech Republic increased by 307 to 3,308 on Tuesday. The daily increase thus accelerated to ten percent again, having been below this limit in the previous two days. 45 people have recovered from the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus, and 31 patients have died in hospitals. This follows from information on the website of the Ministry of Health.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

22:10 Oil prices recorded a record quarterly drop

Oil prices posted a record quarterly decline, largely due to a slump in March driven by concerns about the impact of the coronavirus on demand and a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Brent North Sea crude has fallen 66 percent since the start of the year, closing today's trade at $22.74 a barrel. During March, it decreased by 55 percent, which would be a record monthly decrease.

21:52 Russians start receiving text messages warning about violating the quarantine

From April 3, Russians will start receiving short text messages (SMS) on their mobile phones with a warning that they have committed a quarantine violation. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin issued the instruction to the relevant authorities today, the Interfax agency reported. At the same time, the police, health workers and hygienists will receive this data so that, according to the Prime Minister's order, they "take preventive measures against the persons in question".

21:40 The US accepted Russia's offer of help in the fight against the coronavirus

A Russian special with medical equipment, which Moscow wants to use to help Washington in the fight against the pandemic caused by the coronavirus, may fly to the United States today. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered assistance in a phone call to his American counterpart, Donald Trump, who accepted it.

21:34 A thirteen-year-old boy with Covid-19 died in Britain

A thirteen-year-old boy infected with a new type of coronavirus died in London's King's College Hospital. This makes him the youngest victim of the disease in Great Britain. According to the family, the boy had no other medical problems and due to the highly infectious nature of the disease, he had to die alone, isolated from the rest of his family and loved ones.

20:56 Greece announces infection in migration center, Turkey reports 214 victims

Today, the Greek authorities confirmed another 102 cases of infection with the coronavirus, there are a total of 1,314 infected in the country. Among them is a woman from a migration center near Athens. In Turkey today, tests proved the coronavirus in another 2,704 people, a total of 13,531 people were infected, Reuters reported.

20:30 Nine employees of Pardubice cardiology have COVID-19

The disease of COVID-19 has been confirmed in nine employees of the cardiology department of the Pardubice hospital, one of them is a doctor. Tomáš Gottvald, CEO of Pardubice Region Hospital, told journalists this evening. The department is functioning on a limited basis, he added.

20:10 The ÚVN will have an outdoor workplace with a computer tomograph

The Central Military Hospital (ÚVN) in Prague will have a new outdoor CT workplace with a computed tomograph. It is now in standby mode. The computed tomograph will be located in a military container connected to three tents. A CT scan is the only diagnostic method to demonstrate pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus.

20:05 Prince Albert II of Monaco. got rid of the coronavirus and left the quarantine

Monaco Prince Albert II. got rid of the coronavirus and was able to leave the quarantine. Tests of the monarch from the Grimaldi family showed infection with the coronavirus in mid-March.

19:55 Every seventh person infected with COVID-19 is a senior over 65 years old

Every seventh person infected with COVID-19 is a senior over the age of 65, who, according to experts, are the most common victims of the new type of coronavirus. Also in the Czech Republic, among the 31 who died in hospitals, most of them were infected in retirement homes.

19:40 In France, the number of victims of the coronavirus has risen to 3,523

In the last 24 hours, 499 people died in French hospitals from the disease COVID-19. This is the highest increase so far when comparing the following two days, Le Figaro reported with reference to the Ministry of Health. There are already 3,523 victims of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Fracia. There has also been a significant increase in the number of people newly infected with the coronavirus. On Monday, according to the authorities, there were 44,550, today there are already 52,128.

19:30 Havlíček: We will also compensate the wages of operating companies

Operating businesses that are now paying employees 100 percent of wages, but are facing a drop in revenue or production due to the coronavirus, will be eligible for wage compensation through short-time work. Specific conditions for drawing support will be prepared by Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček, Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová (both for ANO) and Minister of Labor Jana Maláčová (ČSSD) by Monday, April 6.

19:20 In the Netherlands, the number of victims of the coronavirus climbed over 1000

The Netherlands, which is letting the epidemic run its course, already has more than 1,000 victims of the coronavirus. In the last day, the number of dead there increased by 175 to 1039. The Netherlands Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) informed about this today. There are 12,595 infected in the country, 845 more than on Monday.

19:10 The government will discuss a proposal to extend the state of emergency on Wednesday

On Wednesday, the government will discuss a proposal to extend the state of emergency. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová (for ANO) said this at a press conference today. The state of emergency is now valid until April 12, its extension must be approved by the House of Representatives.

19:05 The number of people infected with the coronavirus worldwide exceeded 800,000

The number of people infected with the coronavirus has exceeded 800,000 worldwide. This follows from data published today on its website by the American Johns Hopkins University, which monitors the current pandemic worldwide. According to this source, more than 40,000 people have already succumbed to the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

19:00 Help us, as they helped you after the war, the Italians are calling on the Germans

Help us, as they helped you after the war, the mayors of northern Italian cities and representatives of the government of the region massively affected by the epidemic of the COVID-19 urge Germans in an open letter. The text was published today as an advertisement in the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). The writers point out that other countries agreed after World War II to reduce Germany's debt.

18:50 The state will purchase thermal cameras for all hospitals, it has ordered 500 of them

The state will purchase temperature-sensing cameras for all hospitals in the Czech Republic, today it ordered 500. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) told journalists after the government meeting. In hospitals, thermal cameras should help detect potentially infectious people in connection with the spread of the new type of coronavirus.

18:39 In the state of New York, the number of dead increased by a quarter in 24 hours

In the US state of New York, which is the epicenter of the current pandemic in the US, 75,795 people have been infected with the coronavirus to date, which is 9,000 more than on Monday. The number of dead rose by a quarter to 1,550. According to Reuters calculations, the US ranked third in the number of deaths, ahead of China. 914 deaths were recorded in New York City.

18:38 The government has approved kurzarbeit, the state will provide two allowances for wages

The government approved the short-term work rules today. The state will pay two types of wage subsidies for the period from March 12 to the end of April. Labor Minister Jana Maláčová (ČSSD) said this at a press conference after the cabinet meeting. The state will provide 80 percent of the compensation of the wages of people in quarantine and the wages of employees of closed operations, up to 39,000 crowns. In the case of a reduction in production due to a shortage of workers, raw materials or a drop in demand, it will be 60 percent, up to 29,000 crowns. The support is determined from the super gross salary.

18:35 Italy has over 12,000 victims of the coronavirus, almost 106,000 infected

In Italy, 837 victims of the disease COVID-19 have been added in the last 24 hours, so a total of 12,428 patients have succumbed to the coronavirus in the country. With reference to the statistics of the Italian Office for Civil Protection, the newspaper Corriere della Sera reported on this today. Italian authorities have already confirmed 105,792 cases of infection since the outbreak of the epidemic in the country in February. The number of new infections increased by 4,053 since Monday, which is almost the same as from Sunday to Monday.

18:33 In the Czech Republic, 31 people have already died from the coronavirus, another 100 are newly infected

18:25 Payments for schools and kindergartens will not be collected in Prague 11

Kindergartens and elementary schools in Prague 11, which are established by the city district, will not collect school fees or fees for meals and school groups for the month of April, on the recommendation of the South Town Hall. The measure should last for the duration of school closures.

18:20 A test of a prototype vaccine against COVID-19 has begun in Israel

In Israel, they began testing a prototype vaccine against the disease COVID-19 on rodents, Reuters reported. According to her information, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu already instructed the Israel Institute of Biological Research (IIBR) on February 1 to join the investigation of possible preparations against the coronavirus.

18:12 Government: Self-employed persons affected by the measures will receive a one-off payment of CZK 25,000

The government will pay a one-off sum of 25,000 crowns to self-employed persons affected by the spread of the coronavirus. An entrepreneur must apply for support and fulfill several conditions by submitting an affidavit. This is, for example, a decrease in sales for the first quarter by ten percent year-on-year or last year's minimum gross income of 180,000 crowns.

18:10 Hamáček: Retirement homes will only receive suits when they have an infection

Homes for the elderly will receive protective suits and goggles if they are infected with the new coronavirus. The counties have prepared sets of protective equipment and will immediately send them to the facilities if needed. Minister of the Interior and head of the crisis staff Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) told ČTK. He responded to a survey of care providers. According to the results, almost two-thirds of senior and other homes do not have protective glasses and suits.

18:05 Due to the epidemic, companies will not have to submit insolvency proposals

Entrepreneurs will be postponed the obligation to file an insolvency petition in connection with the coronavirus epidemic. Today, the government approved the relevant proposal of the Ministry of Justice, the measure should be discussed by the House of Representatives in a state of legislative emergency. Part of the proposal is also the facilitation of the activities of bodies of legal entities that cannot meet due to government measures. The law also allows missed deadlines in court proceedings to be waived and changes the conditions for debt relief.

18:00 Over 30 health workers from the Prachatice hospital are in quarantine

Five doctors and 32 other medical professionals from the internal department of the Prachat hospital ended up in quarantine. The reason is that one of the hospitalized patients was in contact with a person who was confirmed to have the coronavirus. Subsequently, tests also found the patient herself to be infected with COVID-19.

17:35 There are 52 positive clients in the Litoměřice home for the elderly

In the Litoměřice home for the elderly, 52 positive clients have been tested for the presence of COVID-19 out of a total of 72 clients. One man died on Monday, the infection was not the main cause of death. The Social Assistance Center of Litoměřice, under which Domov U Trati belongs, informed about it today on its website. Of the 52 infected, six clients needed medical help. An eighty-five-year-old man hospitalized in Masaryk Hospital in Ústí died on Monday, he was an oncology patient with a number of other internal diseases.

17:20 The number of victims of the coronavirus in Britain has increased by more than a quarter

The number of victims of the coronavirus in Britain increased by 27 percent on Monday - from 1,408 to 1,789. There were 3,009 more infected by this morning, which represents a fourteen percent increase to 25,150. This was announced by the British Department of Health. However, it follows from the data of the British statistical office ONS that the total balance of victims of the coronavirus infection in Britain is probably up to a quarter higher than the previous data of the Ministry of Health. This is because they only count people who died in hospital with the disease COVID-19.

17:03 Health workers tested Babiš's colleagues as a precaution

People from the immediate vicinity of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) underwent preventive tests for the coronavirus today. Government spokesman Vladimír Vořechovský told ČTK that roughly 15 people who regularly come into contact with Babiš were tested. The tests were carried out by medical professionals directly at the Straka Academy.

16:55 Credit providers do not agree to the widespread postponement of loan repayments

Banks, non-bank lenders and so-called fintech companies do not agree with the general postponement of loan repayments, which will be discussed by the government on Wednesday. This follows from a ČTK poll.

16:50 Kaňkovský, Šmucler, Červíček and Matějka will be on the staff for the opposition

The opposition candidates will be MP and doctor Vít Kaňkovský (KDU-ČSL), president of the Czech Stomatological Chamber Roman Šmucler, senator and former police chief Martin Červíček (ODS) and economist Filip Matějka in the Central Crisis Staff.

16:40 Florida authorities are blocking the landing of two cruise ships with infected people

16:32 A 12-year-old girl died of COVID-19 in Belgium

Belgium was saddened today by the news of the death of a twelve-year-old girl, who is the youngest so far known of more than seven hundred local victims of the COVID-19 disease.

16:30 Zeman will talk about the coronavirus live from Lán on Sunday

On Sunday, President Miloš Zeman will comment on the measures taken by the government in connection with the coronavirus epidemic in an interview for the Blesk.cz server. This will happen more than two weeks after the speech he gave on Prima TV on March 19. Blesk reported on Sunday's live broadcast from Lán on Twitter.

16:20 Parking zones will be free in Prague until Monday, April 13

Parking zones in the capital will remain free for drivers until Monday, April 13. Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr (Praha Sobě) informed ČTK of the city management's decision today. Drivers can park in the zones for free from mid-March in connection with measures against the coronavirus. The zones were temporarily abolished by the government by decree on March 16. Residents in the zones pay 1,200 crowns per year. “If nothing changes, they will be back up and running on Tuesday 14th April from 08:00. The government regulation ends today and no one has yet said what will happen next. We will not wait for orders. The people of Prague must be informed and plan their lives accordingly," said Scheinherr.

16:05 Taiwan donates 25 ventilators to the Czech Republic

Taiwan donates 25 lung ventilators and 100 medical protective masks to the Czech Republic to fight the coronavirus epidemic. Taiwan is one of the countries that, according to experts, is managing the epidemic well, fewer than 200 infected people are registered in the country of twenty-three million people. There is a shortage of protective medical equipment in the Czech Republic.

15:50 The koruna weakened the most among currencies in Central Europe

The koruna weakened the most of all currencies in the Central European region in March, losing 7.1 percent against the euro and 8.7 percent against the dollar during the month of the pandemic. The data was brought by Jaroslav Tupý, an analyst at the currency trader Purple Trading. After 15:30 today, the exchange rate of the crown was 27.33 CZK to the euro and 24.94 to the dollar. According to Tupé, the reason is panic and concern about the effects of the coronavirus on the world economy and the loss of attractiveness of the currency for Czech and foreign investors.

15:25 The infection was confirmed in 63 seniors and 40 workers of homes for the elderly

The new coronavirus, which causes the disease Covid-19, continues to spread through the Czech Republic. According to the latest reports, 63 residents of six different homes for the elderly and forty workers of these institutions are infected with it. The elderly are among the group for whom the coronavirus means the greatest risk of death.

14:30 ODS senator Karpíšek has contracted the coronavirus, he is being treated at home

According to him, everyone who came into contact with Karpíšek is under preventive quarantine until April 2. The planned meeting of the upper chamber next week is not in jeopardy. "All those who came into contact with him (Karpíšek), mainly members of the ODS senatorial club, are now in quarantine. It will end on April 2. If it were proven that one of them is infected, further quarantine measures would follow," said Senate Vice President Růžička (for TOP 09 and STAN).

13:55 Head of the EC: Emergency powers of governments must not undermine EU values

Emergency measures introduced by the governments of some member countries must be time-limited and respect the values ​​of the European Union. This was stated by the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, according to whom governments cannot wage the fight against the coronavirus at the expense of freedom of expression or the media. The head of the EU executive made the appeal to member states a day after Hungary's parliament approved a law strengthening the government's powers, giving it more control over media content. According to von der Leyen, the Commission will monitor the measures of the states in detail.

13:45 Unions: Wage compensation must also include mandatory contributions

Unions and associations representing entrepreneurs in the tourism industry appeal to the government to include mandatory health and social insurance contributions for employees in the compensation of wages in the Antivirus program. According to them, the maximum limit of wage compensation should also be increased to at least 1.5 times the average wage. According to company representatives, fast and simple administration with transfer of money to the account within three days is also necessary. This was stated by the president of the Trade and Tourism Association (SOCR) Tomáš Prouza and the president of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (AHR) Václav Stárek.

13:30 Italy honored the victims of the coronavirus with a minute of silence at noon

At noon, Italy observed a minute of silence for the victims of the disease COVID-19, of which this country already has almost 11,600, i.e. the most in the world. The coronavirus infection has so far been confirmed in more than one hundred thousand people in Italy. At the same time, they lowered the flags to half-mast in this country of 60 million people, the ANSA agency reported. The Vatican also joined the minute of silence.

13:20 Poland tightens measures against the spread of the coronavirus

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced the tightening of measures against the spread of the coronavirus for the next two weeks. The aim is to avoid contact between people to prevent infection. Among other things, the Prime Minister stated that, following the Czech model, he decided to set aside hours for senior citizens - between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. - for shopping in grocery stores and drugstores. Violation of the quarantine rules will result in a fine of up to 30,000 zlotys (about 180,000 CZK) or even imprisonment, he warned.

13:00 Professional working groups were established in the crisis staff

The management of the Central Crisis Staff has created several working groups that will deal with individual professional problems. Teams have been formed for the distribution of protective equipment, for their procurement, media and health groups, and a group that will deal with the effects of the restrictions. An economic advisory team should also be added. This was stated by Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD), who on Monday took over the leadership of the staff from epidemiologist Roman Prymul.

12:30 Pirates are asking the government for information on further action against the coronavirus

If they get them, they are ready to support in the House of Representatives the extension of the state of emergency, which is now valid in the Czech Republic. The government has declared a state of emergency until April 12, its possible extension must be approved by the deputies, who will vote on it next week. "It is not clear to the public how and under what conditions the current measures will be relaxed. Neither people nor entrepreneurs have an idea of ​​the variants of future and long-term development that the government is counting on. Unfortunately, this makes the current situation even more confusing and makes it impossible for entrepreneurs and companies to prepare for further economic development," said Pirates chairman Ivan Bartoš in a press release.

12:15 The number of victims of the coronavirus in Iran is approaching 3,000, 141 more dead

In Iran, 141 people died of the coronavirus in the last day, the total number of deaths is 2,898. There are 44,606 infected, which is 3,111 more than on Monday.

12:00 Over 94,400 people have already been infected with the coronavirus in Spain

An additional 849 people infected with the coronavirus have died in Spain, which is the most in a day since the outbreak of the epidemic in the country. A total of 8,189 people infected with the coronavirus have already died in Spain. The Ministry of Health informed about it. The number of infected increased in 24 hours by more than 9,000 to a total of 94,417, of which almost 19,300 have recovered.

11:45 Up to seven years in prison for violating quarantine, Russian MPs decided

Russian MPs - in three readings - have approved a law for the current coronavirus crisis, which threatens up to seven years behind bars for violating the quarantine. This was reported by the Interfax agency. The law, which also provides for five years in prison for knowingly spreading false information, still needs to be approved by senators and signed by President Vladimir Putin before it can take effect.

11:40 Slovakia believes that it will be among the countries that best managed the pandemic

Slovakia expects that, thanks to the introduction of strict restrictions, it will be among the five countries that will best manage the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. This follows from the latest study of the state Institute of Health Policy, the conclusions of which were presented by its head, Martin Smatana.

11:30 Defense denied that it was planning to change the law weakening the Parliament

According to the spokesman of the ministry, Jan Pejšek, the government should only have received the recommendations of the expert group, which since 2015 has been assessing the options for solving crisis situations. He was reacting to criticism of government material, which the cabinet should deal with in the near future. Minister of Defense Lubomír Metnar (for ANO) called the timing of the presentation of the material to the government, which was only supposed to take note of it, in the current situation as accidental and unfortunate.

11:20 Valdštejnská garden will remain closed to the public in April

The Aldštejn garden in the Senate area will not be open to the public this year with the arrival of spring. As part of the measures due to the epidemic of the new type of coronavirus, it will remain closed until April. On weekends and holidays in April, the Valdštejn Palace will no longer be accessible for regular tours.

10:50 The mafia will benefit from the coronavirus measures in Italy, experts say

Restrictions on the free movement of people, which the Italian government adopted due to the spread of the coronavirus and due to which a large part of Italians lost a regular source of income, are recorded by the mafia. Experts and local mayors are particularly concerned in the poor south of Italy, where in recent days the police have not only been controlling movement restrictions, but also guarding supermarkets against looting, the newspaper La Vanguardia wrote today. Last week, about twenty people made an arrangement over the Internet and tried to steal goods from a Lidl supermarket in Palermo, Sicily. "We don't have money, so we won't pay," one of the thieves told the police, who stopped the robbery.

10:20 The coronavirus has so far avoided 21 countries, but not everyone believes it

Officially, only about two dozen countries remain free of the infection, but in some cases - especially in North Korea - experts doubt that the infection could be avoided, despite their government's claims to the contrary. Another of the officially unaffected states has long been troubled by the low level of local healthcare. These are, for example, African Malawi, Burundi, South Sudan, Asian Yemen, Tajikistan or the oceanic Solomon Islands.

10:05 The government has not yet extended the cancellation of blue parking zones

If he does not decide on this on Tuesday, parking will be charged again from 06:00 on Wednesday. The Cabinet canceled the zones from March 16 as one of the measures taken in connection with the coronavirus epidemic. All cars can now park for free in paid parking zones. This also applies to the so-called blue zones, which are usually intended only for local residents and entrepreneurs.

9:45 a.m. A woman with the coronavirus died in St. Anne's Hospital in Brno

A patient infected with the new coronavirus died in the University Hospital at St. Anna in Brno in the morning. The woman, born in 1946, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, the Opava Hospital sent the patient to Brno. Authorities have so far confirmed 24 deaths due to the coronavirus in the Czech Republic.

9:30 a.m. CZSO specified the slowdown in last year's economic growth to 2.5 percent.

The Czech economy grew by 2.5 percent year-on-year last year. Compared to 2018, when the gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 2.8 percent, its growth slowed down slightly. In the fourth quarter of last year, the economy grew by two percent year-on-year and by 0.5 percent quarter-on-quarter.

9:15 A COVID-19 infection appeared in the Ostrava home for the elderly

In Ostrava's Iris Home for the elderly, a direct care worker was infected with COVID-19. This was stated by Mayor Tomáš Macura (ANO). "Unfortunately, we have a positive result from a direct care worker at the Iris Home for the Elderly in Ostrava. She worked last week on a ward with 25 clients. She and the workers she came into contact with are in quarantine. We are proceeding according to the prepared crisis plan in cooperation with the Regional Hygiene Station," said Macura.

9:00 a.m. Germany recorded 128 infected deaths in 24 hours

In 24 hours, Germany recorded the most deaths infected with the coronavirus so far – 128. In total, according to the Robert Koch Institute, there are 583 victims of the epidemic, 61,913 infected. The Thuringian city of Jena has so far become the first larger city in Germany to announce that it will introduce a partial obligation to wear masks in public. The most affected federal state remains Bavaria (14,810 infected and 162 victims), which borders the Czech Republic.

8:50 Pandemic will reduce growth in Asia, China will grow at least in 40 years

economic growth will sharply slow down in the developing countries of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, but also in China, which will probably show the slowest growth in at least 40 years. This was stated by the World Bank in its latest revision of the economic outlook.

8:20 a.m. The court rejected a proposal to restore fathers' right to be present at the birth

The Municipal Court in Prague rejected a proposal to cancel the emergency measure by which the Ministry of Health banned the presence of an escort at births due to the coronavirus crisis. The league points out that the measure was replaced by another one and believes that the court should have dealt with the valid measure. The organization is preparing a cassation complaint against the court's decision and is also working on a submission to the Constitutional Court.

8:10 The offices will be open only two days a week until at least April 11

Public offices will be open only two days a week until at least April 11 and offer only limited services. On Monday, the government took note of the extraordinary measure of the Ministry of Health, which extends the validity of the restrictions.

8:00 The number of victims of the coronavirus in the USA has exceeded 3,000

Over 163,000 infected people were recorded. Monday was the deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic in the US so far. According to Reuters, at least 540 people succumbed to the disease on Monday, bringing the total death toll to 3,017.

7:50 Trump: The US will send Italy medical supplies

American President Donald Trump announced that the United States will send Italy medical supplies worth $100 million (CZK 2.4 billion). At the same time, he said that he wants to send ventilators to Italy, France and Spain, if possible.

7:45 a.m. Cases of coronavirus in the Czech Republic increased by 184 on Monday, there are over 3,000

The number of cases of infection with a new type of coronavirus in the Czech Republic has exceeded 3,000, with an increase of 184 to 3,001 on Monday. According to data from Monday evening, 23 people have died from the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus, and 25 have recovered. This follows from information on the website of the Ministry of Health. Thus, a week-old forecast of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS), according to which the Czech Republic could reach 3,000 cases of infection at the end of March, was roughly fulfilled. The Czech authorities announced the first three cases of the disease on March 1.

7:30 Metnar suggests strengthening the government's role when the country is threatened

The Ministry of Defense proposes to strengthen the powers of the government, or the prime minister in times of threat to the state, at the expense of the parliament. Minister Lubomír Metnar (for ANO) reckons in the submission report that in the case of a parliament incapable of action, crisis decision-making would be transferred to the government. And if it was also dysfunctional, the prime minister would decide.

TUESDAY 31. 3.

21:50 Merkel's third test for the coronavirus was also negative

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is most likely not infected with the coronavirus. Her third test for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was also negative. According to the DPA agency, the government spokesman informed about this today. "In the coming days, the Federal Chancellor will handle official matters from her home quarantine," the spokesman added. Merkel went into self-isolation on March 22 after learning that she had been in contact with an infected doctor on March 20. He vaccinated her against pneumococci.

21:25 The coronavirus break on the European Tour will last at least until June

Play on the European Tour golf circuit will not begin until June. Another tournament that was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic was the Irish Open, scheduled for May 28-31. The next event on the calendar is the tournament in Rabat, Morocco, which is scheduled to be played from June 4 to 7.

21:15 Israel wants to use software to trace the spreaders of the disease

The Israeli Ministry of Defense plans to use software that analyzes data from mobile phones to locate people who may have contracted the coronavirus. They could then be tested. According to Israeli media, the Israeli company NSO Group, which specializes in espionage technology, will provide the software. Reuters reported about it today.

20:50 There are six seniors from homes in Prague in Lázní Toušeň

The first six infected seniors from Prague retirement homes were transferred to the Toušen Spa. A total of 320 places should be set aside for them, others in Bulovce Hospital and Na Františku Hospital. Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) said this after the government meeting. Other similar places where seniors with the COVID-19 disease, who cannot be taken care of directly by these facilities, could be placed should be established in all regions.

20:40 The test for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu did not show the coronavirus

A test for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not show a coronavirus infection. His co-workers and family members are not infected either. For now, however, the 70-year-old prime minister will remain in isolation. His spokesman Ofir Gendelman informed about it on Twitter in the evening. The prime minister was tested after his adviser tested positive for the infection.

20:15 The Czech Republic could approach 10,000 tests a day

This week, the main capacity of workplaces for testing for the new type of coronavirus should start up, so that the Czech Republic approaches 10,000 samples per day. Roman Prymula, Deputy Minister of Health and Chairman of the new Central Management Team for COVID-19, told journalists today after the government meeting. According to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), the ambition is to perform up to 20,000 tests per day.

20:10 University entrance exams could be 15 days after schools open

Entrance exams for universities could be held face-to-face no earlier than 15 days after the reopening of schools. However, universities should be able to organize them remotely, similar to state exams. This follows from the draft law, which was approved by the government today on the proposal of the Ministry of Education. Ministry spokeswoman Aneta Lednová said it. Schools would also be able to extend the academic year and waive fees for students taking too long, according to the amendment. The regulation has yet to be considered by the Parliament.

20:05 The government has recommended restrictions on connections and ticket sales by drivers

The state and regions should limit traffic according to current passenger demand. According to carriers, interest in traveling is at a minimum. Due to the spread of the coronavirus, the regions should also limit the sale of tickets by the driver in all regional connections, the government recommended today. This was announced by Minister of Transport Karel Havlíček (for ANO) after its meeting today. Part of the connections have already been canceled due to a large decrease in passengers, and the sale of tickets on Czech Railways trains was also limited earlier.

20:00 Employees of the so-called critical infrastructure cannot take leave

The government has banned employees of so-called critical infrastructure entities from taking vacations during the state of emergency due to the spreading infection of the new coronavirus. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Transport Karel Havlíček (for ANO) said this at the press conference after today's government meeting. According to him, it concerns, for example, energy operations.

19:55 16 people with COVID-19 died in Prague, 734 are infected

As of this evening, 734 cases of infection with a new type of coronavirus have been confirmed in Prague, and 38 positive tests for the disease COVID-19 have been added in the last 24 hours. Hygienists register 16 victims and six recoveries in connection with the infection in the capital. The data valid as of 6:00 p.m. today was published on its website by the Prague hygiene station.

19:45 France reports a record 418 new deaths of patients with the coronavirus

Over 3,024 hospitalized people with the coronavirus have already died in France. Over the past 24 hours, 418 patients have died, which is the largest daily increase since the beginning of the epidemic, AFP reported today, citing French authorities.

19:30 The virus could lead to the loss of 47 million jobs in the US

The economic impact of the spread of the coronavirus could lead to the loss of 47 million jobs in the United States. The unemployment rate could thus exceed 32 percent. According to today's CNBC TV server report, this follows from estimates by the US Central Bank (Fed) branch in St. Louis.

19:20 Entrepreneurs of closed operations will receive a deferral of rent

Entrepreneurs who had to close their operations due to the government order will be able to request a rent deferment for up to six months, i.e. until September. They will then be able to repay the outstanding rent in the next period, up to two years. This was said by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO) after today's government meeting.

19:10 The Cabinet confirmed the possibility of accompaniment during childbirth for the disabled

The Cabinet today confirmed the exceptions that the Ministry of Health created from Saturday to the ban on the presence of a third person during childbirth. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) told journalists after the government meeting. They concern close relatives of disabled mothers or foreign women who need interpretation. On March 10, the state banned visits to hospitals due to the spread of the coronavirus, with the exception, for example, of women in labor. On March 18, the ministry canceled the exception for women in labor.

19:05 WHO does not see the point in universal wearing of masks

The World Health Organization (WHO) does not see any benefit in the general wearing of masks in the current fight against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. There is no indication that it would help anything, WHO crisis aid coordinator Michael Ryan stated today. The Czech Republic is one of the few countries where it is mandatory to wear masks in public.

According to Ryan, the masks pose more of an additional risk when people take them off incorrectly. It is said that they can get infected while doing this. "Our advice: We don't recommend wearing masks unless you're infected yourself," Ryan said today.

19:00 Prymula headed the Central Management Team of COVID-19

The government today appointed the current head of the Central Crisis Staff, Roman Prymula, to head the Central Management Team for COVID-19. This was said by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) after the government meeting. Prymula will be in charge of the smart quarantine project, the preparation of hospitals, the issue of medicines, laboratories and bed security. Prymula was replaced at the head of the crisis staff by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD).

18:55 Children under 2 and car drivers will not have to wear face masks

The government has granted an exception to the wearing of masks. Newly, children under the age of 50 and drivers of closed motor vehicles do not have to wear a protective device if they are alone in the vehicle. This was announced at a press conference by the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch (ANO).

18:52 People returning to the Czech Republic will have to quarantine

With exceptions, everyone who returns to the Czech Republic will have to undergo a mandatory two-week quarantine. The government approved it at today's meeting. This is how the Cabinet reacts to the worsening of the coronavirus pandemic in the world. Until now, the obligation to quarantine only concerned people returning from high-risk destinations, which includes 19 countries, including the USA, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Australia or Great Britain.

18:50 In the Czech Republic, 23 people infected with the coronavirus have already died, 25 patients have recovered

In the Czech Republic, there are currently 2,942 people infected with the disease COVID-19. 23 people infected with the disease died. The number of those cured also increased to 25. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO) told journalists at a press conference.

18:30 Italy has 812 new victims, over 100,000 people have been infected with the virus

Corovirus infection has already been confirmed in more than 100,000 people in Italy. Another 812 patients have succumbed to the disease of COVID-19 in the country since Sunday, the authorities there now register a total of 11,591 victims. Citing statistics from the Italian Civil Protection Office, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported on this today. Italy is still the worst-hit country in the world in terms of casualties. However, the number of new infections increased by 4,050 in the last 24 hours, the lowest since March 17.

18:20 Coronavirus in Britain: The number of victims increased by more than 100 to 1408

The number of deaths of people infected with the coronavirus in Britain rose to 1408, in 24 hours the figure increased by 180 victims of the disease COVID-19. This is less than the previous balance sheet, which reported 209 new deaths, Reuters reported today.

18:10 Lombardy reports 458 victims of the coronavirus, the number of newly infected is decreasing

In Lombardy in the north of Italy, another 458 people succumbed to the disease of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. The worst-hit Italian region now has a total of 6,818 deaths linked to the coronavirus pandemic. With reference to an unnamed source familiar with official statistics, Reuters reported on this. At the same time, the number of newly infected people fell sharply compared to the weekend.

18:00 A Czech infected with the coronavirus was cured in Vietnam

A fifty-three-year-old Czech man, who was under medical care there after testing positive for the coronavirus, recovered in Vietnam. The man has been released from the hospitals and will return to the Czech Republic as soon as possible. Marcel Winter, honorary chairman and press spokesman of the Czech-Vietnamese Society, told ČTK today, and it was confirmed by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Štíchová. As of today, the Czech Republic has 2,859 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 11 people have been cured in the country. According to current data, 17 patients with the coronavirus have died in the Czech Republic.

17:55 The ban on retail sales and services will be in effect until April 11

On Monday, the government extended the ban on retail sales and sales of services in establishments until Saturday, April 11. Originally valid until Wednesday 06:00. The ban does not apply, for example, to food stores, pharmacies, drugstores, computer technology stores, small pets and supplies for them, newspapers and magazines, gardening, flower shops or the sale of medical devices.

17:50 Restaurants will remain closed until April 11, the government approved

Restaurants will remain closed until Saturday, April 11. The government today extended the ban, which was originally in effect until Wednesday. The ban does not apply, for example, to the delivery of food through a window or takeaway sales without entering the establishment. The restriction also does not apply to establishments that do not serve the public, for example employee catering, catering for providers of health and social services or prison facilities.

17:30 According to Havlíček, the economic crisis team will not be created in the end

The economic crisis team, the establishment of which the state was considering in order to deal with the effects of the spread of the new coronavirus on the economy, will not be created in the end. During today's cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Transport Karel Havlíček (for ANO) announced.

17:27 The Cabinet has extended restrictions on free movement in the Czech Republic until April 11

The restrictions on free movement throughout the Czech Republic, which is one of the measures against the spread of a new type of coronavirus in the country, were today extended again by the cabinet until 06:00 on April 11. This was announced by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO). The measure has been in effect since March 16, the government last extended it until Wednesday, April 1. At that time, she also expanded it with a provision according to which people should not form groups in publicly accessible places and should not be in groups of two at most.

17:20 Colombian rebels have declared a ceasefire due to the coronavirus

Colombian rebels from the National Liberation Army (ELN) have declared a month-long ceasefire due to the coronavirus crisis. In this way, they heard the call for an end to the conflicts, which in the face of the pandemic some civil and political groups in Colombia and the United Nations worldwide called for, writes the Reuters agency.

17:15 Prince Charles has already gotten rid of the coronavirus and left isolation

British Prince Charles has recovered from the coronavirus infection and has been released from home isolation. This was announced today by the spokesperson of the London residence of the 71-year-old heir to the British throne, Clarence House. In England alone, according to today's data from the local authorities, another 159 patients died, in total 1284 dead and almost 20,000 infected have already been reported from Britain.

17:10 The government approved Hamáček as head of the Central Crisis Staff

On Monday, the government approved a change in the head of the Central Crisis Staff, which manages steps against the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) took over its leadership after epidemiologist Roman Prymul with the moment of approval. Prymula will continue to work on the so-called smart quarantine project. Already in the morning, the planned move was acknowledged by the opposition, according to which the minister should, by virtue of his position, manage the staff since its establishment. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) informed about the change plan in an interview for Lidové noviny.

17:00 The fourth infected elderly woman from the home for the elderly in Michli has died

Among the dead who were infected with the new type of coronavirus were four elderly women from a retirement home in Michla, Prague. The fourth woman, who was born in 1929, died tonight. The infection of COVID-19 was not the cause of her death, hospital spokeswoman Marie Heřmánková said this afternoon. "This was a seriously ill oncology patient. She was briefly hospitalized at the First Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Clinic at VFN," said the spokeswoman. In VFN, two clients of the Michel Home (years 1927 and 1928) died on Thursday, another (year 1940) on Sunday morning.

16:55 Pardubice postpones the due date of payments for non-residential premises and apartments

Pardubice postponed rent payments for residential and non-residential premises until the end of the year. The city extends payment due dates in April, May and June. Tenants must apply for a change in the payment date, the municipality said in a press release today.

16:50 The Czech Republic ranks 16th in the EU in terms of cases of coronavirus infection

The Czech Republic ranks 16th in the European Union in terms of the number of cases of infection with the new type of coronavirus per million inhabitants. Luxembourg, Spain and Italy are at the top, while Poland and Hungary are at the bottom of the table. The Czech Republic ranks seventh among EU countries in the number of tests per million inhabitants. This follows from the data on the new information website, which was created by the joint team of the Digital Czech Republic program and the National Agency for Communication and Information Technologies (NAKIT) together with other experts. On the website, it is possible to compare countries according to ten indicators.

16:40 Czechs and Slovaks are most afraid of price increases during the pandemic

The biggest worry for Czechs and Slovaks during the current coronavirus pandemic is possible price increases, followed by concerns about a drop in income and job loss. On the contrary, citizens of both countries are the least afraid of food shortages. However, the concerns of Slovaks are in all cases slightly higher than those of Czechs. This resulted from the findings of the National Pandemic Alarm project, which monitors the moods and attitudes of society during the coronavirus pandemic and is behind the research agencies Nielsen Atmosphere, NMS Market Research and STEM/MARK.

16:20 The Hungarian Parliament approved the controversial law on broader powers of the government

Hungary's parliament today, as expected, passed a controversial law that allows the government to run the country during a state of emergency by decree and gives it more control over journalists. The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Hungary rose to 447, 15 of whom succumbed to the infection. Based on data from the government portal, the MTI agency reported on this today.

16:10 The Liberec hospital started testing again, the police helped

The Liberec hospital has completely stopped testing for the coronavirus, as it has run out of PCR test kits. However, the hospital resumed testing after a few hours thanks to the help of the police, who provided their sets for taking DNA samples. We wrote about it here.

16:00 The Economic Crisis Staff is to be established, headed by Havlíček

Due to the effects of the spread of the new coronavirus on the economy, an Economic Crisis Staff is to be established in the Czech Republic. It will be the government's working body for solving strategic economic matters connected with the crisis, as well as its consequences. It will be led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Transport Karel Havlíček (for ANO). It follows from the treasures for government action

15:45 The government will set up a central management team due to the coronavirus

The government wants to establish a Central Management Team for COVID-19. It will function as a temporary advisory body to the government. He will be in charge of coordinating measures against the corona virus epidemic, i.e. the so-called smart quarantine project. This follows from government material available to CTK. The chairman will be determined by Prime Minister Adrej Babiš (ANO) and selected ministers. Babiš has already said that the current chairman of the Central Crisis Staff, Roman Prymula, will be in charge of coordinating measures around the coronavirus, while the smart quarantine project is headed by General Petr Procházka.

15:35 There are 2,878 people infected with the coronavirus in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, according to the website of the Ministry of Health, the number of people infected with the coronavirus has risen to 2,878.

15:30 Eurozone banks are canceling dividends due to the coronavirus

Leading banks in the euro zone are canceling plans to pay dividends and buy back shares, instead focusing on strengthening reserves. As measures to combat the pandemic bring economic activity to a halt, banks are on the front lines of the battle and are being called upon to help keep cash-strapped businesses afloat. Regulators have therefore called on them to suspend the payment of dividends. Banks from Italy, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands, including UniCredit and KBC, which owns Czech ČSOB, recently responded to these calls. This is reported by the Reuters agency.

15:20 The Constitutional Court has so far received three petitions due to government measures

The Constitutional Court (ÚS) has so far received at least three petitions related to the declaration of a state of emergency and other government measures due to the spread of a new type of coronavirus. This follows from the overview of so-called plenary cases on the court's website. According to spokeswoman Miroslava Sedláčková, it is impossible to predict when she will decide on the proposals.

15:00 The Prague municipality has closed its last 11 open kindergartens

Prague councilors decided at their meeting today to close the last 11 kindergartens established by the municipality that have been open so far. This applies to special kindergartens. Councilor for education Vít Šimral (Pirates) told journalists today. Kindergartens have already been closed by individual town halls in recent weeks. The municipality has 22 groups open for children from three to ten years old, whose parents are health workers, police officers, police officers, firefighters or soldiers.

14:55 The Brno emergency hospital could be for 300 patients

The crisis hospital, which could be established on the Brno exhibition grounds in the event of a lack of beds in Brno hospitals, should be for about 300 patients. It was originally thought that the capacity would be up to 500 beds. Deputy Mayor Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL) stated this at an online press conference.

14:45 Interior distributed 12.9 million masks and 3.4 million respirators

The Ministry of the Interior has so far distributed 12.9 million masks and 3.4 million respirators. Regions and the Ministry of Industry and Trade received the most. The Interior announced this on its website today.

14:30 Vítkovice Heavy Machinery will lay off 350 employees

The Ostrava company Vítkovice Heavy Machinery (VHM), which has been in bankruptcy since March 19, has resumed heavy machinery operations and is preparing to revive production at the steel plant. But it will lay off, canceling approximately 350 jobs. VHM spokesman Jaroslav Martínek announced this to ČTK today.

14:15 The Olympics will take place next year at the turn of July and August

The postponed Summer Olympics in Tokyo will take place from July 23 to August 8 next year. It was announced by the Japanese organizers after an agreement with representatives of the International Olympic Committee. A new date for the gigantic sporting event postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic was found six days after the decision to move the games for the first time in history.

14:10 The Liberec hospital stopped testing for coronavirus, it ran out of test kits

The hospital did not say when it would resume testing. Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) reacted to her announcement on Twitter, who announced that more test kits are due to arrive in the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

13:45 Toyota stops races in Europe, Renault almost all in the world

The Japanese car manufacturer Toyota will temporarily stop all its plants in Europe due to the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. In the Russian factory, production will stop until Friday, in the remaining plants in six European countries, including the Czech Republic, at least until April 19. It was announced today by the Kyodo agency. The French car manufacturer Renault announced today that it will stop production at its plants around the world, with the exception of China and South Korea.

13:25 Spa Bohdaneč will suspend operations, lay off 80 people

The medical spa Bohdaneč in Pardubice will suspend operations on April 3 until further notice. Due to measures against the spread of the coronavirus, they cannot accept new clients. They will also gradually lay off 80 people, they informed in a press statement. The spa now has around 330 employees.

13:15 Spa in Teplice nad Bečvou will gradually release 150 people

One of the oldest Moravian spas, the Spa in Teplice nad Bečvou in the Přerovsk region, will cease operations on April 9 after gradually reducing its activities. 150 people will gradually lose their jobs, that's almost half of all employees, the spa's executive director Bohdana Opočenská told ČTK today. The spa will not return to its original number of employees, it will be reorganized and will focus primarily on rehabilitation. So far, 317 employees have worked in the spa specializing in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

13:15 Prouza: Government support for employers is insufficient

Government support for employers is insufficient, according to Tomáš Prouza, president of the Trade and Tourism Association of the Czech Republic. In connection with the measures against the spread of the coronavirus, which the state has implemented in the fight against the spread of the disease, it expects mass layoffs by the end of March. Prouza stated this on Twitter. The government wants to prevent layoffs, for example by introducing short-time work, the government will discuss it. The Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic also drew attention to the lack of specific information for self-employed people and employers today.

12:55 Austrians introduce the obligation to wear masks when shopping

On Monday, Austria crossed the threshold of 9,000 people infected with the coronavirus and more than a hundred infected people died. Minister of Health Rudolf Anschober informed about it. Experts who advise the government in the fight against the contagion have proposed to tighten the current preventive measures even more. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz subsequently announced that the government is introducing the obligation to wear masks when shopping, the measure will probably come into effect from Wednesday.

12:30 Hungary introduces restrictions on movement in public

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Hungary has increased to 447, 15 of them succumbed to the infection. Based on data from the government portal, the MTI agency reported on this. A two-week restriction on movement in public has been in effect since Saturday. Parliament is also due to vote on Monday on a controversial law that would allow Hungarian officials to rule during a state of emergency by decree and give them, among other things, more control over journalists. Despite the restrictions on movement, Hungarians can leave their homes for essential errands, trips to and from work and in other cases. In the morning, between nine and twelve, grocery stores and pharmacies are reserved for seniors over 65.

12:00 Spain has surpassed China in the number of infected

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Spain has increased by almost 6,400 in the last 24 hours to a total of 85,195 since the outbreak of the epidemic in the country, and is thus already higher than that recorded in China (about 82,000). Spain is thus already third in the world in this sad balance.

11:50 The post office will no longer deliver pensions to households across the board

Czech Post will return to paying pensions in the standard way in April. Part of the seniors will be able to go to the branch for their pension. Last month, postmen delivered all pensions to people's homes due to the coronavirus. Spokesman Matyáš Vitík stated this. The nearest pension pay day is Thursday 2 April.

11:45 It is possible to order in advance for two collection points in Prague

It is possible to order in advance at the exact time for the two sample collection points in Prague, the Bulovce Hospital and the University Hospital of Královské Vinohrady. The third collection point in Prague is at the Central Military Hospital. The Motol University Hospital and the Thomayer Hospital in Krč have closed their locations, they are only testing patients and staff. Additional samples of potentially infected with the new type of coronavirus are taken by health workers who come to people's homes.

11:43 The region has to find a place for sick people from homes for the elderly

If necessary, special capacities are to be created in the regions for patients from those homes for the elderly that will not be able to provide a tenth of the places for isolating patients with the new type of coronavirus. According to Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD), the governors and government representatives agreed on the procedure on Monday during a video conference. The counties will also distribute protective equipment for the needs of nursing homes. The government could discuss the possible help of the army in caring for the sick from nursing homes in the afternoon, he said after the meeting.

11:40 German experts expect GDP to fall by 2.8 percent this year

Germany faces a deep recession this year, at least in the first half of the year. Economists advising the German government expect the economy to shrink by roughly 2.8 percent for the full year under the main scenario. However, according to them, a drop in the gross domestic product (GDP) of up to 5.4 percent is also possible. A group of experts stated this today in an analysis of the effects of the coronavirus on the German economy.

11:35 Due to the coronavirus, the flower exhibition in Olomouc was canceled for the first time in history

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, for the first time in its 60 years of existence, the spring stage of the largest and oldest domestic flower exhibition Flora Olomouc, which was supposed to be held at the exhibition center of the same name at the end of April, was cancelled. The preparation of the summer and autumn Flora is still ongoing. Kristýna Buchtová from Flora Exhibition Center said this on Monday. The spring stage of the Flora Olomouc flower exhibition is visited by tens of thousands of people every year.

11:00 Hamáček will probably replace Prymula at the head of the crisis staff

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) initially rejected both the declaration of a state of emergency and the activation of the Central Crisis Staff. Subsequently, it was created, but Babiš hastily had its statute changed so that it would not be managed by Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD), but by Deputy Minister of Health Roman Prymula (non-party). Now a change is looming, which was hinted at by the prime minister himself in an interview for Lidové noviny, which is part of Babiš's trust funds. Roman Prymula then stated on Monday that Hamáček could replace him as head of staff.

10:20 Entrepreneurs lack information on how to get state support, says Dlouhý

Employers and self-employed people still lack concrete information about the support promised to them by the government in connection with measures against the spread of the coronavirus. He does not know, for example, under what conditions and when they will be entitled to it. The authorities did not publish this information, so they did not even start accepting applications, said Vladimír Dlouhý, president of the Chamber of Commerce, at a press conference. But in general, he welcomes the support.

9:50 The Americans are looking for protective suits, but before that they sent them to China

Doctors and nurses in the United States are in desperate need of protective suits, gloves, masks and other necessary equipment to protect themselves from the coronavirus as they care for infected patients. Some try to buy them on Ebay, others ask for help on social networks. At the same time, on February 7, at a time when there were already warnings that protective equipment was in short supply, the US sent almost 18 tons of protective equipment to China, according to a comment on the American CNN server.

9:15 Another Czech victim of the coronavirus, 2837 infected

17 people died in the Czech Republic from the disease COVID-19, which is caused by a new type of coronavirus. According to the website of the Ministry of Health, one person has been added to the number of victims of the disease. The number of infection cases rose to 2,837, and 43,498 tests were performed. The number of infection cases increased by 160 on Sunday, which is the lowest in six days. However, the number of tests on Sunday was also the lowest in six days, with 2,798.

8:48 Even the criminal underworld quickly adapted to the pandemic

Trading in masks or fake vaccines, scams targeting the elderly, abuse of children on the Internet: crime is adapting in times of a pandemic as quickly as the coronavirus is spreading through Europe. While curfews have reduced burglaries, nighttime curfews may have taken the wind out of pickpockets' sails, and the international drug trade is struggling with closed borders, the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a new branch of crime on the old continent. Criminals quickly adapted to the new rules of the game, writes AFP.

8:10 Křetínský has the coronavirus, companies are managed from isolation

Entrepreneur Daniel Křetínský was tested positive for a new type of coronavirus on March 12. Since then, he has been in isolation, feeling well and running his businesses over the phone. The businessman, who according to last year's ranking of Forbes magazine is the fifth richest Czech with an estimated fortune of 66 billion crowns, said this in an interview with the daily newspaper E15. He stated that he previously had no fever, cough or other symptoms, only a mild cold and was working normally. None of his co-workers, family or other people with whom he came into close contact tested positive for COVID-19.

7:40 a.m. Opera singer Plácido Domingo is in the hospital due to COVID-19

Spanish opera singer Plácido Domingo was hospitalized in Acapulco, Mexico, due to complications related to the disease COVID-19. According to a statement from his team, he is not in critical condition. American media reported on it at night. The 79-year-old Domingo informed the public about his positive test for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus last Sunday. At the time, he stated that he was struggling with a cough and a high fever, but he said he had no serious problems and was being treated at home.

7:30 a.m. On Sunday, 160 people were infected with the coronavirus in the Czech Republic, the number of cases is 2829

The number of people infected with the new type of coronavirus in the Czech Republic rose to 2,829 as of this morning. There were 160 more on Sunday, which is the least in six days. The daily increase thus fell below ten percent. 11 people remain cured. 16 people have died from the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus. The death toll rose by five on Sunday. This follows from information on the website of the Ministry of Health.

MONDAY 30.3.

23:20 A nurse from Thomayer Hospital is also a victim of the coronavirus

One of the victims of the new type of coronavirus in the Czech Republic is a nurse from Prague's Thomayer Hospital, Seznam Zprávy reported. Hospital spokesman Petr Sulek said that the nurse died at home and that he would not release any further information due to the wishes of the family. The woman is apparently the first victim of the infection among health workers.

22:42 Homes can only accept seniors who have not been confirmed to be infected

From Monday, homes for the elderly and similar facilities must accept only those clients who undergo an examination for the presence of the coronavirus with a negative result. They are then placed in a separate room for 14 days. The Ministry of Health said in a press release this evening that another extraordinary measure is to limit the spread of the disease among the elderly.

22:00 The government will extend restrictions on free movement

The government will probably extend the restrictions on free movement, which have been in effect in the Czech Republic since mid-March, for at least a week. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (for ANO) told Czech Television. The current regulation is in effect until Wednesday, April 1. The government should consider the extension at the beginning of the week, the cabinet will meet for the first time on Monday.

20:25 Hessian minister committed suicide, probably worried about the pandemic

Hesse's Finance Minister Thomas Schäfer committed suicide, possibly because he was "deeply concerned" about the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the German website The Local, Hessian Prime Minister Volker Bouffier informed about this. The respected 54-year-old Schäfer was found dead near a railway line on Saturday.

19:44 France has more than 2,600 dead and more than 40,000 infected

In France, the number of deaths due to the coronavirus infection rose to 2,606, the number of infected rose to 40,174. A day earlier, the number of deaths was 2,314 and the number of confirmed cases was 37,575.

18:50 The number of deaths of patients with the coronavirus rose to 16 in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, three more people who were infected with the new type of coronavirus have died. The number of deaths since the beginning of the epidemic thus rose to 16. There are 2,775 positive cases, 86 more than on Saturday. The data updated at 18:00 was published on the website by the Ministry of Health. Since the beginning of the epidemic, 40,700 tests for the coronavirus have been carried out in the Czech Republic. So far, 11 people have recovered from the disease COVID-19.

18:16 Italy has another 756 victims of the coronavirus, less than on Friday and Saturday

In the last 24 hours, 756 victims of the coronavirus infection have been added to Italy. It is less than on Friday and Saturday, when the death toll increased by 919 and 889, respectively. Citing data from the Civil Protection Office, La Stampa reported this. 10,779 people have already succumbed to the disease of COVID-19 in Italy since the beginning of the epidemic, the total number of infected is approaching 100,000.

17:56 The number of confirmed cases of infection with the new coronavirus in the Czech Republic has risen to 2,743

17:50 The Czech Republic has another victim of the coronavirus

An 82-year-old man infected with the coronavirus died in the Karlovy Vary region. But he also had another chronic illness. It was reported by Czech Television.

17:24 At the Chebská hospital, tests confirmed five infections among the staff

In the hospital in Cheb, CODVID-19 was diagnosed in five employees. Some time ago, they cared for patients in the hospital who were later confirmed to be infected. However, not all health professionals who have positive tests have a clear connection with patient care. Vladislav Podracký, a spokesman for the Karlovy Vary Regional Hospital under which Chebská falls, informed about this.

17:20 The coronavirus could kill up to 200,000 people in the US, says an epidemiologist

Coronavirus could kill 100,000 to 200,000 people in the United States, the government's top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, who is on the coronavirus crisis team, warned today. As Fauci said in an interview with CNN, there could be millions of infected people. He added, however, that this is only a possible prediction, because future developments are difficult to predict due to constantly changing circumstances.

16:20 New York will run out of ventilators within a week, the mayor said

This was pointed out by the mayor of the big city, Bill de Blasio. "Here in New York, you feel like you're at war," de Blasio told CNN. The state of New York is now the most affected region in the USA, according to Saturday's balance, the authorities there registered over 52,000 people infected with the coronavirus. At least 728 people died, including 672 in New York City.

16:10 Bishop Herbst is out of danger, Duka announced

Emeritus Bishop Karel Herbst, whose infection with a new type of coronavirus was confirmed on Saturday, is out of danger. Cardinal Dominik Duka said this on Czech Radio Radiožurnál today. The archdiocese later said Herbst's condition was stable. Duka, along with other bishops and employees of the archdiocese who met with Herbst this week, are in quarantine. None of them have symptoms of the disease.

15:24 In Britain, the number of victims of the coronavirus rose by 209 to 1228

In Britain, the number of victims of the coronavirus infection rose to 1,228, with 209 deaths added in the last day. There are 19,522 infected, while more than 127,000 people have been tested.

15:00 Bishop Herbst is out of danger, Cardinal Duka said

Emeritus Bishop Karel Herbst, whose infection with a new type of coronavirus was confirmed on Saturday, is out of danger. Cardinal Dominik Duka said this on Czech Radio. The archbishop is in quarantine with other bishops who met with Herbst this week. He has no symptoms of the disease. "Thank God, the state of health of Mr. Bishop Karl Herbst is good, so to speak, calmed down and his life is not in danger," said Duka.

14:47 People in the USA are more or less indifferent to the coronavirus, said Ondrášek

Dallas soccer player Zdeněk Ondrášek is disappointed with the attitude of the Americans during the pandemic of the new type of coronavirus. Although the US records the most cases of COVID-19 in the world, Ondrášek thinks that people don't care and, for example, he goes to the park more often now than usual.

14:07 Vysočina asks for help from the army in the Břevnice home affected by the virus

Today, the Vysočina Region asked the Ministry of Defense to deploy army forces and resources in the retirement home in Břevnice near Havlíčkov Brod affected by the coronavirus. According to the hygienists, the infection was confirmed in 20 of the 22 clients of the home and nine of its workers. One elderly woman, who also had other serious chronic diseases, died in hospital today.

13:00 Hygiene canceled the quarantine of Litovelska and Uničovska from Monday

Hygienists have decided to cancel the emergency measures that closed Litovel, Uničov and 19 other municipalities for two weeks due to the spread of the coronavirus. According to them, the measure fulfilled its purpose. The police and military police patrols will withdraw after midnight, added the governor of the region, Ladislav Okleštěk (ANO). The area, with a population of roughly 24,000, has been closed since Monday, March 16.

12:32 A woman with the coronavirus died in the general hospital, she had cancer

A woman (born in 1940) who tested positive for the new coronavirus died today at the General Faculty Hospital in Prague. According to the hospital, she had cancer and COVID-19 was not the cause of death. She is a senior citizen from the Home for the Elderly in Michli. "The immediate cause of her death was not the infection of COVID-19, although her examination confirmed it. It was an oncology patient. She was briefly hospitalized at the First Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Clinic at VFN," said the spokeswoman. Two elderly women have already died of the coronavirus in the retirement home in Michli.

12:19 The military hospital in Prague moved the collection point

The Central Military Hospital in Prague (ÚVN) has moved the collection point for testing for infection with the new coronavirus. Until now, people have been tested in a tent on the premises of the hospital, from today their samples will be taken in a medical container in Stamicová street. Collections will be carried out in front of the hospital premises during the same operating hours as before, i.e. on weekdays from 08:00 to 18:00 and on weekends from 08:00 to 15:00.

12:03 Schillerová wants a six-month general postponement of mortgage repayments and other loans

Minister Alena Schillerová (for ANO) will propose to the government on Wednesday a moratorium on the repayment of mortgages, consumer and business loans for half a year. She stated it today in the program Partie on TV Prima. At the same time, according to her, the interest on these loans should also be reduced by "some symbolic amount" during the suspension of repayment. According to the minister, this should not endanger banks or non-bank credit providers.

11:58 The worst daily balance in Spain so far: another 838 infected have died, the number of dead is already 6528

In Spain, 838 people infected with the coronavirus died in the last day, which is the highest daily death toll since the beginning of the epidemic. A total of 6,528 people have already succumbed to the disease. There are almost 79,000 people infected, compared to Saturday, the number of infected has increased by more than 6,500. The number of victims of the coronavirus has been steadily increasing in Spain in recent days. On Friday, the authorities reported 769 dead, on Saturday 832 people died.

11:45 In Austria, the number of infected people is increasing more slowly, there are over 8,500 in total

On the second day in a row, Austria recorded the mildest rise in the number of people infected with the coronavirus since the start of the epidemic, with a total of over 8,500 people infected in the Alpine country. Compared to the figure 24 hours ago, the number of positive tests rose by 7.7 percent until this morning, which is the lowest so far. On Saturday, the increase was 7.9 percent.

11:09 One senior woman from a home near Havlíčkov Brod affected by the virus died

One of the clients of the retirement home in Břevnice near Havlíčkova Brod (born in 1943), infected with the coronavirus, died today. She had other serious chronic diseases, said Havlíčkobrod hospital spokeswoman Petra Černo. According to hygienists, the infection was confirmed in 20 out of 22 clients and nine workers in the Břevnice home. Two female clients were transported to the hospital on Saturday. According to director Hana Hlaváčková, the residents who remained in the home are in fairly good health.

11:02 According to an expert, large-scale layoffs are at risk in the German car industry

More than 100,000 jobs are at risk of disappearing in the German automotive industry due to the coronavirus crisis. According to the DPA agency, automotive industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer stated this. The production of cars and car parts in Germany now employs around 830,000 people, the agency reminds. A number of Czech companies also depend on the German automotive industry.

10:56 The Czech Republic sent protective suits to Italy and Spain

Today, the Czech Republic started helping Spain and Italy, which are the most affected by the coronavirus. He is sending 20,000 protective suits from the police warehouse in Opočínek near Pardubice. The delivery is divided in half, each country will receive 10,000 pieces of disposable protective suits, which the Czech Republic received from China.

10:42 Due to the coronavirus, Slovakia will reimburse a larger part of employees' wages

The Slovak government will reimburse the greater part of the wages of employees of companies that have had to close their operations due to the coronavirus. The government will also support entrepreneurs and provide guarantees for banks to provide loans. This was announced today by Prime Minister Igor Matovič. This is the first large aid package for Slovak employees, self-employed people and companies during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

10:08 The owner of the New York clubs Rangers and Knicks also has the coronavirus

Not even the owners of New York's major sports clubs, the hockey Rangers and the basketball Knicks, were infected with the new type of coronavirus. Billionaire James Dolan has tested positive for COVID-19, but the Knicks said in a statement that he is showing little or no symptoms of the disease. They added that Dolan is in home isolation and can go about his business without any problems.

9:45 AM Another 2 people died in the Czech Republic with the coronavirus, bringing the number of victims to 13

Two more people have died in the Czech Republic after being infected with a new type of coronavirus. The number of victims of the disease thus rose to 13. The Ministry of Health reported on this on the website today. The last time the authority reported two victims was on Saturday. However, he did not share more information about them. There were 2,669 infected people in the Czech Republic as of 8:30 a.m. today, 262 more on Saturday. 11 people have recovered.

8:54 A child not even a year old who was infected with the coronavirus died in the USA

A child under the age of one who was diagnosed with the coronavirus has died in the United States. Illinois Governor Jay Robert (J.B.) Pritzker announced his death on Saturday. It is not yet clear whether the child suffered from any other health problems.

7:00 a.m. On Saturday, 262 people were infected with the coronavirus in the Czech Republic, the number of cases is over 2,660

SATURDAY

23:50 The United States already has over 2,000 victims of the coronavirus

More than 2,000 people have already died in the US from the coronavirus. Before midnight CET today, the American Johns Hopkins University announced it on its website. There are over 121,000 infected in the United States, which is the most in the world. Italy has the most victims of the COVID-19 disease, where today the number of dead exceeded 10,000.

22:30: Bishop Herbst tested positive for the coronavirus

Bishop Karel Herbst tested positive for the coronavirus. It was reported by Czech Television this evening. Archbishop Dominik Duka and other bishops are therefore in home quarantine. Herbst has been in the hospital since Friday, according to the website of the Czech Bishops' Conference. He was hospitalized in the hospital under Petřín in the intensive care unit. He was to be diagnosed with a lung finding and heart problems, the website said. "On Saturday, March 28, Prague Auxiliary Bishop Karel Herbst was confirmed to have COVID 19. He was transferred to the intensive care unit at the Střešovice Hospital in Prague. His condition is serious. Let's pray for his recovery," said the Archbishop of Prague.

21:12 Italy has crossed the threshold of 10,000 victims

Over 10,000 people have already died in Italy after being infected with the coronavirus, with 889 more victims in the last 24 hours. The authorities register a total of 92,472 cases of infection. With reference to the Italian civil protection, world agencies informed about it. The worst-hit region is Lombardy in the north of the country, where 39,415 cases of infection have been confirmed so far and 5,944 people have died. The number of new cases here was 2,117 on Saturday, compared to 2,409 on Friday.

20:18 More than 2,300 people have already succumbed to the coronavirus in France

In France, the coronavirus claimed the lives of another 319 people. The total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic thus rose to 2,314. This was reported by the AFP agency, citing data published by the French government. The balance published on Friday evening still indicated 1,995 dead.

19:56 26 people have been infected in the retirement home near H.Brod

According to hygienists, 26 people, twenty clients of the home and six of its employees, have been infected with the coronavirus in the retirement home in Břevnice near Havlíčkov Brod. Based on additional tests, 14 people with confirmed infection have been added to the 12 cases detected until this morning. Alena Dvořáková, director of the anti-epidemic department of regional hygiene, said this. There were 22 clients in the home on Saturday morning. The device is in quarantine. The hygienists will now agree with the director on its further course.

19:41 There are already 640,000 people infected with the coronavirus in the world

Today, the number of cases of infection with the coronavirus exceeded 640,000 worldwide, and almost 30,000 of them died. This follows from data from the American Johns Hopkins University. Roughly a third of all victims are in Italy, where 10,023 people have died from the disease COVID-19. Almost 900 victims have been added in the last 24 hours. Only slightly fewer people succumbed to the infection in Spain, 832 deaths in a single day is a record in this country.

19:17 The D2 highway to Slovakia was passable most of the day

The D2 highway in the direction of Slovakia managed to remain passable for most of the day. The convoy of trucks, which measured 20 kilometers around 8:00 in the morning, started moving completely thanks to the opening of the border around 10:00. The Slovaks closed the passage for trucks again around 1:00 p.m., but the line was no longer so long and they reopened the passage in the afternoon. Now at 19:00, passage through the crossing is completely free, according to information on the website Dopravníinfo.cz. The problems at the border have been spilling over from the Romanian-Hungarian border for several days now, which is why Hungarians and Slovaks are not letting trucks cross the border at different times. This is a consequence of strict measures due to the spread of the disease COVID-19.

18:44 Františka will accept seniors with COVID-19 from Monday

From Monday, the Na Františku Hospital will accept lighter cases of seniors who are confirmed to have COVID-19. Petr Bidlo from the office of Prague 1, which owns the hospital, informed about this in a press release. The Ministry of Health previously stated that it will reserve a total of 329 beds for sick seniors from retirement homes in Na Františku, Na Bulovce, in the Toušeň spa and in Těchonín. The Central Crisis Staff turned to the Municipal District of Prague 1 with a request for help.

18:40 Trump is considering declaring a quarantine in New York

US President Donald Trump is considering declaring a quarantine in New York to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. Quarantine will mean, among other things, travel restrictions. The state of New York is the worst-hit place in the US, with the number of infected there rising to more than 52,000 and the death toll rising to at least 728. In addition to New York, a quarantine could also be declared in "New Jersey and certain parts of Connecticut," Trump added.

18:21 The Czech Republic has two more victims of the coronavirus

According to statistics on the website of the Ministry of Health, two more patients infected with the new coronavirus have died. In total, there are already 11 deaths in the Czech Republic. There is the same number of cured patients in the country. There are 2,541 infected, 119 more than on Saturday morning.

18:02 Half a million respirators are going to social services, Maláčová said

According to the Minister of Social Affairs Jana Maláčová (ČSSD), half a million respirators provided by the Ministries of the Interior and Health are now being distributed to social services in the Czech Republic. Due to the number of homes for the elderly and homes with a special regime, not all facilities may be physically available on Saturdays, but they are at the beginning of the week. Maláčová told Czech Television.

17:39 There are 2,541 infected people in the Czech Republic

There are already 2,541 infected in the Czech Republic, i.e. 119 more than in the morning. This follows from data on the website of the Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus.

17:30 We will not pay for the lost profit, said Schillerová

The state will cover the real damage that people will incur due to measures against the coronavirus epidemic. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (for ANO) said this on Czech TV. She repeated that the state will not cover the lost profit.

17:12 There are 12 people infected with the coronavirus at the Ministry of Defense

To date, the Ministry of Defense has recorded 12 cases of infection with the new type of coronavirus. The number includes both civil and civil servants, as well as soldiers. A total of 907 employees and soldiers are in quarantine. Magdalena Dvořáková, spokeswoman for the General Staff, said it.

16:23 Minister Vojtěch supports the extension of the state of emergency

The extension of the state of emergency is appropriate given the situation, the Minister of Health said on Czech television. Now the state of emergency introduced due to the spread of the new coronavirus is valid until April 11. The extension of this status must be approved by the Chamber of Deputies at the proposal of the government.

15:56 A soldier from J. Hradec contracted the coronavirus during border control

During state border control, one soldier of the 44th Light Motorized Battalion in Jindřichov Hradec contracted the disease COVID-19. He is being treated at home, his illness is mild.

15:27 Britain already has more than 1,000 victims of the coronavirus

The number of victims of the coronavirus in Great Britain has exceeded one thousand and reached 1,019, press agencies reported today, citing local authorities. In the last 24 hours, 260 people succumbed to the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus, in the island country.

14:45 Scientists: The spread of the coronavirus may be related to polluted air

The spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 600,000 people worldwide, may be linked to air pollution. This follows from a study published by Italian scientists, which was reported by The Economist newspaper. Experts believe that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can also be transmitted with the help of dust particles.

13:38 Slovakia will allow more stores to open, tighten hygiene rules

Slovakia will allow some smaller stores that were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic to open from next week. But entrepreneurs will have to observe stricter hygiene and prevent a larger number of customers in stores. Prime Minister Igor Matovič told journalists today. Slovakia has also reopened border crossings for truck traffic, which it closed on Friday. There were 23 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in the country, so far tests in the country have revealed 292 infected people. Since last week, only grocery stores, drugstores and pharmacies can be open in Slovakia. Newly, they will be able to sell goods or provide services, for example smaller construction companies, hardware stores, horticulture, opticians or leasing companies. The relaxation of the rules does not apply to shopping centers and large stores.

12:42 The number of infected in Spain exceeded 72,000, the dead are 5,690

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in Spain exceeded 72,000, in the last 24 hours the infection was confirmed in 8,189 additional people. The newspaper El País reported about it today. Another 832 patients succumbed to the disease caused by the virus, which is the largest increase in 24 hours since the beginning of the epidemic in the country. A total of 5,690 people died in Spain.

11:59 There will be places for infected seniors in four hospitals

The Ministry of Health will reserve 329 beds in Prague's Na Bulovce and Na Františku hospitals, the Toušeň spa and Těchonín for seniors from retirement homes who are confirmed to be infected with COVID-19. Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (ANO) stated this on Twitter today. According to the head of the Crisis Staff of the Czech Republic, Roman Prymula, these will be places for seniors with milder symptoms who will have to be quarantined. Places will be available in the first four hospitals first, and quarantine beds in the military hospital in Těchonín will be added within about a week, he said.

11:18 The China Eastern plane brought four million gloves to the Czech Republic

The China Eastern plane brought four million protective gloves to the Czech Republic today. The plane from China landed in the Czech Republic this morning, Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) told ČTK. At the same time, he said on Twitter that firefighters are delivering over half a million respirators, three million masks or thousands of protective suits to the regions today.

11:15 Inside denies the existence of the analysis that Schiller was talking about

The Ministry of the Interior denies that it has prepared an analysis of the change in the legal basis of the emergency measures announced by the government due to the coronavirus epidemic. The spokesman of the ministry stated this in response to a query from the iROZHLAS.cz server. The alleged analysis of the Ministry of the Interior was mentioned this week by Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (for ANO), when she explained why the transition from the crisis law to the health law does not change companies' entitlement to compensation for lost profits as a result of government measures. Some lawyers and the opposition criticized the government for changing the legal basis. According to them, the cabinet is trying to avoid responsibility.

10:40 a.m. 72 people infected with the coronavirus died in Germany in 24 hours

In Germany, 72 people infected with the coronavirus died in 24 hours, bringing the total number of victims to 325, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported today. A record 6,294 new infections are registered. Even in view of current developments, Chancellor Angela Merkel called on citizens to be patient, as the measures taken are still needed, according to her.

9:50 a.m. 12 people, mostly clients, became infected in the retirement home near H. Brod

In the retirement home in Břevnice near Havlíčkov Brod, ten clients and two employees have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus. The facility is in quarantine, the rest of the total 22 residents of the home and its workers are being taken by rescuers for tests today. The sick pensioners have remained in place for the time being, the director of the anti-epidemic department of the regional hygiene station, Alena Dvořáková, said today.

9:20 The column on D2 has reached 20 km overnight, it is already on its way

A 20-kilometer-long convoy of trucks formed at night on the D2 highway before the Lanžhot-Brodské border crossing to Slovakia. The Slovaks closed the entrance to the country on Friday due to the fact that the Hungarians were also not allowing trucks across the border. This is a consequence of strict measures due to the spread of the disease COVID-19. Around 8:00 a.m. today, the Slovaks started partially releasing the trucks again

9:11 a.m. There are 2422 cases of coronavirus in the Czech Republic, 373 new ones were added on Friday

The number of confirmed cases of infection with the new coronavirus in the Czech Republic rose by 373 on Friday, which is the highest daily increase so far. A total of 2,422 confirmed cases have been registered throughout the Czech Republic as of this morning. This follows from data on the website of the Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus. The number of tests for the coronavirus is also increasing. On Friday, health workers performed 5,247 of them, i.e. about 800 more than the day before. A total of 36,374 tests for the coronavirus have already been carried out in the Czech Republic.

9:10 a.m. President Zeman refused to declare an amnesty due to the coronavirus

President Miloš Zeman refused to declare an amnesty. He was reacting to the initiative of lawyers who proposed this step to him in connection with the pandemic of a new type of coronavirus. The President's spokesman Jiří Ovčáček told ČTK in a press release today that Zeman is a fundamental opponent of a blanket amnesty. At the same time, he considers this initiative harmful in the current epidemiological and economic situation.

8:48 PPF medical equipment is gradually moving from China to the Czech Republic

The medical equipment donated to the state by the PPF group is gradually being moved to the Czech Republic. Zuzana Migdalová, spokeswoman for the PPF group, told Echo24. The first part arrived already on Sunday. The PPF group of the richest Czech Petr Kellner donated 120 tons of medical supplies to the Czech Republic. "The aid of the PPF group in the amount of more than 100 million crowns is being delivered to the Czech Republic gradually. Transport to the Czech Republic is ensured by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Health, which then also ensures its distribution," said Migdalová.

8:38 In the USA, they approved a test that is said to detect the coronavirus in a few minutes

Healthcare company Abbott Laboratories has announced that it has received permission to market a diagnostic test in the United States that can detect the presence of the coronavirus in a patient's body within minutes. The test will be used in general practitioners' offices and hospitals, the company said.

7:20 Trump promised that the US will produce 100,000 lung ventilators

American President Donald Trump announced last night that the United States will produce 100,000 lung ventilators in 100 days to serve patients infected with the coronavirus. Shortly before that, the head of the White House ordered the Department of Health to use the Defense Production Act to force General Motors to produce lung ventilators for the US government. The number of people infected with the coronavirus in the USA exceeded 100,000, which is the most in the world. This was reported by the Reuters agency.

SATURDAY 28.3.

23:22 The number of people infected with the coronavirus in the USA has exceeded 100,000

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in the USA has exceeded 100,000, the American Johns Hopkins University reported on its website. Around the world, almost 590,600 people have already been infected with the coronavirus, of which 130,000 have already recovered.

23:00 The state will supply 200,000 respirators to homes for the elderly

The Ministry of Health will send 200,000 respirators to nursing homes at night. This was stated on Twitter by the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch (for ANO). According to him, his office will help the Ministry of the Interior with supplies of protective equipment before the interior receives additional supplies of aids. Social service providers complain about the lack of respirators and masks.

21:10 The head of the WHO warned against the use of unproven drugs against the coronavirus

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned today at a regular press conference against the use of anti-coronavirus drugs, the effectiveness of which has not yet been proven. According to Tedros, this may, on the contrary, cause a shortage of these drugs for needy patients with other diagnoses.

19:53 In France, after another 300 deaths, there are almost 2,000 victims of COVID-19

In French hospitals, the number of victims of the disease COVID-19 per day increased by 299 to a total of 1995, while the number of patients hospitalized with this diagnosis increased from Thursday's 13,904 to 15,732

19:15 The US House of Representatives approved a financial injection of over CZK 50 trillion

Today, the US House of Representatives approved a record set of measures to support the US economy, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus. It was reported by the AP agency. The volume of the financial package, which was already approved by the Senate on Wednesday, amounts to 2.2 trillion dollars (over 54 trillion crowns). The unprecedented measure has yet to be signed by US President Donald Trump, who has promised to do so as soon as he gets the proposal on the table.

19:10 The lawsuit proposes to the court to cancel the ban on fathers being present at childbirth

Attorney Ondřej Pecák and the League of Human Rights contested the measures by which the Ministry of Health prohibited the presence of fathers at childbirth at the Prague Municipal Court. In an administrative lawsuit, they demand that the court cancel the measure. Until the court decides on the matter, according to the plaintiffs' ideas, the maternity hospital should be ordered to allow the presence of an escort during the birth as a preliminary measure. The ministry banned birth attendants across the board last Wednesday due to fears of the spread of a new type of coronavirus.

19:05 Legendary football striker Vízek has contracted the coronavirus

Former football representative Ladislav Vízek has contracted the coronavirus. The 65-year-old Olympic champion and member of the League Gunners' Club was initially convinced that he had caught a cold while cycling, but a test later revealed he had the disease COVID-19. Vízek told the server iSport.cz. His wife also tested positive, but unlike the former attacker, she has no symptoms.

19:00 Organizations have not yet noticed an increase in cases of domestic violence

Organizations that help victims of crime did not record a higher number of calls due to cases of domestic violence. But they expect an increase after the strictest measures are eased. Even the Prague police officers do not register the increased number of notifications on line 158, comprehensive statistics for March will be available only next month.

You can find previous events HERE: ON-LINE: The coronavirus pandemic

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