Coronavirus update, Jan. 14, 2021: Czech Republic drops one point from highest PES risk level

The COVID-19 risk level in the Czech Republic fell from the highest fifth degree to the fourth within the PES epidemic system Thursday, with the risk index dropping from the previous day's 81 to 75 out of 100.

The shift is due largely in part to the reproduction number's decline to 0.82, the Health Ministry's latest data shows and does not automatically mean a change in the lockdown measures.

The fall of the reproduction number below 1 is viewed as the beginning of an infection spread slowdown. The index of 75 is the upper limit of the fourth risk degree (60-75).

Thursday also saw a decline in several other indicators that influence the PES index: the average number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the past two weeks, the two-week average number of infected seniors, and the number of patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 only after their hospitalization.

In order for lockdown measures to be loosened, the risk index must stay at a lower degree for seven consecutive days. For restrictions to be tightened, the index must remain at a higher degree for three days in a row at the least, following which a change of restrictions can be assessed by the Ministry of Health.

Since Dec. 27, Czechia has seen restrictions corresponding to the strictest fifth level of coronavirus alert.

Blatný also said he will propose adjustments to the anti-coronavirus measures within certain degrees of the PES system to the cabinet and the lower house health committee next week.

Those changes could include reconsidering which items are deemed necessary goods, allowing school supplies and shoes, for instance, to be sold in shops from next week.

Source: onemocneni-aktualne.mzcr.cz/covid-19