Coronavirus update, Sept. 7, 2021: Czech Republic sees almost 400 new Covid cases, most since early June

The basic Delta variant of coronavirus is still present in about two thirds of the tested samples. The share of its subvariant is growing. Almost 20 percent is subtype Delta AY.4, the State Institute of Public Health (SZÚ) said in a press release. About 8 percent are AY.9 and 3 percent AY.12. In total, 95 percent of the current samples are of the Delta variant Experts still have little information about the Delta type AY.4, and it has been increasing among samples since the beginning of August. "However, we do not yet have knowledge from clinical practice that would speak in this or other subvariant about changes in the course of the disease, or other impacts for patients," the SZÚ said in a press release. So far there is no cause for concern that there is a significant change in the properties of the virus, although reports from abroad indicate a higher probability of hospitalization in unvaccinated people, the SZÚ added.

A campaign promoting coronavirus vaccination will focus more on young women, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch told daily Hospodářské noviny. The TV spots will rebut misinformation that vaccination causes infertility. In addition, Vojtěch added that if the Czech Republic succeeds in establishing collective immunity, it will abolish all pandemic measures. So far, fewer than 55 percent of the Czech population has been vaccinated. At least 70 percent is needed for herd immunity, and some experts put the number at 85 percent.

The number of new Covid cases in the Karlovy Vary region has increased significantly in the last week. People over social media have questioned the role of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the uptick. According to hygienists and reginal governor Petr Kulhánek the infections are more related to returning from vacation and testing pupils. The spokesman for the regional hygiene told Czech Radio that the increase in those infected was not related to the festival. Most new patients in seven days in the town of Ostrov in the Karlovy Vary region. Hygienists, meanwhile, continue to investigate possible offenses at the opening night of the Karlovy Vary festival. Most of the almost 1,200 present did not wear respirators. Guests face a fine of up to CZK 10,000.

The chairman of the Association of Primary School Principals, Luboš Zajíc, said he has no information that some schools do not want to or are unable to report results of Covid tests to the Ministry of Health. He said believes that the schools have now provided the office with all the data. The head of the Union of School Associations of CZESHA, Jiří Zajíček, expressed a similar opinion. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch said on Czech Television on Sunday that 14 percent of schools have not yet reported the results. He said he did not know the reason. According to the Ministry of Education, it could have been schools that had a delayed start in teaching.

The Czech Olympic Committee (ČOV) concluded it observed all precautionary measures to curb the coronavirus epidemic and even took some extra steps to mitigate the epidemic risk, the ČOV told journalists. Despite all effort, a Covid-positive person got aboard the special aircraft flying with Czech athletes to Tokyo. Physician Vlastimil Voráček tested positive for Covid-19 immediately on the Czech flight's arrival in Tokyo. Altogether, six members of the Czech team, four athletes and two members of the team staff, tested positive. Representatives of some athletes and sports associations said they want to discuss compensation for Covid-affected Czech team members. The money will probably come from the partners of the ČOV, not directly from the committee.

There were 391 new Covid cases reported for Monday, up from 240 a week earlier and the most since June 3, when there was 425. The number of hospitalized people rose sharply to 82 from a revised 64 a day earlier, with 12 people in serious condition, up from seven. The last time this many people were hospitalized was June 22. No deaths were reported for the fourth day in a row, and the toll for September is at two. The incidence number of newly infected people per 100,000 over the past seven says rose to 18 from 16 a day earlier. The reproduction number R rose to 1.36 from 1.25 a day earlier. It is at its highest since July 13. The least favorable is the epidemic situation in the Karlovy Vary region, with an incidence number of 33 and an R number of 1.64. It is followed by Prague with and incidence number of 29 and an R number of 1.11. Paramedics delivered 15,819 doses of Covid vaccine on Monday, about 12,000 fewer than a week earlier.