Czech government will not seek to extend state of emergency past May 17, says PM

The Czech government will not ask the Chamber of Deputies to prolong the state of emergency that is to expire on May 17

ČTK

Written by ČTK Published on 04.05.2020 08:51:56 (updated on 04.05.2020) Reading time: 1 minute

Prague, May 3 (CTK) – The Czech government will not ask the Chamber of Deputies to prolong the state of emergency that is to expire on May 17, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) told Czech Television (CT) today.

At first, the government wanted the state of emergency to be prolonged until May 25, depending on the relaxation of lockdown rules over the coronavirus epidemic.

“We will not ask for it,” Babiš said.

On Monday, the government will discuss the amendment to the health protection law that is to give more powers to the Health Ministry, Babiš said.

The draft amendment to Czech law on the protection of public health gives the Health Ministry the power to ban or limit the operation of shops including shopping malls, workshops and public transport at regulated public events.

The draft amendment also empowers the ministry to regulate the operation of medical services or order medical facilities to reserve their concrete sections.

The ministry may even ban the operation of the facilities based on the amendment.

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