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Summary for: Czech news in brief for October 25: Saturday's top afternoon headlines
Strong winds to hit western Czechia on Sunday
Weather Strong winds to hit western Czechia on Sunday
The western half of Czechia will face strong winds on Sunday, with gusts up to 70 km/h, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute warns. An alert, in effect from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., covers Prague, Central Bohemia, Karlovy Vary, Plzeň, and Ústí regions, as well as parts of Vysočina, South Bohemia, Liberec, Hradec Králové, and Pardubice. Cooler, windy, and wet conditions may continue into next week, with possible snow in mountains.
Health Hepatitis A vaccination surges amid outbreak
Over 15,000 people were vaccinated against hepatitis A in a single week, with more than 127,000 doses administered since January, Czech health authorities reported. Demand far exceeds supply, prompting emergency vaccine deliveries. This year, over 1,800 cases have been recorded, the highest since 1996. Limited coverage by health insurance means most people must pay for the vaccine, though some can delay the second dose to extend availability.
Economy Energy suppliers cut prices to attract customers
With the heating season underway, Czech energy suppliers are offering fixed-price electricity and gas contracts, allowing households to save thousands of crowns annually compared with standard contracts. Savings are greatest for high-consumption households, though rising fixed monthly fees limit the benefit for small users. Major companies, including ČEZ and Pražská plynárenská, have recently reduced prices for new and some existing clients.
Education Most Czech teachers see digital tools as helpful
Over 80 percent of Czech teachers believe digital tools boost students’ interest and collaboration in class, according to the TALIS 2024 survey. Three-quarters said such tools improve academic results, though fewer than half find them distracting. The Czech School Inspectorate said 7,000 educators took part. About 60 percent believe AI aids lesson planning, and over half use it to adapt materials for diverse student needs.
Culture Czech experts digitize Masaryk’s extensive archive
Researchers from the Masaryk Institute and Archives are digitizing the vast archive of Czechoslovakia’s first president, Tomáš G. Masaryk, containing over 500 meters of documents, letters, family items and 10,000 photographs. The digitization, supported by the Czech Academy of Sciences and Česká spořitelna bank, will make the materials accessible online. About 5,000 photographs have been digitized so far, with full completion expected to take several years.
