Czech Republic coronavirus updates, October 8: new record with 5,000+ cases, more restrictions coming tomorrow

There were 5,335 new COVID-19 cases reported in the Czech Republic on Wednesday, according to the latest data from the Czech Health Ministry.

The number is a new record in the daily number of COVID-19 cases, blowing past Tuesday's high of 4,457. A previous high of 3,798 was set last Friday. Over the past two weeks, a new daily record has been set four times.

Yesterday, the Czech Republic overtook Spain as Europe's most-affected country, with about 346 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the past two weeks according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Despite a rise in numbers across Europe, Spain is the only other country to report more than 300 cases per 100,0000 residents over the past two weeks, while France, the Netherlands, and Belgium are the only other countries to report more than 200.

The total number of cases in the Czech Republic since the beginning of the outbreak has reached 95,360 and will surpass 100,000 by the week. For comparison, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Czech Republic, population ~10.4 million, has now surpassed the total number in China, population ~1.4 billion.

A total of 19 COVID-19 deaths have already been reported for Wednesday, though this number is likely to rise. The death toll was above 20 on both Monday and Tuesday, with a high of 30 now reported for Sunday.

Currently, there are 43,764 known active COVID-19 cases in the Czech Republic. Of those, 1,563 are hospitalized with 354 in serious condition, numbers that have doubled in the past week alone.

Yesterday, the percentage of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization rose above 4% for the first time in three months.

On Tuesday, there were 18,571 tests performed, leading to a record-high ratio of positive results to tests performed of 24%. That number may be surpassed after Wednesday's record; the number of tests performed Wednesday will be updated later today.

Over the past week, Uherské Hradiště continues to report the highest rate of COIVD-19 cases, at about 413 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. Náchod and Liberec have reported 357 and 315 new cases per 100,000 residents, respectively, over the past seven days.

In Prague, there have been 277 new COVID-19 cases over the past seven days.

Czech Health Minister Roman Prymula will announce new, tighter anti-coronavirus measures on Friday; Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has stated that they will come into force from Monday, October 12.

What can we expect?

For starters, Prymula has told Mladá fronta Dnes that there will be a complete closure of theaters, cinemas, and concert halls. Cultural and leisure activities are a primary target of the new measures to be announced.

Upper grades of primary schools could also be affected through much of the country; currently, secondary schools and universities have switched to distance learning in high-risk areas of the Czech Republic.

Prymula also mentioned restrictions on family events and small celebrations, limiting the number of family members who don't live together from socializing.

Additionally, Prymula mentioned that family members who do test positive could stay at a hotel, chosen by the government, to avoid infecting their relatives. The Health Minister also stated that hospitalized patients could be moved into hotels to help make room for additional patients in hospitals.

The measures taken in Prague will need to be tighter than those in the rest of the country, Prymula stated, though he ruled out a complete lockdown of the capital city.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to soar, other European countries continue to place restrictions on travel from the Czech Republic. Italy and Romania are the latest countries to add the Czech Republic to their lists of risk areas.