Face masks now mandatory at outdoor events with more than 100 people in Prague

A requirement to wear a face mask at outdoor events with more than 100 people in Prague goes into effect from today, September 21. The measure has been introduced by Prague's Public Health Office.

"In the case of outdoor mass events with over 100 participants [...] visitors may have come from different regions and possibly also from abroad, which raises the probability of the infection being transmitted and further spread far beyond the borders of the event venue," the Prague health authority wrote on its website.

The measure is the latest in a series of face mask regulations in an attempt to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the Czech Republic. Prague is currently the most-affected locality in the country.

The requirement to wear a face mask at events with more than 100 people applies to everyone outside of children under the age of two, people with mental health disabilities, performance artists, and athletes.

In addition to Prague, the same requirement will also take effect in the Central Bohemia and Zlín regions from today. Both areas have seen spikes in the number of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

In recent days, videos of large-scale concerts in the Czech Republic have made the rounds on social media. Participants seem to show little concern for face masks or social distancing despite the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

"What do populist politicians and the contagious virus have in common? They are both doing well because of human stupidity," former TOP 09 chair Miroslav Kalousek tweeted.

Last week, former Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtěch stated that a country-wide requirement to wear face masks at outdoor events with more than 100 was under consideration, but that a general requirement to wear a face mask while outdoors, which was the case in the spring, would not be implemented.

Vojtěch unexpectedly resigned this morning, but the Czech Central Crisis Staff will meet later today; any further measures should be announced shortly after.

Additional measures that take effect from today include the requirement for universities in Prague to switch to distance learning. Additionally, students in higher grades are now required to wear a face mask while in class.