No Christmas gatherings or shopping for gifts, so say Czech PM and Health Minister

With Christmas fast approaching, many are wondering what the government's restrictions will mean for one of the biggest holidays of the year. It seems every hour the news changes with regard to what citizens will be – or won't be – allowed to do. Conflicting reports and statements from Czech officials are abound, and by all accounts will continue.

This morning, the Czech government has asked the Chamber of Deputies to extend the state of emergency in order to achieve a coronavirus 'combat breakthrough', PM Andrej Babis (ANO) told the Chamber ahead of its vote today. The minority coalition of ANO and the Social Democrats (CSSD) wants the lower house to accept the recommendation to continue the of the state of emergency for another month until December 20.

Today, he said the return to normal life is impossible for now, since the infection may burst out again and burden the healthcare system.

The latest data show an improvement in the epidemiological situation, which is a result of the government-imposed coronavirus measures, Babiš said, alluding to the restriction of people's movement, the closure of stores and services and the introduction of distance learning at schools.

"The number of patients in the ICU is still over a thousand," said Health Minister Jan Blatný yesterday at a government meeting, but added that he would accept the decision of the Chamber of Deputies with regard to lifting the state of emergency. He explained to deputies that, "Even though the pandemic shows signs of retreat, the number of patients in intensive care units is still over a thousand people and the number of positive tests still exceeds twenty percent, which indicates a continuing spread of the virus." Although the minister cited a different figure at that time, as of today, there are less than 1,000 people in hospital intensive care units, the figure now stands at 961.

According to him, it is necessary to prolong the state of emergency, and continue current preventive measures against the spread of infection. "If we want to apply restrictions broadly, a state of emergency is a way to achieve this," said Blatný after the meeting, at which he approved the request for an extension of the state of emergency.

The Chamber of Deputies voted for an extension of the state of emergency once before in late October. At that time the cabinet also asked for a 30-day extension, but the opposition blocked it, instead pushing through a more limited 17-day continuation.