Israel donates nine lung ventilators to the Czech Republic in fight against COVID-19

Israel has donated nine lung ventilators to the Czech Republic as aid in its fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, Barbora Gejdosova from the Embassy of Israel's press and political department told journalists.

The consignment arrived in the Václav Havel Airport in Prague on Friday.

Israeli Ambassador to the Czech Republic Daniel Meron handed over the Flight 60 ventilators to Czech Deputy Health Minister Alena Šteflová.

Meron said the two countries could cooperate and inspect how to control the coronavirus.

Czech Health Minister Jan Blatný welcomed the help during these challenging days.

He said Israel had shown solidarity which only "underlines the special relations" between the two countries.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš discussed contact tracing, a potential coronavirus vaccine, and Israel's experience with their full lockdown with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu by phone.

Israel reacted to the second wave of the epidemic earlier this autumn with a strict lockdown, which they are currently easing.

After six weeks, first-grade pupils have returned to schools, but are divided into class sizes of a maximum of 20 students and are required to wear face masks. This first of the four lockdown-softening phases has also seen the gradual reopening of shops and recreational activities.

The Czech Republic, too, has been in a state of national emergency that includes a series of restrictions aimed to curb the epidemic.

Schools have been closed, except for kindergartens, as have most retail stores and services.

The Czech lockdown is expected to be relaxed in four stages, though Blatný told the public not to expect any significant changes over the next 2-3 weeks.

The Czech Republic has also received help in its fight against COVID-19 from other EU and NATO countries. Earlier this week, 100 lung ventilators came to the Czech Republic from Germany.

Last week, Czech troops transported 60 lung ventilators from NATO depots in Italy. The Czech Republic has obtained additional medical aid from Austria, Hungary and EU emergency reserves.