Majority of Czechs support travel restrictions during coronavirus pandemic

Prague, April 21 (CTK) – Most Czechs think the restrictions on travel implemented due to the novel coronavirus outbreak are crucial but they would lift the restrictions within the country, according to a poll conducted on April 16 by the European National Panels company and released today.

Over half of Czechs would like to see hairdressers and beauty parlors re-opened.

According to other polls the company conducts in other countries, for example Poland and Slovakia, Czechs are less prone to panic and have the most optimistic attitude during the pandemic.

The government implemented restrictions to travel from and to the Czech Republic on March 16 and according to previous statements by representatives of the government, the borders are unlikely to re-open in the near future.

The opposition Mayors and Independents (STAN) wants to file a constitutional complaint about the decision to close the borders, with constitutional lawyer Jan Kysela telling CTK that the government is basing its decision on ill-defined legal statutes.

The poll shows that 70 percent of Czechs think the closing of borders is a necessary step, with only 6 percent saying they think it is pointless and roughly 25 percent saying they want it lifted as soon as possible.

According to one-fifth of respondents, however, it is too strict to also limit tourism within the country, with two-fifths saying they would like this restriction lifted as soon as possible.

No other measure implemented during the state of emergency is so heavily criticized by the general population, although more than half of respondents said they would let hotels and pensions closed down.

In regards to working from home, more than one-tenth said they would like it to be the new normal whenever possible.

The most public support was received by the mandatory wearing of face masks, seen as crucial by three-fourths of Czechs until the spread of the novel coronavirus is stopped.

Since April 7, the government started the gradual easing of several measures, including the restriction on outdoor sports, hobby markets and certain special cases of people wanting to travel abroad. Beginning this week, several universities were re-opened, followed by farmers markets and small workshops.

Over 100,000 citizens of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria took part in the poll.