19 May
The Czech Republic said on Friday it would allow gatherings of up to 300 people later this month as coronavirus infections remained among the lowest in Europe.
Gatherings including sports events will be allowed as of May 25, when businesses including restaurants and pubs will also be allowed to open, Health Minister Adam Vojtech said.
Shopping centres, cinemas, barbers and restaurant terraces opened on Monday after nearly two months under lockdown.
The country of 10.7 million people had registered 8,352 confirmed coronavirus cases and 293 deaths by Friday morning.
"If the epidemiological situation remains favourable, the limit will grow to 500 people on June 8 and to 1,000 on June 22," Vojtech said of the size of gatherings that would be permissible.
He said restaurants and bars would not be allowed to stay open after 11 pm after a recent upsurge in South Korea was linked to night clubs.
Further easing would take place only if daily infection counts would not increase after staying well under 100 cases daily throughout May, said epidemiologist Rastislav Madar, part of an official advisory team.
Some credit the success in stemming infections to the mandatory face mask rule, which will be eased as of May 25, when they will only be required in shops, offices and on public transport.
Visits to hospitals and retirement homes will also resume on May 25, though social distancing will remain in force.
Interior Minister Jan Hamacek credited an early warning from an unnamed expert encouraging the government to act quickly in early March.
"When I saw a mathematical model using data from Italy, I realised we were facing a train wreck," Hamacek told the Info.cz news site.
AFP
