Coronavirus in Czechia: More Changes Regarding Respiratory Protection

The Czech government introduced some new changes regarding the planned respiratory protection. Originally, the new measure ordering people to wear either two face masks or one respirator was supposed to come into effect at midnight between February 22 and February 23. However, after the government’s Monday meeting it will come into place on Thursday, February 25.

Changes to the Original Measure

From Thursday, February 25, people will be required to wear either one respirator (FFP2 or KN95 type) or two face masks in certain places. This measure was introduced because of the British COVID-19 mutation and the ever-increasing number of new cases. The change was announced after the government’s meeting on Monday, February 22, just hours before it was supposed to come into effect originally.

 

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Those places where this form of protection will be mandatory are as follows:

  • At stores;
  • At service establishments;
  • At health care facilities where outpatient care is provided;
  • In social services facilities, such as weekly hospitals, homes for the disabled, homes for the elderly and homes with special regimes, and other facilities providing social services;
  • At international airports;
  • On public transport;
  • At public transport stops;
  • In vehicles, unless there are only persons from one household using the vehicle.

The obligation does not apply to children between 2 and 15 years of age, since, according to the Minister of Health, it is not possible to acquire a respirator in a suitable size. They must, however, wear at least a surgical face mask in those places, too. They must not have home-made respiratory protection.

Woman wearing a respirator
Wearing some sort of respiratory protection – either one respirator or two face masks – will be mandatory from February 25.

People are completely exempt from this measure, for example, in the following circumstances:

  • Children below the age of two;
  • Children in kindergartens and preschool groups, children’s home or boarding schools;
  • Pupils, students and pedagogical staff during educational activities, the nature of which does not allow the wearing of a protective equipment;
  • People with intellectual disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and cognitive impairment;
  • Patients if they are hospitalized in inpatient health care facilities or in necessary cases;
  • Persons driving a public transport vehicle when they are not in direct contact with the passenger at check-in;
  • People lecturing or artists during the act of performing an art piece (eg a theatrical, dance or musical performance);
  • Moderators, editors and other persons appearing in radio, television and other programs;
  • Marrying couples at a wedding ceremony (including registered partnership ceremonies);
  • People working in hot conditions;
  • Sportsmen in certain situations;
  • The whole list is available in Czech on the Ministry of Health’s website.

 

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More Changes Coming in March

The Minister of Health also announced that wearing appropriate respiratory protection will be mandatory everywhere from the beginning of March. People will be obligated to wear at least one face mask in the following places:

  • In all interiors of buildings, outside of the place of residence or place of accommodation (e.g. hotel room);
  • In all other public places where at least two persons less than two meters apart are present at the same time, unless they are members of the same household;

Exceptions will include, for example, children under two years of age, children in kindergarten or children in children’s groups. Until the end of the month, scarfs or homemade face masks will be tolerated for strolls around the town.

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Are you curious about what you need to be aware of as a long term expat in the Czech Republic? Foreigners’ Head of PR & Marketing, Lucie Pátková, will discuss this and many other topics with Kenny Phipps from Prague Life on Clubhouse. So make sure not to miss anything!

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Sources of the information: Novinky.cz, SeznamZprávy.cz and MZČR.cz
Source of the image: Unsplash.com

Anna Minjaríková

Hello, readers! My job is to provide you with some interesting tips and useful information about all the things Czech. ♫ I'll be there for you! ♫

2 thoughts on “Coronavirus in Czechia: More Changes Regarding Respiratory Protection

  1. The following is as appalling as people, in general, who are disregarding the science about COVID and don’t seem to give a hoot about their fellow human beings.
    South African COVID-19 mutation suspected in three samples taken in Czechia
    The National Reference Laboratory is currently conducting tests on samples taken from three people who are suspected of being infected with the “South African” mutation of the coronavirus (B.1.351), Health Minister Jan Blatný said on Tuesday. All of the individuals recently returned from a trip to Zanzibar.
    Why are these people traveling in the first place? If for business use a virtual means. If for medical, as in they are healthcare workers, this is acceptable but is it still 100% needed or required? If it is for personal, as in like a trip to Cancun like Ted Cruz did to escape helping his constituents (((yea I know, I got a bit off-topic, but it seemed appropriate due to the selfish nature of it))) meaning personal for pleasure or something akin to “I’ve always wanted to see Zanzibar” then I think this is so against the notion of doing “all I can to alleviate the spread of COVID” and definitely appears to be a thumbing up the nose at being considerate of my fellow human beings.

    1. Hi Dwight,

      I agree that in such times it is indeed selfish to travel if one doesn’t have to leave the country. Unfortunately, it seems to be a part of human nature to ignore the lives of others just to achieve some transient pleasure. If only we could stop this madness for at least three weeks (as some experts suggest), then we would be able to return to normal much sooner and fewer lives would be lost.

      Kind regards,

      Anna

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