The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Czech Republic has risen to 38 from 32 on Sunday, according to official figures.
This was announced on Monday evening by Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (ANO).
Among them a Prague taxi driver, who may be a source of community-borne infection, a serious development. “At the moment, it is very difficult to trace people who the man was in contact with,” said Roman Prymula – Professor of Preventive Medicine at School of Medicine, Charles University – to Czech Television. “Stricter measures can now be required,” he added.
For preventive reasons, some Prague universities are closing their classrooms and canceling lessons. CTU decided to interrupt its lessons for two weeks.
“We have three new cases reported. One from the Zlin region is a 41-years-old woman who was on vacation in Trentino, Italy,” said Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch on Twitter.
“She went skiing with her family. She came back on March 7th. We had her tested and today the results were positive,” said Eva Sedláčková, Director of the Regional Hygiene Station in Zlín.
“The other two cases are two men who are close contacts of an existing case. They are currently in isolation at home,” he added.
Prague’s Public Health Authority has opened two hotlines specifically for coronavirus-related questions, at 773 782 856 and 773 782 850.
The Czech National Institute of Public Health can also be reached at 724 810 106 and 725 191 367 from 8:00 to 21:00.
Italy is extending its coronavirus quarantine measures, which include a ban on public gatherings, to the entire country.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that people would only be permitted to travel for work or family emergencies. He said the measures, which come into effect on Tuesday, were to defend the most fragile members of society.
Italy’s coronavirus death toll jumped on Monday by 97 to 463. It is the worst-hit country after China.
The number of confirmed infections also increased to 9,172, up from 7,375 on Sunday, official figures show.
