The intensive care unit in Prague’s General University Hospital was half empty this week. On Tuesday the Czech government relaxed some of the country’s coronavirus restrictions.
Unlike doctors at overburdened hospitals in other European countries, Czechs have not been forced to make decisions on who gets the best care. Five of the General University Hospital’s intensive care beds were still unoccupied on Tuesday.
The Czech government has agreed to relax some restrictions imposed to contain the epidemic. Industry and trade minister Karel Havlicek said that starting Tuesday, people would not have to wear a mandatory facemask for outdoor individual sports activities, such as jogging or riding a bicycle.
As of Thursday, more stores will be allowed to reopen, including hobby markets and businesses selling construction materials and bicycles.
The government has also approved a proposal to cancel the ban on Czechs traveling abroad, starting on 14 April. Havlicek said people will have a chance to travel to foreign countries for business trips, visiting relatives, or for medical reasons. On returning, they will have to be quarantined for two weeks.
