Despite the improvement in the epidemic situation, the government intends to keep the current strict measures in effect until at least mid-April.

The coronavirus epidemic in the Czech Republic appears to be on the decline, according to official figures released by the Prague health ministry on Wednesday morning. Statistics published on the  ministry s website show that the tests detected nearly 10 900 new infection cases on Tuesday, 3100 fewer than a week ago. In a weekly comparison, the number of patients requiring hospitalisation has dropped by 900.

There were 8,400 Covid-infected people in hospital care on Tuesday, nearly 1,900 of them in serious condition. On the same day, doctors administered 36,230 vaccine doses. According to statistics, more than one million people, or 9.7 per cent of the population, have received at least one dose of the vaccine so far, with more than 370,000 people having already received a second dose.

Despite the improving situation, the government intends to keep strict measures in force until at least mid-April. To do this, it will ask parliament to extend the current legal order, which expiries on 28 March. To achieve an actual extension, the coalition government must secure support from at least some opposition parties. During the day, Prime Minister Andrej Babis will meet opposition party chiefs to discuss the issue. 

The government s proposal for extending the state of emergency will be included in the lower house s agenda on Friday, House Speaker Radek Vondracek told the Czech Republic s public broadcaster.