Movement is not restricted in Prague. However, beware of trips to relatives and outside the metropolis
Friday’s announcement of a new state of emergency and other government coronavirus restrictions, from which the “lockdown” of individual districts stands out, caused a stir among the public. The people of Prague also asked themselves many questions, for example, joking questions arose as to whether Libeňský would close most due to the journeys between Prague 7 and 8.
“Movement between city districts is not limited,” Ondřej Krátoška, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior, confirmed to the Prague daily. The website of the ministry, led by Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamáček (CSSD), contains answers to some ambiguities and exceptions. The crisis measure allows moving between districts for work, providing “necessary” needs for relatives or close relatives, caring for children or animals, travel to medical facilities or offices, performing social, spiritual or distribution services, attending a funeral or school practice or lecture.
You can find basic information on restricting movement between districts, which will take effect at midnight from Sunday to Monday, on our website
?https://t.co/WG50Vu1ouBYou will also download the necessary forms there.
– Ministry of the Interior (@vnitro) February 26, 2021
So you can travel around Prague without any worries. You are also allowed to go jogging between 5 am and 9 pm, but you would not have to associate with anyone who does not live with you in the same household. Dog walking at night was allowed by the government only within 500 meters of the residence. Babiš’s cabinet also forbids visiting relatives, even though they also live in the cadastre of the capital. The exception is if someone close to you needs an escort to the doctors or the office. “The purpose is to limit the mobility and thus the spread of the virus as much as possible,” primarily Hamáček’s ministry.
“You can go for a walk around Prague, but you must not arrive outside our city,” the city council said through comments under a Facebook post with new restrictions. It is here that a great complication arises for the inhabitants of the peripheral parts of the metropolis. Looking at map with marked borders of the capital the Únětický brook valley in the northwest, the Klánovice forest in the east or the area around Libuše and the Modřanská ravine on the southern tip of Prague look problematic. There are many Central Bohemian municipalities that lie directly on the “line”.
Prague does not want to close the playground
According to the ministerial interpretation, national carriers – including the means of Prague Integrated Transport – can continue to operate from 1 March. However, passengers to and from the districts of Prague-West and Prague-East must comply with some of the exceptions, which ultimately do not include shopping. “The police will focus on inspections in all places where there will be a presumption of violation of crisis measures, including trains and buses,” adds a spokeswoman for Krátoška.
Also beware if you and your partner have lived together for several years, but one of you is registered in another district. He must move to one place between the two flats or houses, which must travel arbitrarily, for a period of three weeks. On the contrary, it is possible to send children for babysitting to grandparents (risk groups), but they should stay with them for the entire duration of government measures.
The management of the municipalities must also ensure the closure of all sports grounds and public playgrounds. However, Vít Šimral, the town councilor for education, stated that Prague wants to maintain the operation of children’s playgrounds: “We believe that Praguers are reasonable enough and will keep at least two meters apart and wear respirators when babysitting their children. Children still can’t just sit at home and need exercise in the fresh air. “
In the context of public events, one of the exceptions for free movement between districts is a bit funny – participation in mass events allowed by the Ministry of Health led by Jan Blatný (for YES). Hamacek et al. in this context, I mention, for example, important sports matches. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Babiš thundered when his former adviser and former health minister Roman Prymula and other VIP guests sat in the stands during a European League football duel between Slavia and Leicester.
The Prague daily also addressed the mayor of Prague, Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates), who in mid-February – in his own words with a “heavy heart” – joined the governors’ request to extend the state of emergency. At that time, Hřib promised to coordinate the process with the Central Bohemian governor Petra Pecková (STAN).
“I am in regular contact with President Peck. For example, we coordinate the vaccination process together. From my point of view, it is a pity that the people of Prague no longer have the power to go outside even a short distance outside Prague, and yet in the case of an independent walk in nature, the health risk is minimal. The government should also explain to the citizens of the Central Bohemian Region who cannot buy after work in Prague, even though they work there. They also can’t go for a run in the park in Prague after work. They have to shop in their district and it is possible to stay in nature even only in the territory of the municipality where they live, “Hřib wrote an opinion for Pražský deník on current government measures.
The mayor added that city police officers will, as before, focus on the obligation to protect passengers in urban public transport in monitoring compliance with government restrictions against the spread of coronavirus. From Monday, a cloth drape or two surgical drapes are not enough. Passengers must wear a respirator.