“We do not recommend the introduction of any major restrictions, but it would be a mistake to think that if we do not close shops or schools, we can do nothing. There is no point in thinking in the form of this spring’s packages – that, for example, the same measures should be introduced, which have been canceled in other issues. We mainly recommend ongoing, cheap measures: vaccination, testing and better controls, “said the head of the MeSES Smejkal group.

“We are the first to propose to start testing in schools, because it leads to a large number of contacts there. Even a vaccinated person can become infected and ill, but the probability of a serious course or death is normal,” added immunologist Zdeněk Hel.

Thanks to vaccinations and the fact that part of the population has suffered from the disease, the situation is different from that of the past, the group recalls. However, according to experts, it is not clear to what extent the people are protected, so it recommends further research on immunity in the population. The group also proposes better enforcement of control of infectivity in internal obligations. Insufficient compliance with and control of existing measures is, according to experts, one of the reasons for the worsening of the epidemic recently.

The Interdisciplinary Group on Epidemic Situations (MeSES) was set up in mid-March this year as an expert advisory body to the Ministry of Health in connection with the rapid spread of the coronavirus epidemic. It also forwarded its recommendations to the government and the Government Council for Health Risk. In May, the Ministry of Cooperation terminated without prior agreement, MeSES continues to issue opinions to the public.