The government will meet again on Thursday, and does not agree on tightening measures
Updates: 11/15/2021 10:40 PM
Released: 15.11.2021, 22:12
Prague – The resigned government did not agree to tighten anti-anti-crime measures this evening after three hours of negotiations. This was stated by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (YES) at a press conference. According to him, several options are being considered, including the recognition of antigenic tests as a covid certificate, but also the so-called Bavarian model, where no type of tests is recognized, or the Austrian one, where it is restricted by unvaccinated and free movement. The government will meet again on Thursday, with the Ministry of Health to present unfinished options.
Originally, the Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (for YES) announced that, in agreement with the AntiCovid advisory team of the Spolu (ODS, TOP 09 and KDU-ČSL) and PirSTAN coalitions, he would only propose the cancellation of antigenic tests. “There has been a debate as to whether this is sufficient given the epidemic situation,” he said after the government’s talks.
The premiere added that it would convene the Government Council for Health Risks on Thursday morning. But he doesn’t want to deal with the AntiCovid team again. According to him, his experts, such as vaccine scientist Roman Chlíbek, are also on the government council. “No matter what the AntiCovid team tells us, we have to do it. It is our responsibility,” Babis added. According to Vojtěch, the question is whether to wait for compliance with the incoming government, but the debate will still be successful.
According to him, the ministry must elaborate three submitted versions by Thursday. According to Babiš, in Austria the unvaccinated have the opportunity to just go to the pharmacy or shops, in Bavaria they have free movement. “The Ministry of Health has to analyze mainly various legal aspects,” Babiš added. According to him, there are also legislative opinions that a pandemic law was not enough for the so-called Austrian model, but a state of emergency was needed.
According to Vojtěch, the aim of all measures is to increase the vaccination coverage of the population. Currently, 59.9 percent of the Czech population and about 68 percent of people over the age of 12 are vaccinated for whom the vaccine is now approved. According to Vojtěch, there are still 1.5 million unvaccinated people aged 19 to 65.
According to Babiš, the situation in the hospitals is not as dramatic as last year, but he described it as very serious. “There is a dramatic number of mainly unvaccinated in the ICU, they are in danger of death,” he said. According to disease data 64 percent of people in the ICU are unvaccinated in November. “Fortunately, we have not yet experienced severe cases as exponentially as positive numbers. Vaccination protects our intensive care units from greater congestion.” 3800 are now hospitalized, 572 of whom are in the ICU.