Coronavirus update, Oct.11, 2021: Covid death toll surpasses 30,500 in the Czech Republic

The number of deaths due to coronavirus in the Czech Republic crossed 30,500 on Sunday, and as of Monday morning was at 30,504. The pace of the increase in deaths has been rising. It was 23 in the last week, while 11 people died a week earlier, according to Health Ministry data. So far, 28 people have died in October. The death toll crossed the 30,000 mark on May 10, 2021, but then slowed as the pandemic receded in the last spring and summer. Approximately 30,000 candles were lit at Prague Castle on May 10 in memory of those who died. The toll crossed the 20,000 mark on Feb. 23, 2021, and 10,000 on Dec. 14, 2020.

The coalition SPOLU (Together), consisting of the Civic Democrats (ODS), the Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL), and TOP 09, received the most votes in the general election from people in quarantine or isolation due to coronavirus. It received 38.1 percent of the vote. It is followed by a coalition of Pirates and STAN with 21.4 percent and Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) with 10.9 percent. The government ANO was chosen one-tenth. Some 2,774 people voted from the car on Wednesday and in portable mailboxes on Thursday. This follows from data from the Czech Statistical Office published on the election website.

The best in the EU is Portugal, the world leader, where almost 86 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated. In second place is Malta with almost 82 percent vaccinated, and then Spain, with approximately 79 percent. The EU average is 63.5 percent. The lowest vaccination rate in Bulgaria at 19.6 percent, followed by Romania at 28.7 percent, and Slovakia at 41.5 percent. In general, countries in Western Europe have the highest vaccination rates and those in Eastern Europe have the lowest.

Norway, Cyprus, and Luxembourg will move from high-risk red to medium-risk orange on the latest Czech Covid-19 travel map as of Monday, the Health Ministry has announced. Travel from these countries to the Czech Republic will be easier for those without proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 as of next week. Some other countries will also change color in the latest map, but these changes will not impact travel conditions to the Czech Republic. The ministry updates its map every week based on data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Read more in our full story here.

From Monday, unvaccinated people in Germany will start to pay for rapid coronavirus tests themselves. The tests are used, for example, when entering restaurants or for social events. Free tests will continue to be available after Oct. 11 for children under the age of 12, people who cannot get the vaccine for health reasons, and those who need it to end quarantine. Until December, children aged 12 to 17 and pregnant women who have only recently been vaccinated will also be entitled to one free test per week.

There were 334 new Covid cases reported for Sunday, up slightly from 315 a week earlier. Some 317 people were hospitalized with Covid, up from 307 a day earlier and 243 a week earlier. Currently, 59 people are in serious condition. The death toll reached 30,504, with two deaths reported for both Saturday and Sunday (see above). The incidence number of deaths per 100,000 over seven days stayed steady at 56. A week earlier, it was at 42. The PES number dropped to 55 from 58 a day earlier. A week earlier it was at 61. For Prague, the incidence number is 73 and the R number is 1.06. In the Moravia-Silesia region, where the pandemic is worst, the incidence number is 96.