A timeline of the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in the Czech Republic

On February 29, 2020, the first case of the coronavirus was reported in the Czech Republic. As of April 8, the count has risen to over 5,000 confirmed cases with 181 recovered and 91 deaths. The government-mandated containment measures continue to evolve daily as the country and its inhabitants remain in a holding pattern with schools and non-essential business closed for the time being (a relaxing of some of the restrictions was announced yesterday).

DECEMBER 2019

• An outbreak of the novel virus reported in Wuhan, China
• Chinese inform WHO on December 31, 2019

JANUARY 2020

• Wuhan identities virus as a strain of coronavirus

• The first death in China

• First case outside China, in Thailand

• First US case – Washington State

• Wuhan under quarantine, Hubei follows a few days later

• Czechs suspend new visas from China

• The US bans foreigners if they’ve been to China

FEBRUARY 2020

• First death outside China, in the Philippines

• Czech Republic – Direct flights to/from China suspended

• WHO names new coronavirus strain COVID-19

• Cases rise sharply in South Korea

•  An outbreak in Iran reported

•  An outbreak in Italy reported

• The virus has spread to every continent except Antarctica

• 170 suspected cases test negative, 307 people in home quarantine, 77 of whom are in South Bohemia

• First American death in the US, state of Washington declares state of emergency
• The Czech Republic – First confirmed case, treated at Bulovka in Prague

MARCH 2020

• 211 tested in total to date since January 27

• 3 more cases confirmed, 4 total, 262 tested (+51)

• Flights banned from Northern Italy and South Korea
• 5th case confirmed, 340 tested (+78)

• Export of all FFP3 respirators banned
• Event organizers must report gatherings of 5,000 or more
• 3 more cases, a total of 8 confirmed, 407 tested (+67)

• Flights to/from all of Italy, South Korea and Iran suspended
• Export of hand sanitizers banned
• 4 more cases, 12 confirmed total, 483 people tested (+76)

• 1,011 people in home quarantine
• 594 tested (+111)

• Worldwide infections over 10,000, with 3,400 deaths
• Mandatory 2-week quarantine for people coming from Italy includes citizens and people with residency – 3 million CZK fine for non-compliance (€110,000, $120,880)
  • Train and truck drivers, ambulance drivers and pilots exempt
• Visa requests to/from Iran suspended
• 26 confirmed cases, 787 tested (+193)

• The entire country of Italy goes into lockdown
• Czech Republic – anyone in contact with a confirmed COVID patient must self-quarantine for 14 days – fine in place
• 928 tested (+141)

• Visits to hospitals and retirement homes banned with a few exceptions
• Random medical checks at 11 border crossings and airports, drivers given info pamphlets in Czech, German, English, and Italian
• 1193 tested (+265)

• Public events over 100 banned
• People coming to the Czech Republic from a list of countries must self-quarantine for 14 days – fine in place
• All people crossing the border must submit to medical checks
• 61 confirmed cases in the country, 1358 tested (+165)

• WHO declares a global pandemic
• US bans travel from 26 countries in Europe for 30 days
• CZ – Primary and secondary schools, and universities closed
  • Kindergartens and preschools still open
• CZ – First case in critical condition, 91 confirmed cases, 1816 tested (+458)

• State of emergency declared for 30 days as of midnight
• Pubs and restaurants closed from 8 pm-6 am
• Restaurants and shopping centers over 5,000 sq. m closed
• Sports facilities closed
• No gatherings of more than 30 people
• Foreigners from high-risk countries banned from entering, Czechs banned from going
• Income tax deadline (normally March 31) extended to July 1
• Loan payments suspended
• 116 confirmed cases (+25), now in all regions (50 in Prague), 2,353 tested (+537)

• The US declares a national emergency
• Term “social distancing” begins to be used worldwide
• 14-day self-quarantine country list expanded
• Fitness center, sports facilities, libraries, social clubs, entertainment venues, galleries, museums all closed
• Sunday driving ban lifted for trucks
• Willfully spreading COVID-19 is a felony, with up to 10 years in prison for criminal negligence
• 141 confirmed cases (+25), 3,094 tested (+741)

• Restaurants and pubs ordered closed as of 6h, through March 24; walk up and delivery permitted
• Food delivery services begin offering contactless delivery
• CLOSED: Tourist info centers, swimming pools, casinos, marketplaces
• All public events canceled
• Vehicles of all types with capacity for more than 9 people are banned from crossing borders, with a few exceptions
• Hotels may only have foreigners
• Prison and jail visits banned (but attorneys exempted)
• Drive through medical testing centers set up (only with prescription)
• People without a prescription who want testing can pay between 1300-3000 kc (€48-110, $53-121)
• 174 confirmed cases (+33), 4,065 tested (+971)

• Army deputized to help secure borders
• Two hospitals one in Prague and one in Brno, set up as COVID-only
• 293 confirmed cases (+119), 5,068 tested (+1,003)

• The entire country under quarantine until March 24
• No outside home travel except for work, provisions family visits and hospitals
• Borders essentially closed – no non-residents may enter, almost all Czech and residents banned from leaving
• Stand two meters apart outside the home
• All international train, bus and boat traffic suspended
• The entire town of Litovel quarantined, as well as nearby towns of Uničov and Červenka, due to a cluster of 25 new confirmed patients (total in the zone now at 54)
• The entire town of Kynice (pop. 95) quarantined after exposure at the volunteer fireman’s ball.
• Medical workers called up – out of retirement, etc. This includes fifth- and sixth-year medical students, and final year nursing students and paramedics
• The first 3 recoveries reported
• 383 confirmed cases (+90), 6,302 tested (+1,234)

• People must wear face coverings on public transportation
• 450 confirmed cases (+67), 7,664 tested (+1,362)

• Groceries, drugstores, and pharmacies are only for 65+ from 10-12h.
• 560 confirmed cases (+110), 9,402 tested (+1,738)

• Face coverings required at all times when outside your home – 20,000 CZK fine (€732, $805)
• Elderly shopping hours are now from 7 am to 9 am.
• Government lays out plans to cover 80% of worker wages for companies that have to totally shut down
• 765 confirmed cases (+105), 11,619 tested (+2,217)

• Fourth patient recovers
•  889 cases (+124), 13,704 tested (+2,085)

• 1,047 cases (+158), 15,584 tested (+1,880), 6 total now recovered

• First death
• 1,161 cases (+114), 17,377 tested (+1,793)

• Movement bans and other restrictions extended until April 1
• No gatherings of more than 2 people
• Two-meter social distancing limit to be enforced
• Police can issue 10,000 kc fine (€366, $402) on the spot for no mask in public, can be doubled if referred to authorities
• 35% of Czech workers working from home
•  1,287 cases (+116), 19,624 tested (+2,247)

• Healthcare workers banned from taking holiday time
• A central database about COVID cases is set up
• 2 more deaths, making 3 total
• 1,472 cases (+126), 19 critical cases, 22,600 tested (+2,976), tenth recovery

• Homeless people being given masks
• Elderly shopping hours in places 500 sq m or more set at 8 am to 10 am
• 1,763 cases (+291), 26,698 tested (+4,098), three more deaths bring total to 6

• All food shops and stores must supply gloves at the entrance
• Hotels and other accommodation being used as homeless and quarantine shelters
• Czechs who have commuted to Germany or Austria are asked to stay there for 21 days
• 2,022 cases (+259), 34 critical cases, 31,127 tested (+4,429), 9 deaths total

• 2,395 cases (+373), 34 critical, 36,374 tested (+5,247), 11 recoveries, 11 deaths

• 2,657 cases (+262), 45 critical, 40,700 tested (+4,326), 11 recoveries, 13 deaths

• 2,817 cases (+160), 43,498 tested, 25 recoveries, 16 deaths

• Current measures extended to April 11
• 3,001 (+184), 52 critical, 48,811 tested (+5,313), 25 recoveries, 24 deaths

• 3,308 cases (+307), 70 critical, 55,017 tested (+6,206), 45 recoveries, 32 deaths

APRIL 2020

• The government proposes extending current measures to May 11. Parliament must now vote on it.
• 3,508 cases (+200), 70 critical, 60,990 tested (+5,973) 61 recoveries, 39 deaths

• 3,858 cases (+350), 67,281 tested (+6,291), 71 recoveries, 46 deaths

• 4,190 cases (+332), 74,170 tested (6,889), 74 recoveries, 56 deaths

• 4,472 cases (+282), 86 critical, 80,304 tested (+6,134), 78 recoveries, 62 deaths

• 4,587 cases (+115), 84 critical, 85,014 tested (+4,710), 96 recoveries, 72 deaths

• 4,822 cases (+235), 86 critical, 91,247 tested (+6,233), 127 recoveries, 80 deaths (1.66% of total cases)

• Some businesses may reopen: scrap yards, ironmongers, construction material shops, hobby markets, and bicycle shops
• All shops must have hand disinfectant available and supermarkets must still provide gloves at entrances
• Outdoor sports fields may reopen, but not their facilities (like showers and locker rooms)
• People may run or cycle alone without a mask
• Two-meter distancing rule still in effect in all public areas, as are masks
• All other shops, restaurants, etc. remain closed
• Chamber of Deputies extends state of emergency through April 30

• World total cases – 1,356,380
• World active cases – 990,046 cases, 47,540 critical (5%);
• World closed cases – 290,572 recovered, 75,762 deaths (5.59% of total cases)

Data and information for the Czech Republic

• Ministry of Health dedicated COVID-19 information page
• Ministry of Health statistical overview

Data information worldwide

• Coronavirus statistics  by country at Worldometeres.info
• World Health Organization pandemic information and statistics
• Live Map spread of the coronavirus by Radio Free Europe