Czech Republic coronavirus updates, July 22: 212 new cases, over 5,000 infected with COVID-19

For the first time ever, more than 5,000 people are currently infected with coronavirus in Czech Republic, according to the latest data released by the Czech Health Ministry this morning.

There were 212 newly confirmed positive cases on Tuesday, health officials reported, and officials performed 5,785 tests. More than 8,900 people have recovered from the virus so far, and 360 people have died. In most patients, the virus is mild. However, 148 people are now hospitalized with the virus, 11 more than on Monday, and 20 are in serious condition.

Starting on Friday, people living in the area will have to wear face masks when visiting all health care facilities, shopping at a pharmacy, visiting selected social services facilities and, for example, when working in field social services.

There are several other regions with clusters of coronavirus cases, including the Mělník region north of Prague, Vlčnov in the Uherské Hradiště region, the Kutna Hora region in central Bohemia, and Jihlava in the Vysocina Region.

In Kutna Hora, local health experts have proposed removing emergency hygiene measures as the situation in the region improves and the number of people who have recovered continues to rise. People living in the area do not need to wear face masks indoors anymore, officials said, but they cannot visit hospitals or elderly homes.

The Czech Foreign Ministry is negotiating on the presentation of a negative coronavirus test through the application CovidPass with other European countries, Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek (Social Democrats, CSSD) said. It could help facilitate traveling abroad.

The government commissioner for health research, Roman Prymula, said the application could also be used for entry to mass events if the limitations for their holding are still valid. Petricek said in the future, the duty to present a negative coronavirus test would not disappear in some countries. The application might facilitate this since it would prov electronically that a negative PCR test on COVID-19 had been made in a trustworthy laboratory, he added. Besides, the people would no longer have to carry with them a special paper certificate.