Czech Republic coronavirus updates, June 5: travel restrictions to Austria, Hungary and Germany removed

Austria removed its travel restrictions from the Czech Republic earlier this week, and Hungary has announced that restriction-free travel with the Czech Republic would be valid from 8:00 this morning.

Germany, however, still has restrictions in place that require a valid reason for entering the country and a negative COVID-19 test. Negotiations between the two countries will continue, but Germany has stated that it want to coordinate the re-opening of borders with all neighbors at the same time.

From noon today, however, German tourists and returning Czechs can freely enter the Czech Republic, Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček stated at a press conference. Restrictions only apply when crossing the border the other way, from the Czech Republic into Germany, and are only enforced at random vehicle stops in Germany.

The Czech Republic is among 31 European countries from which Germany is likely to allow restriction-free travel from June 15, but it’s possible the country will make an earlier counter-move following the removal of border restrictions by Austria and the Czech Republic this week.

Restrictions on travel between the Czech Republic and Poland are still in place, and negotiations between the countries is expected to take longer.

Two additional COVID-19-related deaths were reported on Tuesday, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the Czech Republic to 326.

There were six additional recoveries reported on Thursday so far, bringing the total to 6,809.

The Czech Republic has reported 9,494 coronavirus cases since the beginning of the outbreak in mid-March, but only 2,359 are currently active following the total number of deaths and recoveries.

At a press conference this morning, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš stated that no more blanket restrictions would be put in place for an additional wave of coronavirus.

“We should not be scared,” he stated.

“We are ready for the second wave. We have great technology, the smart quarantine works. We learned from the first wave and we are ready.”