Czech Republic coronavirus updates, October 23: 14,151 new cases, daily death toll hits new record

The Czech Republic reported more than 14,000 new COVID-19 cases for the second straight day, according to the latest data published by the Czech Health Ministry this morning.

A total of 14,151 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Thursday, following a record high of 14,968 on Wednesday. Wednesday also reported a record-high number of tests, at more than 44,000; the number of tests reported on Thursday will be updated later today.

Over the past week, around 30% of the tests performed have come back positive for COVID-19.

The number of daily COVID-19-related deaths also hit a new record, with 113 deaths now attributed to Wednesday and 55 so far on Thursday. Because of delays in reporting deaths, the rise in the number of COVID-19-related deaths reported each day is typically spread out over the past few days. A total of 335 deaths have been reported so far this week.

The Czech statistics consider anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 who later passes away as a COVID-19-related death, regardless of other contributing or primary factors. Still, in an open letter that went viral earlier this month, local doctors urged the public that despite having other factors, many of these patients had decades of life ahead of them if weren't for COVID-19.

"In our departments, we are fighting for the lives of people who, without coronavirus infections, would have another 10-20 years of quality life ahead of them," read the letter, co-authored by department heads and chief physicians of infectious disease wards at major Czech hospitals.

"They are in their fifties, sixties, active seventies, who are only overweight, or have high blood pressure or mild diabetes."

There are now 4,777 COVID-19 patients in Czech hospitals, with 735 in serious condition. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Health Minister Roman Prymula stated that the country's hospitals were currently at 80% capacity.

Currently, there are 133,995 known active COVID-19 cases in the Czech Republic. The total number of cases reported since March is now 223,065.

The Czech Republic made the front page of CNN yesterday, with an article about the recent surge in cases and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš apologizing to members of the public. 

New lockdown measures have been in effect since yesterday, with most shops and services in the Czech Republic closed through November 3. Restaurants, pubs, clubs, gyms, and other venues have been closed through that date under earlier measures.

Drinking alcohol is banned in public spaces, and masks are required in most locations, including outdoors if with non-family members.

Incredibly, despite the surge in cases and drastic new restrictions, Czech Health Minister Roman Prymula was photographed last night by the tabloid Blesk without a mask, apparently patronizing a local restaurant after 10:00 p.m.

Prymula and the Czech government have yet to provide an explanation for the photos captured by Blesk. But whatever the story, Prymula is clearly maskless outside of the restaurant, less than two meters from another person, in direct violation of the new measures he himself announced earlier this week.