Czech Republic coronavirus updates, September 17: new daily record hit with more than 2,000 cases

The daily rise in reported COVID-19 cases in the Czech Republic hit 2,000 for the first time yesterday, and the total number of cases since the start of the outbreak has surpassed 40,000, according to the latest data posted by the Czech Health Ministry this morning.

The number of new cases continues to soar in the Czech Republic as officials scramble to introduce further measures to halt the rapid spread, especially in Prague. The number of new cases has exceeded 1,000 for eight out of the past nine days; at the previous height of the epidemic in March and April, the daily rise in new cases never hit 400.

The move would apply to clubs and bars, which will not be allowed to admit more people than they have seating for. A number of infection clusters in Prague have been traced back to nightlife gatherings. Indoor events with people in seats, such as cinema screenings, will still be able to take place.

The Health Ministry will hold a press conference this afternoon, where further measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 may be announced.

This morning, Prague officials are meeting to discuss measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 in schools, a number of which have closed due to reports of infection. Possible measures include a requirement to wear face masks within classrooms and during classes, which could be implemented long-term according to Michal Černý, chairman of the Association of Primary School Principals.

As the Czech Republic enacts further measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, other EU states are also responding to the local rise in cases.

Since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in the Czech Republic in March, there have now been 41,032 reported cases. A total of 22,931 of those have recovered and there have been 482 COVID-19-related deaths, leaving a record-high 17,619 active cases in the country.

Currently, there are 388 people with COVID-19 being treated in Czech hospitals, with 81 of those considered to be in serious condition. Those numbers have more than tripled over the past month.

The number of COVID-19-related deaths has also been quickly rising in recent days, with five deaths reported on Monday, eight on Tuesday, and four yesterday.

Like many other countries, the Czech Republic considers anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and later died as a COVID-19-related death, regardless if there was another primary cause of death.

Prague continues to be the current epicenter of COVID-19 in the Czech Republic, with about 155 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents reported over the past 14 days. Numbers are quickly rising across the rest of the country, as well.

Kroměříž (150), Prague-East (136), Beroun (133), Plzeň-South (128), Prague-West (125), Benešov (125), Uherské Hradiště (125), Cheb (124), Tábor (114), Plzeň (109), Jičín (103), Kladno (102), and Svitavy (101) have all reported more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks.

According to health officials, most of the new reported cases of COVID-19 are uncovered in younger age demographics, and the infected people display few or no symptoms.