Czech Republic coronavirus updates, September 7: 411 new cases, second-highest weekend total

There were 411 new COVID-19 cases reported in the Czech Republic yesterday, according to data published by the Czech Health Ministry this morning.

That’s the second-highest number of cases on a weekend so far since the pandemic started. Far fewer tests are performed on weekends usually, though numbers for Sunday have not yet been released.

The number comes after a week of record-breaking new coronavirus infections across the country. On Monday, there were 256 cases; on Tuesday, 499; on Wednesday, 646; on Thursday, 677; on Friday, 797; on Saturday, 508. Friday’s high of 797 was the most new daily COVID-19 cases yet.

The daily number of tests being conducted is also reaching new highs this week; more than 11,000 COVID-19 tests were performed on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic in March, there have been nearly 28,156 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Czech Republic, with 19,053 recoveries and 436 COVID-19-related deaths. Currently, there are 8,667 known active COVID-19 cases in the country, which is also a record high.

The number of hospitalized patients has also increased in the past few weeks. Currently 204 people are hospitalized with 52 in severe condition. In most patients, the disease is mild and asymptomatic.

Several localities in the Czech Republic have now reported more than 50 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, including Hodonín (78 new cases per 100,000 residents), Prague (72 cases), Prague-east (51 new cases), Třebíč (62 new cases), Pelhřimov (98 new cases), Beroun (60 new cases), Příbram (53 new cases), Tabor (64 new cases), and Svitavy (70 new cases). The disease is spreading fastest in the Pelhřimov region, where the infection has spread to many at the Humpolec Home for the Elderly.

“We are very sorry, but we will not open it today. Today we have confirmed a case of a man who has a positive test for COVID and took part in a party at our club last week, probably on Friday or Saturday. Although it is necessary to disinfect the hands at the entrance and measure the temperature of all visitors, we did not defend ourselves and we prefer to close, so that we can at least minimize the possible spread,” the club announced on Facebook.

Masks will not have to be worn on Prague sports grounds, such as swimming pools or sports halls.

Other countries may place Czech Republic on their list of red countries as well. The United Kingdom and Ireland currently require a mandatory two-week quarantine for travelers coming from the Czech Republic, for example.