One in ten Czechs over the age of 80 have not been vaccinated

About 48,500 Czechs over the age of 80 have not been vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the vaccination data from January 13 shared by the Czech Statistical Office. Around ninety percent of Czechs over this age have received at least an initial vaccine dose, and nearly seventy percent have also received a booster dose.

General registration for Covid vaccination for seniors over the age of 80 opened exactly one year ago, on January 15, 2021. Before this date, vaccines were administered to seniors in hospitals and social care homes. A total of 91.9 percent of them, or about 411,000 people, have received at least one vaccine dose or have registered for vaccination. The booster dose, available to seniors over the age of 80 since September, has been given to about 309,500 of them, or 69.2 percent.

Covid work quarantine will only apply to healthcare professionals and social care workers, and their conditions will be specified by regional pubic health offices, Health Minister Vlastimil Válek told a press conference last night. Work quarantine is an emergency tool to secure treatment of patients, for instance, Válek stressed. People falling in the work quarantine group may continue going to their work despite having tested positive with an antigen test kit. If health officers allow somebody to go to work with a positive antigen test, there must be a zero risk of the person infecting somebody else. The person must not have Covid symptoms or other health troubles, Válek said. If an employee tests positive with a PCR test, mandatory isolation follows.

From Monday, companies will report employees’ positive Covid self-tests via the self-testing page on the website of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS). Deputy Health Minister Josef Pavlovice said firms can immediately apply for compensation for the sick leave of the employee. Log-in details will be via the company data box. The ministry will publish detailed information as soon as it is finalized. Once the online forms are filled, all the relevant bodies are notified. The employer pays the first few days of sick leave, and can then apply for funds from Covid support programs. People who are not incapacitated can continue to work in quarantine from home.

Employers have two days to report the test positive results. Employees will receive an SMS message in case of the need for a five-day quarantine. After five days, if there are no symptoms the employee can return to work. If there are symptoms, the employee should see a doctor.

The list of professions that will be subject to work quarantine should be approved today by the new government of Petr Fiala (ODS). The cabinet will also discuss the form of testing in schools from next week. The cabinet was originally scheduled to decide on Wednesday, but that was postponed as the confidence vote took far longer than anticipated.

Work quarantine is intended to maintain the functioning of the state if the Omicron variant spreads widely among critical infrastructure employees. It could cover healthcare, transport, energy, water management, or funeral services. People from these professions who show a positive antigen test at work could continue to work in an isolated environment. If the infection was confirmed by a PCR test, they would stop working. Starting Jan.17, school testing should take place once a week with an antigen test. In case of a positive result, a PCR test will follow. So far, children have been tested in schools twice a week.  

Covid testing at schools on Thursday, Jan. 6, had similar results to Monday, Jan. 3, with PCR tests confirming the infection in 1,187 students and 190 school employees on Thursday, while on Monday, it was found in 1,236 students and 177 employees, the Health Ministry said. The proportion of positive results confirmed by PCR tests increased from 0.1 percent to 0.3 percent of those tested. A detailed analysis has shown that there was an increased number of infected at secondary and vocational schools. Antigen testing this Monday suggested a rising trend in the pandemic. A total of 4,986 students and 499 teachers had positive antigen tests. The results of the verifying PCR tests are not ready.

Testing on Jan. 6 found 96.5 cases of infection per 100,000 people among students of secondary and vocational schools and 108.9 in the staff. On Jan. 3, there were 97.4 cases per 100,000 among students of secondary and vocational schools and 96.2 cases per 100,000 people among the staff. The tests detected most infections in Prague and the Central Bohemia Region, in which there is the highest share of the more contagious Omicron strand in the population.

Nobody can avoid the Omicron variant and everyone will get it, Evžen Bouřa, a virologist from the Czech Academy of Sciences (AS ČR), told the Czech News Agency (ČTK). It is possible that Omicron will return in the fall because the immunity that people now gain will last less than a year, he said. Vaccination will remain the main weapon against Covid, and pharmaceutical companies are already developing a vaccine targeting Omicron, which should be more effective than today's vaccines, Bouřa added.

About 4 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 11 have been vaccinated against Covid. A children’s version of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine arrived in the Czech Republic a month ago. Since then, medics have vaccinated about 33,500, with about a third in Prague. About 6,400 children already have a second dose. Experts point out that even for children, Covid may not always be a mild disease. Epidemiologist Roman Prymula said that more serious cases of the disease have recently appeared in children. Data shows that over 400,000 children under the age of 14 have become infected in the Czech Republic.  

Health Information and Statistics Institute (ÚZIS) director Ladislav Dušek said he expects the infection numbers to further rise due to Omicron. "There is a very significant growth of the case load in the young population, something that every such epidemic wave starts," Dušek told Czech Radio, adding that the number of infections has recently been rising mainly among people between the ages of 16 and 29.

Scientist Karel Berka from the Faculty of Science at Palacký University in Olomouc created 3D models of proteins of the Delta and Omicron variants, the school stated in a press release. These will help scientists to better understand their different characteristics and behaviors. The differences in spike protein mutations can be observed in the models. The spikes play a key role in how the virus functions. The models are one of the results of the work of a group of Czech scientists who have been continuously sequencing individual variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the Czech population since last spring, the university said.

The Czech Republic, with an incidence rate of 525 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in seven days, remains the sixth least affected EU country, just like last week. The worst situation is in Ireland, where they have an incidence of 3,059. They were second a week ago at 2,814. France is now second with an incidence rate of 3,056. It was fifth a week ago at 2141. Cyprus is currently third, with a rate of 2,926. It was first a week ago at 3,390.

As part of anti-Covid measures in Prague's public transport, passengers will not be able to enter buses and older model trams through the front door as of Jan. 17. It will also not be possible to sit in the first seats behind the driver. Doors will open automatically so people won’t have to push buttons. People can enter by all the doors only on the latest tram models, where the driver's cab is completely separate. On suburban bus routes, passengers will not be able to use the seats immediately around the driver. They are also urged to buy tickets with a cashless method such as the PID Lítačka app. The Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) adjusted the internal organization at dispatch centers and driver rotation points, and is ready to increase overtime or use contracted drivers.

ROPID, the regional organizer of public transit for Prague and part of Central Bohemia, is preparing for an increased loss of service due to the Omicron variant. From today, ROPID will start informing the public about “endangered” or less important lines that do not have to run during the pandemic. Information on public transport is published daily on the Prague Integrated Transit (PID) website and social networks as well as on the PID Lítačka application. PID has a priority of keeping school routes operating and maintaining connections at peak times.

Pupils and school staff in primary and secondary schools will see another round of coronavirus testing today. It is the last round in the current regime that was set for the first two weeks of the new year. It called for testing twice a week From Jan. 17, testing will only take place once a week on Mondays. Currently, everyone is tested in schools, even if they have been vaccinated or have undergone Covid-19 in the last six months.

Only two Covid-19 vaccine doses will no longer be enough for people to access some facilities and events in Slovakia, the Slovak government announced. New rules will take effect on Jan. 19. Entry will be allowed after the application of the booster dose or to the vaccinated without the third dose, but with a negative coronavirus test or recovery. Exemptions from restrictions after illness will be cut to 90 days. The tougher conditions of entry, which now cover the guests of accommodation facilities, will newly also cover the clients of wellness and fitness centers, water parks, discos, parties, balls, and celebrations. Slovakia will enforce them for four weeks after the Omicron wave starts to subside.

Monitoring school wastewater for coronavirus could replace antigen testing for pupils when the epidemic subsides in the Czech Republic, according to the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (VŠCHT), the Prague 9 district, and sewerage company Pražské vodovody a kanalizace (PVK). Preliminary results of a pilot project showed the method was sufficient sensitivity. Since last September, sewage has been sampled from five primary schools in Prague 9 and one primary and one nursery school in Prague-Lysolajy. Experts tested the samples twice a week.

The Waldorf primary and secondary school in Semily (Waldorfská základní a střední škola Semily) will pay a fine of CZK 100,000 for last year's violation of Covid regulations and another CZK 1,000 for costs of proceedings. The fine was assessed by the Regional Hygiene Station in Liberec. According to the municipal council's decision, the school will recover the money from dismissed school director Ivan Semecký, who last April violated government regulations by allowing untested children access to the school and not requiring the wearing of face coverings in the classrooms.

The Constitutional Court rejected a constitutional complaint lodged by a private farmer from Southern Bohemia who complained about the government ban on movement between districts last March in order to prevent the spread of Covid. He had previously failed at the Municipal Court in Prague and then the Supreme Administrative Court. The Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the Supreme Administrative Court, which stated that the ban was not an interference with constitutional rights. The ban on movement between districts was valid from March 1 to 21.

The government today should approve the list of professions to be included in work quarantine. People in critical professions who test positive for Covid using an antigen test would still work under strict conditions. If the infection is confirmed by a PCR test, they would stop working. Work quarantine is expected to cover the health care, transport, energy, water management, and funeral service sectors. The policy is intended to keep critical sectors functioning when the Omicron variant becomes as widespread as expected. The cabinet should also address other anti-Covid measures, such as school testing after Jan. 17.  

Over half a million people have received a booster dose of Covid vaccine since the beginning of this year. In total, 3,003,191 booster shots have been administered since September, or about 27 percent of the population. The Czech Republic ranks 18th out of 27 countries for booster shots administered. The Smart Quarantine project tweeted that revaccination increases protection against infection by more than 80 percent and against a severe course of Covid by almost 100 percent. According to daily infection data, people with a booster dose account for 5.6 percent of those infected and 6.4 percent of those hospitalized so far in January.

The World Health Organization (WHO) expects that over half of the European population will be infected with the Omicron variant within the next six-to-eight weeks. In the first week of 2022, over 7 million people in Europe became newly infected. The number of new infections has more than doubled in two weeks. "Today the Omicron variant represents a new west-to-east tidal wave, sweeping across the region on top of the Delta surge that all countries were managing until late 2021," Hans Kluge, the head of the European section of the WHO, said at a press conference.

School employees will be tested for Covid at different frequencies starting Jan. 17. In primary and secondary schools, staff will be tested once a week, but in kindergartens, staff should take tests twice a week, the Education Ministry announced today. Clarifications on the new policy should be sent out to schools this week.

The entire population will become infected with the coronavirus due to the Omicron variant and this cannot be prevented in any way, according to Omar Šerý, director of Elisabeth Pharmacon laboratory in Brno which carries out tests for Covid-19.

Šerý said shortening the isolation period to five as opposed to 14 days is a mistake. On Sunday, 9 percent of the samples tested for coronavirus in Šerý’s laboratory were positive and 74 percent of them were Omicron variants. "It can be expected that it will be nearly 100 percent next week. Omicron will prevail as it happened with the previous variants," Šerý said.

Šerý said it is gradually being confirmed that getting infected with the Delta variant does not protect a person against Omicron, but people who had Omicron are protected against Delta and other variants. He said previously that vaccination does not influence the spread of the Omicron variant and so Covid passports and bans on entry for the unvaccinated seem pointless now.

As of today, the Health Ministry's new guidelines shortening the quarantine and isolation period take effect. The isolation period for those who have become infected with coronavirus, as well as the quarantine of their close contacts, is now reduced to five calendar days for those with no Covid symptoms. Up until now, isolation lasted 14 days and quarantine could be terminated by a negative PCR test after seven days if there were no symptoms. People with Covid symptoms will end isolation two days after symptoms clear up. Currently, people who are vaccinated or had the illness in the last 180 days do not have to quarantine after a risk contact. This changes from Jan. 17.

After the five-day isolation or quarantine, the ministry is urging people to wear a respirator for five days even in places where measures don't require it. The Health Ministry is also asking people to pay more attention to their health condition and take a PCR test if symptoms occur within 14 days.

Schools will conduct antigen testing of students and employees once a week as of Jan. 17, Health Minister Vlastimil Válek said. A PCR test will follow for those who get a positive antigen result. Quarantine and isolation will last five days. Currently, schools test their students twice a week. Testing will be held on Mondays. Due to the exam period, the weekly testing will not apply to university students. PCR analysis confirmed Covid in about one-third of positive antigen tests from school testing on Monday.

The Omicron variant makes up over 50 percent of confirmed Covid cases and the data from laboratories show its presence in up to 79 percent of analyses samples, the Czech National Health Institute (SZÚ) wrote in a press release. In the past week, the Delta variant was found in 61 percent of samples and 40 percent were suspected of Omicron. Its presence in more than 50 percent of cases occurred for the first time on Saturday, Jan. 8.

Test maker Diana Biotechnologies, which last week already claimed Omicron was over 50 percent, tweeted that its cooperating laboratories now see even more than 80 percent of positive results containing the Omicron variant.  

The unvaccinated are significantly predominating among those hospitalized in the last 14 days. "Even with the massive predominance of Omicron, which is spreading faster than previous variants, I reiterate the importance of vaccination and booster doses of Covid-19. Adherence to hygiene is also important. Respirators, spacing, and consistent hand hygiene are very important elements in combating the spread," State Institute of Public Health director Barbora Macková said.  

Some 16,012,615 Covid vaccine doses have been applied in the Czech Republic since the start of the vaccination. Over 19,062 people got jabbed on Sunday, about 3,800 more than a week ago. There were 16,437 were booster doses.

Out of the Czech population of 10.7 million, some 6.7 million people or 63 percent have completed vaccination completed and over 2.8 million have received the booster jab that markedly lowers the risk of hospitalization and a severe or fatal course of the disease. Covid vaccine is available for all people aged over 5. The EU average for full vaccination is 68.6 percent. Vaccination began in the Czech Republic on Dec. 27, 2020. Then-Prime Minister Andrej Babiš was among the first to receive a dose.

The Central Crisis Staff is set to discuss a list of professions today that will be allowed to continue their work even if they test positive for Covid-19. This would allow roles that are critical for sustaining the country's infrastructure to continue operating should the Omicron variant become widespread among employees. From Jan. 17, all employees will be required to take an antigen test twice a week. Positive cases will need to quarantine for five days.

People from selected professions, to be proposed by Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, would be able to continue to work after a positive antigen test. Besides critical infrastructure workers, the measure could also apply to crucial suppliers such as laundries working for hospitals and drivers distributing foods from producers. Social and health workers could also be included.

Finland, Latvia, and the Azores will be elevated to very-high-risk dark red on the Czech Republic's latest Covid-19 travel map, the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The new map takes effect from today. Also in the new map, Poland and Germany move from very-high-risk dark red to high-risk red. Romania, currently listed as low-risk green, will be elevated to medium-risk orange. Conditions on traveling from these countries to the Czech Republic remain unchanged for Czech residents. Read more in our full story.

Staff at the Prague Congress Center vaccination center dressed up on Saturday to make getting a Covid shot more pleasant for children. Snow White, Superman, Cinderella, and the Minions were among the costumes. The idea was to help the children relax before the shot, as they are often afraid of needles. The Czech Republic started giving jabs to children aged 5-11 in mid-December. So far just over 30,562 shots had been administered to this group as of Sunday.

Sales of antigen self-testing kits for coronavirus increased last week, especially in online stores. Stocks should be sufficient. Some retail chains are also seeing more interest. The increase in sales is due to testing at work becoming mandatory twice a week as of Jan. 17 for all employees, sole traders, or company executives, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. Mall.cz told ČTK that in three days they sold as many tests as in the previous three weeks.