Number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Czech Republic crosses 3,000, but rate of positive tests drops

Prague, March 31 (CTK) – The number of the confirmed coronavirus infection cases in the Czech Republic has reached 3,002 this morning, rose by 184 on Monday and another one today, while 24 COVID-19 patients have died and 25 recovered so far, according to the data from the Health Ministry’s website.

The prognosis of the Czech Institute of Health Information and Statistics (UZIS) saying a week ago that some 3,000 coronavirus cases should be in the country by the end of March has been roughly fulfilled.

Another patient with COVID-19 died in the country today, the number of fatalities totalling 24.

An elderly woman, born 1946 and infected with COVID-19, died in the St Anne Hospital in Brno this morning, its spokeswoman Dana Lipovska said in a press release today.

On Monday, 5,313 coronavirus tests were conducted in Czech Republic, which is the so far highest daily figure. The total number of tests has reached 48,811 so far, including the repeated ones in one person.

On Monday, 29,177 people were in hospital with COVID-19 and about one-fifth of them, 64, are in a serious condition, the Health Ministry said on its website.

Almost a quarter of the hospitalised recovered or were released to home quarantine.

The daily rise in the new coronavirus cases was 160 on Sunday, 262 on Saturday and 373 on Friday, the so far highest figure. But the number of tests was dropping over the weekend.

The number of the COVID-19 fatalities rose by seven on Monday, five deaths were reported on Sunday and two on Saturday.

Health Minister Adam Vojtech (for ANO) has said all the COVID-19 patients who died also suffered from other serious diseases or were of high age.

The highest number of the confirmed coronavirus cases is in Prague, more than a quarter and some 60 per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by the Olomouc and Karlovy Vary regions. The lowest incidence is in South Moravia and South Bohemia regions. There are under 15 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the latter.

The first cases of the novel coronavirus appeared in the Czech Republic on March 1.

The government will debate the measures to soften the impact of the novel coronavirus spread again this afternoon. On Monday, it prolonged the restricted free movement of people across the country over the coronavirus pandemic until April 11 and restaurants and most retail shops will remain closed until then.