Prague City Hall to launch proceedings over Health Minister's meeting in a Vyšehrad restaurant

Prague, Oct 23 (CTK) - Prague City Hall will launch administrative proceedings over a breach of the government's anti-COVID-19 restrictions by a restaurant where Health Minister Roman Prymula met with ANO MP Jaroslav Faltynek despite a ban on the operation of restaurants.

Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib announced the investigation via social media.

Photos released by tabloid Blesk show Prymula, ANO Deputy Chairman Faltýnek, and also other people visiting Rio's Restaurant in Prague-Vyšehrad late on Wednesday, although restaurants have been closed across the country from last week under anti-COVID-19 measures announced by Prymula.

Prymula's resignation over the affair has been demanded by the opposition as well as Jan Hamáček, a deputy PM and Social Democrat (CSSD) leader.

Hřib said Prague City Hall will launch administrative proceedings against both the restaurant and individual people.

"Although some evidently believe that some people are 'more equal', the rules still apply equally to all," Hřib wrote.

Prague police tweeted that it is City Hall and the Prague public health authority under whose jurisdiction the affair falls.

Rio's Restaurant writes on its website that it remains closed in accordance with the government directive, and offers take-away meals only.

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases has been steeply rising in the Czech Republic in the past weeks, exceeding 14,000 on Thursday for the second time in a row.

There are currently 4,777 COVID patients in Czech hospitals, 735 of whom are in serious condition. The COVID-19-related death toll stands at 1,845, including 113 deaths on Wednesday, the highest daily number so far.