Thousands of people protest against tightened lockdown measures in Ostrava

Protesters said the government and its bodies had proceeded in a confusing and chaotic way, only informing the public about its measures after the fact.

The organizers said on the Facebook the government was unable to manage the state and its regions and should resign.

Now residents of the entire region must wear face masks in public transport and inside spaces. Public events can only be attended by a maximum of 100 people. Bars and restaurants must close at night.

The measures have impacted the organisers of events who were forced to cancel them immediately.

The protesters say the authorities underestimated the situation in the Karvina local coronavirus clusters, and have failed to communicate with the public, and that as a result chaos has occurred in the region.

“When dealing with such complicated questions, there is a need for a coordinated action of the whole government. This is why we are asking the government of the Czech Republic to step down immediately as it has proved absolutely incompetent to manage the state in emergency situations,” organizers added.

The new restrictions will drastically affect the situation in the region, which has already suffered a great deal, the protestors argue.

Health Minister Adam Vojtech (ANO) said the calls for his resignation were not adequate.

He told journalists after a government meeting that it was his role to fight the COVID-19 epidemic.

The measures adopted for the Moravia-Silesia Region were necessary, but there was a mistake in the communication on the part of the KHS and its director Pavla Svrcinova, Vojtech said.

“I cannot see any reason for my resignation. As the health minister, I have the job of fighting the COVID-19 epidemic,” Vojtech said.

Vojtech said he and public health officials have the responsibility to adopt the measures to prevent the spread of the infection.

“I cannot imagine our not doing anything. In such a case, there would be public events attended by thousands, new clusters, new hospitalised,” he added.

After Monday’s meeting of the Moravia-Silesia Region security council, the representatives of public health offices, the regional and state authorities said the measures of Moravia-Silesia regional health officials would be newly introduced with a delay and their efficiency would be continually checked.

In the neighbouring Frydek-Mistek district, the number is 39 infected per 100,000 population.