Respirators may also become mandatory in the workplace, says Czech hygienist

The Czech Health Ministry is considering making the use of respirators, nano masks, or double surgical masks mandatory at workplaces, Czech chief public health officer Jarmila Rážová has told CTK.

The requirement to wear these masks, as opposed to other forms of face coverings, will be issued for shops, public transport vehicles, and hospitals from Tuesday due to surging COVID-19 rates in the Czech Republic.

"It will certainly be a recommendation, but I think it will more likely be a requirement," Rážová said.

She dismissed speculations that the measure may differ in the western half of the Czech Republic, which has seen a steeper rise in new COVID-19 infections of late.

The measure would serve as prevention in the eastern part of the Czech Republic and a brake in the western part of the country, Rážová said.

The demand for more anti-virus measures to be taken in companies has been raised, among others, by the opposition Pirate party.

Pirate spokeswoman Karolína Sadílková said the Pirates are negotiating with the cabinet about a mandatory respirator use in workplaces, and COVID-19 testing requirements for companies.

On Friday, Health Minister Jan Blatný said that from Monday he will issue a requirement to wear either a respirator, nano mask, or two surgical masks at places with high concentration of people such as shops, public transport vehicles, and hospitals.

Czech residents are currently required to have their mouth and nose covered at all indoor locations except their home or accommodation facility, in public transport vehicles, and also outdoors if social distancing measures cannot be followed.