Czech Republic to require face masks in many indoor areas from September

The Czech Republic will require face masks on all public transport and in many indoor areas from September following a resurgence of COVID-19 in the country, the country’s Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Monday.

In March, the Czech Republic was one of the first European countries to adopt wearing face masks as a preventative measure against the coronavirus but gradually phased out their usage.

The new rule, which starts on the same day when the schools open, will require people to wear masks in shops, common areas of schools and in public buildings, but not in restaurants, bars and workplaces.

“We consider this to be a preventative measure given that we are probably facing a complicated autumn, especially after Sept. 1 when there will be high social interaction,” the minister said.

Along with the face mask mandate, the mandatory 14-day quarantine after coming into contact with an infected person will be cut down to 10 days.

The Central European country has reported 20,012 cases of COVID-19 as of Monday evening, with a record 5,816 active cases.

However, officials have cautioned against defining the resurgence of the virus in recent weeks as a “second wave,” given that the amount of hospitalizations has not jumped.

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Source: Xinhua