Czech COVID-19 cases surpass 19,000

The Czech Republic passed another grim milestone in the coronavirus pandemic as confirmed cases of COVID-19 have surpassed 19,000. On Wednesday, 290 positive tests were added, today another 215 to a total of 19,286. Since mid-July, the number of people currently suffering from COVID-19 has been steadily growing. There are now 5323, the most since the beginning of the epidemic. About 70 percent of those infected recovered, and 391 people died of COVID-19, according to the Czech Ministry of Health.

The daily increase in confirmed cases has already doubled on Tuesday compared to Monday. On Monday, the laboratories registered 140 new cases on Tuesday 287. Last week, the increase ranged from Monday’s 209 to Friday’s 323 positive tests, which was the third-highest increase since the beginning of the Czech Republic epidemic. On Saturday and Sunday, the increase in those infected fell below 200.

Frýdek-Místek remains the hardest-hit region, but the number of recorded cases of COVID-19 in the last seven days per 100,000 inhabitants is declining. While according to Monday’s data, it was 82 people, according to the latest data from the ministry, it is about 59 infected. It is followed by the Klatovy region with about 49 cases and Prague with 33 cases. The districts of Prague-East, Příbram, Písek, and Havlíčkův Brod also have more than 20 infected in the past week per 100,000 inhabitants. In the last seven days, there have been no new cases in Sokolov, Tachov, Jeseník, and Bruntál.

According to the latest data, 131 patients were treated in hospitals on Monday, the most since mid-May. Doctors assess the condition of 24 hospitalized as severe. The highest hospitalization rate was in the first half of April. The peak was 437, hospitalized on 9 April. In the second half of April, the number of patients began to decline significantly. From the beginning of June, they range from about 70 to 130.

Some Czech hospitals are already registering an increased interest in coronavirus testing by people traveling to Greece. Due to the increase in the number of coronavirus infections, Greece introduced mandatory tests not older than 72 hours for citizens of the Czech Republic, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands. The measure was to apply beginning on 17 August. According to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, however, his Greek counterpart will declare today that the Czechs will not need the tests.