Author: Jitka Zinke, ÚVN spokesperson, army.cz|Caption: Central Military Hospital's "first contact" point
Czech Republic is in quarantine. The Government proclaimed it with effect from midnight from Sunday to Monday and until 24th March, 6 a.m. Quarantine means ban on free movement throughout the Czech Republic, with the exception of going to work or conducting business, and several other exceptions. Currently there are 298 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Czech Republic. The Ministry of Defence is taking emergency measures and the Army of the Czech Republic is assisting in preventive and protective procedures.
On 10th March 2020, the Ministry of Defence decided on emergency measures for the threats and spread of COVID-19, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The measures apply to all members of the MoD who have returned from areas with a high incidence of disease by 10th March, and to all members of the MoD who have returned from abroad from 10th March. Along with restrictions on sports, training and training areas, it also banned the personal presence of students of military high schools and universities from 11th March.
In accordance with the national regulations, all meetings, exhibitions, festivals, social, sport and cultural events of the Czech Army and Ministry of Defence or similar events held in public or within the MoD are canceled.
The extraordinary measures taken shall remain valid until further notice. Based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and the Chief Hygienist, the Czech Armed Forces also canceled their business trips abroad to designated risk areas for preventive reasons. Likewise, the participation of Czech soldiers in March international exercises is canceled. Exercise of the Czech Army units in the Czech Republic continues without restrictions.
The Central Military Hospital in Prague's Střešovice district opened a “first contact” point on Friday 13th March at 11 a.m. as part of measures to combat the COVID-19 epidemic. It did so on the basis of a decision of the Government of the Czech Republic which included the Central Military Hospital as one of the COVID-19 test centers in Prague.
The Central Military Hospital has a total of two check points. For safety reasons, the “first contact” sampling site is located in a tent on the hospital site to be separated from normal workplaces to minimize potential transmission of infection. The second sampling site is located at the Department of Infectious Diseases of the First Faculty of Medicine and the Central Military Hospital, which also provides additional care for infectious patients. At both sampling points, all workers are equipped with appropriate protective equipment.
Today at 5.00 a.m. Airbus A-319 of the Army of the Czech Republic left to bring the supply of fast COVID-19 tests from China. The planned return is at night from 17th to 18th March. Members of the Army of the Czech Republic ensure the supply of masks to distribution points throughout the country. It is a medical material released from the reserves by the State Material Reserves Administration. At the same time, the Army is ready to strengthen the Police of the Czech Republic in carrying out its tasks at the state borders. The deployment of troops will take place after the approval of the government order early next week.