While many of us wait to feel comfortable traveling again, we reminisce over past vacations. I'm no exception, but lately I've been wondering how some of my favorite places are faring during the pandemic.

In 2018, my husband and I took a Danube River cruise. Prior to boarding the ship, we spent a few days in Prague. I quickly fell in love with the city. What impressed me most? I never tired of gazing at the architectural details of just about every building we passed - and we walked endlessly - until we could walk no more. I trust that the architectural splendor remains, but I wonder... how is the country doing? What is life like for its people during a pandemic?

To begin, the first three COVID-19 cases were confirmed on March 1, 2020. Then, on March 12, the government declared a state of emergency - the first state of emergency declared in this country's modern history. The order was subsequently extended until April 30, and then again until May 17. A vast number of measures (and revisions to those measures) were announced throughout this timeframe.  

Most notably, a nationwide curfew was instituted on March 16. On that same day, the country closed its borders to the entry of foreigners. Then, on March 19, the Czech Republic became the first European country to mandate face masks. On March 30, a voluntary contact tracing, called “smart quarantine” was adopted, allowing for the identification and quarantining of exposed contacts. Gatherings were initially limited to two people, then subsequently to ten. Testing was widely available from April 13 onward. Anyone with a fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath was eligible for free testing. The capacity immediately surpassed demand.

Measures included exemptions for the usual grocery shopping and travel to and from work, but also allowed for visiting relatives and unrestricted movement in parks & countryside. General retail shops could conduct distance sales with delivery and takeaway windows. Manufacturing plants that shut down did so voluntarily.

April gradually saw some restrictions relaxed. By the end of the month, the country re-opened its borders for outbound (justifiable) business travel, with quarantine and/or negative testing requirements on return. As we're hearing of so many countries, many citizens have been confused by the rules. Many put public pressure on the government to ease the rules. Despite the confusion, the country has seen a low number of COVID-19 cases and deaths compared to other countries. Whether it was because of public pressure or successful data (or both), the Czech Republic became the first European country to relax the rules.

The country's phased re-opening of the economy has prioritized outdoor pursuits, rather than indoor pursuits. Large festivals and events are still not allowed, but as of May 25, most tourist and business facilities have been allowed to re-open with social distancing measures in place. Restaurants, pubs, sporting events, river cruises, cinemas, and cultural venues are among the facilities re-opening.

Many have attributed the country’s success to the requirement that people must wear face masks - even outdoors. It is something that most Czechs have both agreed with and complied with. In fact, a recent National Pandemic Alarm survey found that around 75 per cent of Czechs supported the measure, making it the most praised government policy.

Many are comparing the Czech Republic's cases and death rates to the vastly higher rates of Sweden, a similarly populous country with no lockdown. As of May 27, the Czech Republic (a/k/a Czechia) had a total of 317 deaths compared to Sweden’s 4,220. (See data below, taken from the Worldometer COVID-19 statistics).

COVID-19, as of May 27, 2020Source: Worldometer

Other European governments, including the British government, are reported to be observing the Czech model of how to get their countries back-to-business. Will the model prove successful in the long run? Will a second wave hit, requiring measures to be reinstated? Will countries learn best practices from each other? Only time will tell.

Prague, the Vtlava River and the Charles Bridge

Sources:

Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Czech_Republic

EuroNews; https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/08/coronavirus-czechs-so-far-avoid-worst-of-covid-19-despite-lenient-lockdown

Prague Experience; https://www.pragueexperience.com/information/coronavirus.asp

The Guardian; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/czech-republic-opens-borders-citizens-coronavirus-infections-decline

Politico; https://www.politico.eu/article/czech-republic-eases-lockdown-restrictions/

Expats_CZ; https://news.expats.cz/coronavirus-in-the-czech-republic/may-27-czech-coronavirus-updates-no-deaths-48-new-cases-border-re-openings/

Government of the Czech Republic; https://www.vlada.cz/en/media-centrum/aktualne/measures-adopted-by-the-czech-government-against-coronavirus-180545/

Worldometer; https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/czech-republic/