This week, the Czech Republic will be easing its COVID-19 restrictions, ahead of the festive season. The decision was reached after a Cabinet meeting on Sunday. 

As from this Thursday, restaurants and pubs will be allowed to reopen but must keep its indoor seating to a particular limit. Moreover, non-essential shops can resume business, but must ensure that there is only one person per 15 square meters. The same rules apply for fitness centres. 

Furthermore, when outside, the number of people allowed to congregate has been pushed up to 50, and the ban on the consumption of alcohol outdoors was removed. The night-time curfew that was previously placed will also be lifted.

"It's extremely unlikely that by the end of the year we will reach a lower [risk] level," Health Minister Jan Blatný noted. 

The restrictions were eased after the government stated assessed the country to be in a less dangerous risk situation, with the number of infections on the decline. 

As a result, schools will also resume on December 7th, with students being required to wear a facemask when attending. 
518, 649 cases were reached on Sunday, making it almost 5% of the population.