National Security Council discusses further measures in connection with the spread of coronavirus

5. 3. 2020 9:26

: Press conference after the National Security Council, which dealt with other measures, in connection with the spread of coronavirus, 4 March 2020.

On Wednesday 4 March 2020, the National Security Council held a special meeting at Straka Academy to discuss further measures related to the spread of the coronavirus Sars-CoV-2. The Ministry of Health decided to ban the sale of FFP3 masks to other countries and restricted their sale on the domestic market. The National Security Council also agreed that it is not currently necessary to restrict the organising of mass events with the exception of the Biathlon World Cup.

The National Security Council agreed that the priority is securing effective face masks and disinfectants for medical personnel. "For this reason we have decided to introduce central purchasing and a central distribution system. The minister of health decided to ban the sale of these medical supplies to other countries. Within 12 hours Finance Minister Alena Schillerová will issue a decision on price regulation so as to prevent various bloodsuckers from attempting to exploit the current situation. We already contacted all hospitals yesterday, had talks with suppliers and today that is the most important thing," said Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.

The Ministry of Health also decided to restrict the sale of FFP3 face masks. "We have a limited amount of them, which we need to concentrate on places where they are most needed. For this reason it will no longer be possible to sell such masks on e-shops as part of private business and they will only be available to healthcare providers, providers of social services, as well as the Czech Republic and its organisational units or official distributors," explained Health Minister Adam Vojtěch. The ministry's measures will take effect starting Wednesday 4 March 2020. The ministry is preparing similar measures for the category of disinfectants as well.

The National Security Council also decided that at this point it is not necessary to restrict the organising of mass events. It did however decide that the organisers of events where attendance of over 5 000 people is expected must report the event to the competent regional public health station. "The organisers should impart who is attending the event, from what countries, and the regional public health station will then assess the risk from an epidemiological perspective. Whether for example people from affected countries will be attending," explained Minister Vojtěch.

The National Security Council also addressed the risks associated with travelling by mass transport from abroad. Aside from stopping flights from China, South Korea and northern Italian airports, it considers it essential for other carriers to also equip themselves with a sufficient amount of disinfectants, which would be available to train and bus staff, as well as travellers at train stations. Passengers arriving from potentially high-risk destinations will be monitored, as will travellers at airports.

The government also wants to address the potential risk associated with the unorganised accommodation of foreigners through Airbnb. "This system operates de facto virtually and we have to seriously consider how to get it under control so we know who is staying in these flats," said PM Babiš.