PRAGUE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic reported 5,394 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, a new daily high for the third day in a row, according to the Health Ministry on Friday.

The overall number of cases has reached 100,757 in the country with a population of 10.7 million, the ministry's data showed, as the Czech Republic grapples with the fastest-growing per-capita outbreak in Europe.

Hospitalizations and deaths are also exponentially increasing from where they were at the beginning of September, standing at 1,741 and 869, respectively, official data showed.

On Thursday, the Czech government introduced new restrictive measures to combat the spread of the virus that came into effect on Friday.

The new measures include a reduction in public office hours; cancellation of virtually all cultural events; closing of indoor sports facilities and of restaurants and bars at 8 p.m.; and limiting tables at catering establishments to a maximum of four people. Upper elementary school students will now be offered hybrid (in-person and distance) learning.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis urged citizens on Friday to follow the new guidelines, warning that another lockdown could take place if the situation worsens.

As the world is struggling to control the pandemic, countries across the globe -- among them European Union nations, China, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States -- are racing to find a vaccine.

According to the website of the World Health Organization, as of Oct. 2, there were 193 COVID-19 candidate vaccines being developed worldwide, and 42 of them were in clinical trials. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)