The draft state budget envisages an increase in pensions, an increase in teachers’ salaries, higher expenditures on health care or social benefits, and an increase in investment. The National Budget Council, opposition politicians and a number of economists have criticized the draft budget. On the contrary, President Miloš Zeman supports the proposal.
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In the afternoon, the cabinet was to discuss the situation surrounding the current development of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Already during the meeting, members of the government informed about the approval of financial assistance for tourism. The COVID tourism program will have 500 million crowns available to travel agencies, agencies and guides.
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Government @strakovka has just approved a new program to help tourism. #COVID – Tourism. Support will go to travel agencies, agencies and guides. @mistnirozvoj it will distribute half a billion crowns in it.
– Klara Dostalova (@DostalovaK) October 19, 2020
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The Cabinet also approved support for the audiovisual industry in the amount of 98 million crowns. The Cinematography Fund will provide them to cinema operators, production and distribution companies.
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Next steps in November?
The Minister of Industry Karel Havlíček said on Sunday that this week the government will not decide on the complete closure of the economy, the so-called lockdown, and will wait for the data on the development of the epidemic until November 2.
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However, Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamáček (CSSD) said on Sunday that the key moment will be the end of this week, Wednesday to Friday, when it will be seen whether the numbers tend to fall or not.
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The numbers of newly infected in the Czech Republic are the highest in the whole of Europe. A record 11,105 cases were added on Friday.
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