The numbers infected with covid-19 are now reaching new record levels every day in the Czech Republic. On Friday, statistics approached 1,500 cases. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček thinks that with possible further restrictive measures, it is necessary to wait and believe that it will take over the widespread wearing of veils. “As in the spring, in my opinion, it will turn out that the only thing that can work is the consistent wearing of veils,” Hamáček said in a current interview for Seznam Zprávy.
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The numbers from Monday to Friday signal an almost exponential growth and the question is whether we should not be afraid of another “lockdown”, ie area quarantine. As we see it in Israel, where they now have over 4,000 cases a day. Isn’t there an Israeli scenario in our country?
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In Israel, the growth has really hit the exponential curve, and it is the result of the draconian measures that the Israeli government is preparing. In our country, the numbers are growing, but it does not look like exponential growth yet. This is, of course, worrying, and that is why the Ministry of Health has taken a comprehensive measure – the use of blinds in enclosed spaces. And everyone now believes that this is the right measure that should not let us on that exponential curve.
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But aren’t some measures coming, so to speak, with a cross after funus? Should we not go the other way around solving this problem?
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There’s nothing we can do about it. I say for myself that the reaction should have come earlier and Mr. I myself called for the wearing of veils in mid-July. But it is over, now it is really a matter of not getting into the situation that prevails in Israel.
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It is primarily a matter of hygiene services and the entire health sector, but you still cannot ask how you view the fact that large events are still allowed in our country, with the participation of hundreds or even thousands of people. Isn’t it high time to rethink?
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You say it yourself, it is primarily a matter of hygiene and other experts from the health sector. This should be done mainly according to their opinion. The fact is that there are two groups against each other, one is more radical, the other less. Personally, I would probably wait to see if they take the area measures, masking. Other things can be adjusted on an ongoing basis, in the context of that increase. But just like in the spring, in my opinion, it turns out that the only thing that can work is the consistent wearing of veils.
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The debate from February and March is repeated
You have been recommending the convening of the Central Crisis Staff for several days, Prime Minister Babiš is against it. Do you still insist, or have you ended this debate for now?
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I keep talking about this, because the crisis staff has already functioned in the spring as a very good platform for exchanging information, for coordinating certain steps. It’s not just about veils, the state has to react in a number of other things, and those people – the individual components – have to talk and communicate with each other all the time, and that’s what the staff is all about. The Prime Minister does not want to convene him, and from my point of view, our debate in February and March is repeated. Holt, we’ll probably have to wait to see if the development proves me right again or not.
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Many observers feel that a political game of voters’ votes before the regional elections is now being played here, which of you will be the chief chief, whether you, who should probably lead the staff, or Mr. Babiš will continue to do so. Isn’t it more about politics than people’s health?
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I definitely approach it in a completely professional way and I do everything I can to do what people expect us to do, to protect them. And if someone is playing politics here, it’s not the most sensible step, because people can pay for it.
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The Prime Minister argues that the negotiations established by the Government Council for Health Risks in July will suffice. It is chaired by the council and is scheduled to meet on Monday. In your opinion, this council cannot replace the Central Crisis Staff in that coordinating role?
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The crisis staff has about 40 members, this council about 7. Not all ministries are represented in that council, security forces are not represented there. They may be invited, but none of the security forces have been on the board yet. This advice was created as an alternative to the crisis staff, but I would prefer to stick to tried and tested solutions rather than some ad hoc bodies.
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We have another month
In Slovakia, the local Central Crisis Staff will meet on Monday and will, among other things, discuss whether the Czechia will put on the red list of high-risk countries. Should we be afraid that our neighbors will soon become isolated from us?
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If the numbers fly up like this, we will see more and more states complicating travel for our citizens, requiring tests and possibly requiring quarantine. And there is nothing to see, because we know how the Czech Republic behaved when the numbers flew up in Germany or Austria. We did the same thing then.
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There will be a series of political talks about the development of the pandemic next week, what plan are you going to take with them?
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It has at least two levels. As the Ministry of the Interior, we are doing our utmost to handle this. As long as the crisis staff does not work, my role is to take care of the competencies within the ministry. And there we do everything we can to ensure that the virus does not weaken the security forces in any way. For the police, for example, we divide services into A and B, prepare the same measures for firefighters, and prepare protective equipment. This is standard operation. The police will also monitor compliance with government regulations. And at the political level, we will have a debate with the Prime Minister on how to proceed. I have my opinion on that, the Prime Minister has a little different, we will see where we move.
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Do you think that the opinion of Prime Minister Babiš may change after the regional elections, which are at the beginning of October?
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Regional elections are important, but I do not expect them to be followed by any political turbulence. We also have a crucial task to manage the elections organizationally. To make people believe that elections are safe. We will do everything to ensure that the trust is here, that as many people as possible come to the elections and express their opinion.
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Can it not be the case that this pandemic wave will culminate in our country at the time of the elections?
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I don’t want to speculate and scare, but if we are threatened by the Israeli scenario, we still have a month to reach their level. And that is why we must do our utmost not to fall into that exponential growth.
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