Czech govt declares 30-day state of emergency amid surge in Covid cases

Authorities in the Czech Republic have declared a 30-day of emergency as the country witnessed one of the world's highest coronavirus infection rates in recent days.

The Czech government on Thursday ordered bars and clubs to close at 10 p.m. and banned Christmas markets in an attempt to stem one of the world's highest coronavirus infection rates.

The new restrictions also include a maximum attendance of 1,000 people at culture and sports events, stopping short of the sweeping lockdowns in neighbouring Austria and Slovakia, where infection rates are even higher.