Czech law to give central public health office more powers

A draft amendment to the law on the protection of public health seeks to centralise the regional public health offices under the State Public Health Office. Under the amendment, the Office will be headed by the chief public health officer, who is deputy health minister, and have the right to close or limit the operation of schools, shops, services and travelling and limit public transport services in a way similar to the present restrictions and limitations that could be introduced to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus epidemic thanks to government regulations and the declaration of the nationwide state of emergency.