MPs overrule Senate veto, pass amendment to pandemic law

The government majority in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Czech parliament, overruled today the Senate veto on the amendment of the pandemic law, which will thus probably come into force as President Milos Zeman announced he would sign the piece of legislation. The amendment empowers the Health Ministry to issue more anti-epidemic measures and extends the validity of the pandemic law from the end of February to the end of November. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that quarantine and isolation may be imposed through a text message or a phone call.