Czech PM Babis: we do not want to lock down economy despite coronavirus spike

PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis appealed to Czechs on Thursday to respect restrictions and face mask orders, saying the government aimed not to lock down the economy amid a spike in cases of new coronavirus infections.

“We do not want to close down the economy and threaten employment. We want to manage with measures that affect our lives as little as possible,” Babis said in a televised speech carried on the main Czech channels.

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka)