Prague: Flouting social distancing norms to the winds, In a shocking event, thousands gathered in the Czech Republic capital of Prague on Wednesday to participate in a COVID-19 “farewell” party, as revelers celebrated what they believed to be the end of the pandemic in the country.
An open banquet of 500 metre-long (1,640 ft) table was set out along the historic Charles Bridge by local cafe house, and natives were encouraged to bring food and drinks from home and share it with their closest. Ignoring all signs of warning, Guests were seen sitting in close proximity of one another, singing and dancing.
Earlier, The World Health Organization (WHO) warned this week that the pandemic was far from being over and the worst is yet to come, but in the Czech Republic, a farewell party was held which symbolized freedom of movement during the pandemic.
The event was organised by Ondrej Kobza, a local cafe owner, to mark what he believes is the end of the coronavirus crisis in the city. “We want to celebrate the end of the coronavirus crisis by letting people meet and show they are not afraid to meet, that they are not afraid to take a piece of a sandwich from their neighbour,” Kobza told news agency AFP.
Notably, Czechia was the first European country to make the wearing of face masks mandatory and one of the earliest to impose a lockdown. It began easing restriction from April and lifted most of them by May 11. On June 9, it reopened museums and cinemas, and around that time, opened up its border with Croatia. Events of up to 500 people were allowed.
There have been fewer than 12,000 infections in the Czech Republic, a country of 10 million. About 350 people have died.