🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 39 (from laksa186)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa039.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://time.com/5888765/central-europe-covid-19/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://time.com/5888765/central-europe-covid-19/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/time.com\/5888765\/central-europe-covid-19\/","crawl_time":1775504109,"first_indexed_time":1600197319,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,time!\/5888765\/central-europe-covid-19\/ s443","src_root_hash":"9797552172251460839","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Why Is Central Europe Seeing Spikes in COVID-19 Cases?","meta_descriptions":["The Czech Republic, Hungary and other countries are seeing coronavirus spikes. What's behind the new wave of cases?"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Central Europe in the past week has seen a spike in daily confirmed coronavirus cases, a major setback for a region that largely avoided the first wave of the virus in the spring. The Czech Republic, an E.U. member state of 10.7 million, registered a country record of 1,382 new infections on Sep. 11, bringing the country’s total cases to over 32,400. In the last week, nearby countries Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia have also recorded their highest daily caseloads since the pandemic began.\nInfections in the Czech Republic previously\npeaked\nat around 3 cases per capita (per 100,000 residents) in late March but reached 11.6 cases per capita on Sep. 13. By comparison, the U.S. had 12 cases per capita. Now, the Czech Republic has one of the highest 14-day infection rates in Europe, according to the\nEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.\nCzech Health Minister Adam Vojtech\nsaid\non Sep. 13 “nobody expected” such a spike in the country.\nGovernments of central European countries, keen to not impose national lockdowns and prevent further damage to their shrinking economies, have reimposed travel restrictions and renewed social distancing measures for citizens.\nThe coronavirus pandemic has dealt a major blow to the European economy, particularly countries that rely on tourism. The E.U. economy will decline by an average 8.3% this year, the\nEuropean Commission said\nin July. The 27-member bloc, formed after World War II, is expected to fall into the deepest recession in its history. The economies of the Czech Republic and Hungary are predicted to drop by 7.8% and 7% respectively, compared to last year.\nWhere are cases rising in Central Europe?\nThe sharpest rise has been recorded in Czech Republic but other countries nearby, including Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, are also seeing worrying increases in daily case numbers.\nCzech Republic cases\nHungary on Sep. 12 saw its largest daily reported infections since the pandemic began with 916 people testing positive, bringing the country’s total number of infections to 11,825,\naccording to\nJohns Hopkins University (JHU). Most infections have been registered in the capital city of Budapest.\nSlovakia registered a record number of daily cases on Sep. 5 when 226 people tested positive for the virus,\naccording to\nJHU. Slovenia recorded its highest ever daily caseload with 108 new infections on Sep. 11.\nSlovakia cases\nSlovenia cases\nHow did Central Europe fare during the beginning of the pandemic?\nCentral Europe avoided the full brunt of the first wave of coronavirus infections during the spring. On April 15, the U.K. had 159 cases per capita while the Czech Republic had 58 and Hungary, 16.\nLuck and foresight initially helped Central Europe to shield itself from the virus, experts say. Some countries in Europe benefited from less international visitors and from going into lockdown when their transmission rates were relatively low. “Central Europe was protected by not being as well connected as international travel hubs and by heeding the warnings from other countries,” says Jennifer Beam Dowd, associate professor of demography and population health at Oxford University.\nWhy are infections rising in the region?\nThe spike is likely connected to increased travel combined with a relaxation in restrictions, experts say.\nIn mid-May, most of Europe began reopening its bars, restaurants and nightclubs, subject to social distancing measures. By mid-June, most of the continent\nwelcomed back travelers\nfrom the E.U. and other countries with a stable or decreasing trend of new cases.\nThe Czech government\nreopened\nbars, restaurants and hotels, and allowed gatherings of up to 300 people on May 25 as new daily cases that month were below 111. Hungary\nreopened\nall shops and the outdoor sections of cafes and restaurants on May 18 when new daily infections remained under 90. By June 22, the Czech Republic and Hungary had opened their borders to visitors from the E.U. and other countries when new daily infections were below 83 and 29 respectively that month. But in late August the number of daily reported cases in these countries, as well as in Slovakia and Slovenia, began to rise.\nEurope as a whole opened up too quickly, says Martin McKee, a professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “There was a great deal of optimism when cases were coming down. But we were only containing it with severe restrictions. As soon as you open up the people, you open up the virus to spread,” he says.\nResidents sit to dine on a 500 meter long table set on the medieval Charles Bridge, after restrictions were eased following the coronavirus pandemic in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, June 30, 2020.\nPetr David Josek —AP Photo\/Getty Images\nOpening up indoor, poorly ventilated spaces has been particularly dangerous. “Large gatherings, crowds in indoor and even outdoor spaces have undoubtedly contributed to the rise we’re now seeing, says Dowd. “It has a ripple effect that appears later on.”\nExperts have linked local outbreaks across Europe to the opening of bars and nightclubs in the Czech Republic, France and Switzerland, among others. At the end of July, at least\n98 people\ntested positive following an outbreak in a nightclub in the Czech capital, Prague.\nWhat are countries doing to prevent the spread of the virus?\nThe Czech government\nreintroduced\nmandatory mask-wearing in taxis, public transport, shops and malls, starting Sep. 10 when daily new cases topped 1,000 for the first time. Officials also ordered bars and restaurants to shut between 12 p.m. and 6 a.m., but stopped short of bringing back other measures that could hurt businesses such as closing restaurants and non-essential stores.\nHungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has\nblamed\nmigrants and foreigners for the spread of the virus, reintroduced an entry ban on all foreigners with some exceptions. The ban went into place on Sep. 1, as the country began to see an uptick in daily cases.\nIn a Sep. 12\ninterview\nwith a public broadcaster, M1, Orban said he is drafting a “war plan” to prevent a second wave. “We do not want to introduce a curfew; we do not want movement restrictions,” Orban said. “We want everything to happen as it normally should.” He added that measures to protect the economy and stimulate growth would be introduced in the coming weeks. In the second quarter of the year, Hungary’s GDP\nfell\n13.6% compared to last year (the average decline among E.U. members was 14.4%).\nBut experts say that prioritizing economic considerations over public health can backfire. “It’s false to frame the introduction of new restrictions as a trade off between health and the economy. If you don’t get the rates down, you can open up the shops but people won’t go into them,” says McKee.\nEurope can continue to expect to see a rise in infection transmission in the autumn and winter as people return indoors, experts say, but the level of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are unlikely to reach those seen in the spring peak.\n“We’re in a much better place but we need to prepare for a difficult autumn and winter,” says Dowd.","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to Content](https:\/\/time.com\/5888765\/central-europe-covid-19\/#maincontent)\n\n- Menu\n  \n  Close\n\n[Subscribe](https:\/\/time.com\/subscribe-header-time\/)\n\n- [World](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/world\/)\n- [europe](https:\/\/time.com\/tag\/europe\/)\n# Central Europe Largely Avoided the First Coronavirus Wave. Why Are Cases Spiking Now?\n[ADD TIME ON GOOGLE](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/time.com)\n\nShow me more content from TIME on Google Search\n\nby\n\n[Madeline Roache](https:\/\/time.com\/author\/madeline-roache\/)\n\nSep 15, 2020 2:40 PM CUT\n\n![Virus Outbreak Czech Republic](https:\/\/gcp-na-images.contentstack.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/bltbc1febcffb77baae\/698a122fdb29875254265cd3\/68d4b4fa145e4feb9db08e9720a8ce0d-68d4b4fa145e4feb9db08e9720a8ce0d-405af09400264adca78fff067880b2a8-4a8c4.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3%3A2)\n\nPeople wait to get tested for COVID-19 at a drive-in sampling station in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020.\n\nPeople wait to get tested for COVID-19 at a drive-in sampling station in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020.Petr David Josek—AP Photo\/Getty Images\n\nby\n\n[Madeline Roache](https:\/\/time.com\/author\/madeline-roache\/)\n\nSep 15, 2020 2:40 PM CUT\n\nCentral Europe in the past week has seen a spike in daily confirmed coronavirus cases, a major setback for a region that largely avoided the first wave of the virus in the spring. The Czech Republic, an E.U. member state of 10.7 million, registered a country record of 1,382 new infections on Sep. 11, bringing the country’s total cases to over 32,400. In the last week, nearby countries Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia have also recorded their highest daily caseloads since the pandemic began.\n\nInfections in the Czech Republic previously [peaked](https:\/\/time.com\/5800901\/coronavirus-map\/ \"undefined\") at around 3 cases per capita (per 100,000 residents) in late March but reached 11.6 cases per capita on Sep. 13. By comparison, the U.S. had 12 cases per capita. Now, the Czech Republic has one of the highest 14-day infection rates in Europe, according to the [European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.](https:\/\/www.ecdc.europa.eu\/en\/cases-2019-ncov-eueea \"undefined\") Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech [said](https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/coronavirus-digest-israel-to-enter-second-nationwide-lockdown\/a-54910181 \"undefined\") on Sep. 13 “nobody expected” such a spike in the country.\n\nGovernments of central European countries, keen to not impose national lockdowns and prevent further damage to their shrinking economies, have reimposed travel restrictions and renewed social distancing measures for citizens.\n\nThe coronavirus pandemic has dealt a major blow to the European economy, particularly countries that rely on tourism. The E.U. economy will decline by an average 8.3% this year, the [European Commission said](https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/detail\/en\/ip_20_1269 \"undefined\") in July. The 27-member bloc, formed after World War II, is expected to fall into the deepest recession in its history. The economies of the Czech Republic and Hungary are predicted to drop by 7.8% and 7% respectively, compared to last year.\n\nAdvertisement\n\n## **Where are cases rising in Central Europe?**\nThe sharpest rise has been recorded in Czech Republic but other countries nearby, including Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, are also seeing worrying increases in daily case numbers.\n\n![Czech Republic cases](https:\/\/gcp-na-images.contentstack.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/blt87834f8145c5413e\/698a1231db2987085b265cdf\/czechia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9)\n\nCzech Republic cases\n\nHungary on Sep. 12 saw its largest daily reported infections since the pandemic began with 916 people testing positive, bringing the country’s total number of infections to 11,825, [according to](https:\/\/coronavirus.jhu.edu\/map.html \"undefined\") Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Most infections have been registered in the capital city of Budapest.\n\nSlovakia registered a record number of daily cases on Sep. 5 when 226 people tested positive for the virus, [according to](https:\/\/coronavirus.jhu.edu\/map.html \"undefined\") JHU. Slovenia recorded its highest ever daily caseload with 108 new infections on Sep. 11.\n\nAdvertisement\n\n![Slovakia cases](https:\/\/gcp-na-images.contentstack.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/bltdf533eddf08f1b1a\/698a12314ee2627457317ead\/slovakia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9)\n\nSlovakia cases\n\n![Slovenia cases](https:\/\/gcp-na-images.contentstack.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/blt209f3c164b24f333\/698a1232b21a9c449450403f\/slovenia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9)\n\nSlovenia cases\n\n##\n##\n##\n##\n## **How did Central Europe fare during the beginning of the pandemic?**\nCentral Europe avoided the full brunt of the first wave of coronavirus infections during the spring. On April 15, the U.K. had 159 cases per capita while the Czech Republic had 58 and Hungary, 16.\n\nLuck and foresight initially helped Central Europe to shield itself from the virus, experts say. Some countries in Europe benefited from less international visitors and from going into lockdown when their transmission rates were relatively low. “Central Europe was protected by not being as well connected as international travel hubs and by heeding the warnings from other countries,” says Jennifer Beam Dowd, associate professor of demography and population health at Oxford University.\n\nAdvertisement\n\n## **Why are infections rising in the region?**\nThe spike is likely connected to increased travel combined with a relaxation in restrictions, experts say.\n\nIn mid-May, most of Europe began reopening its bars, restaurants and nightclubs, subject to social distancing measures. By mid-June, most of the continent [welcomed back travelers](https:\/\/time.com\/5859217\/europe-tourism-coronavirus\/ \"undefined\") from the E.U. and other countries with a stable or decreasing trend of new cases.\n\nThe Czech government [reopened](http:\/\/praguemorning.cz\/restaurants-hotels-and-pools-to-reopen-tomorrow-may-25\/ \"undefined\") bars, restaurants and hotels, and allowed gatherings of up to 300 people on May 25 as new daily cases that month were below 111. Hungary [reopened](https:\/\/www.kormany.hu\/en\/news\/from-monday-new-rules-to-take-effect-in-budapest \"undefined\") all shops and the outdoor sections of cafes and restaurants on May 18 when new daily infections remained under 90. By June 22, the Czech Republic and Hungary had opened their borders to visitors from the E.U. and other countries when new daily infections were below 83 and 29 respectively that month. But in late August the number of daily reported cases in these countries, as well as in Slovakia and Slovenia, began to rise.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nEurope as a whole opened up too quickly, says Martin McKee, a professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “There was a great deal of optimism when cases were coming down. But we were only containing it with severe restrictions. As soon as you open up the people, you open up the virus to spread,” he says.\n\n![APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Czech Republic](https:\/\/gcp-na-images.contentstack.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/bltc38bfb4bddae3c91\/698a122fb21a9c8615504036\/47b9a23ced44492b8bb7a8ca6f1058cd-9bc0f5068fea4b6b9f9f6e5fd48a1718-9e9185e78f6a473aa2d40685eb99929e-019e1-1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9)\n\nResidents sit to dine on a 500 meter long table set on the medieval Charles Bridge, after restrictions were eased following the coronavirus pandemic in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Petr David Josek —AP Photo\/Getty Images\n\nOpening up indoor, poorly ventilated spaces has been particularly dangerous. “Large gatherings, crowds in indoor and even outdoor spaces have undoubtedly contributed to the rise we’re now seeing, says Dowd. “It has a ripple effect that appears later on.”\n\nAdvertisement\n\nExperts have linked local outbreaks across Europe to the opening of bars and nightclubs in the Czech Republic, France and Switzerland, among others. At the end of July, at least [98 people](https:\/\/uk.reuters.com\/article\/uk-health-coronavirus-czech\/prague-club-virus-outbreak-spreads-to-98-people-idUKKCN24O26X \"undefined\") tested positive following an outbreak in a nightclub in the Czech capital, Prague.\n\n## **What are countries doing to prevent the spread of the virus?**\nThe Czech government [reintroduced](https:\/\/uk.reuters.com\/article\/uk-health-coronavirus-czech\/czech-government-orders-wearing-of-face-masks-indoors-as-cases-spike-idUKKBN26017N \"undefined\") mandatory mask-wearing in taxis, public transport, shops and malls, starting Sep. 10 when daily new cases topped 1,000 for the first time. Officials also ordered bars and restaurants to shut between 12 p.m. and 6 a.m., but stopped short of bringing back other measures that could hurt businesses such as closing restaurants and non-essential stores.\n\nHungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has [blamed](https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/20200313-hungary-s-pm-orban-blames-foreign-students-migration-for-coronavirus-spread \"undefined\") migrants and foreigners for the spread of the virus, reintroduced an entry ban on all foreigners with some exceptions. The ban went into place on Sep. 1, as the country began to see an uptick in daily cases.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nIn a Sep. 12 [interview](https:\/\/hirado.hu\/belfold\/belpolitika\/cikk\/2020\/09\/12\/orban-viktor-azt-szeretnenk-hogy-magyarorszag-mukodjon\/ \"undefined\") with a public broadcaster, M1, Orban said he is drafting a “war plan” to prevent a second wave. “We do not want to introduce a curfew; we do not want movement restrictions,” Orban said. “We want everything to happen as it normally should.” He added that measures to protect the economy and stimulate growth would be introduced in the coming weeks. In the second quarter of the year, Hungary’s GDP [fell](https:\/\/hirado.hu\/belfold\/gazdasag\/cikk\/2020\/08\/14\/ksh-136-szazalekkal-csokkent-a-gazdasag-teljesitmenye-a-masodik-negyedevben \"undefined\") 13.6% compared to last year (the average decline among E.U. members was 14.4%).\n\nBut experts say that prioritizing economic considerations over public health can backfire. “It’s false to frame the introduction of new restrictions as a trade off between health and the economy. If you don’t get the rates down, you can open up the shops but people won’t go into them,” says McKee.\n\nEurope can continue to expect to see a rise in infection transmission in the autumn and winter as people return indoors, experts say, but the level of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are unlikely to reach those seen in the spring peak.\n\nAdvertisement\n\n“We’re in a much better place but we need to prepare for a difficult autumn and winter,” says Dowd.\n\n## Must-Reads from TIME\n- [‘Safe and sound’: How a U.S. Airman Shot Down in Iran Was Rescued From a Mountain Crevice](https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/04\/05\/-safe-and-sound-how-a-u-s-airman-shot-down-in-iran-was-rescued-from-a-mountain-crevice\/?utm_rs=IL_GNBazf4RR9GSs3N-N37Btw)\n- [Iranian President Pens Open Letter to American People](https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/04\/01\/iran-war-president-open-letter-american-people\/?utm_rs=IL_GNBazf4RR9GSs3N-N37Btw)\n- [What to Know About the Army Chief Hegseth Ousted—and the General Who’s Taking Over](https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/04\/03\/hegseth-army-firings-chief-of-staff\/?utm_rs=IL_GNBazf4RR9GSs3N-N37Btw)\n- [What to Know About the 25th Amendment as Lawmakers Call for Trump’s Removal](https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/04\/06\/25th-amendment-constitution-trump-war-iran-threat-insanity\/?utm_rs=IL_GNBazf4RR9GSs3N-N37Btw)\n- [Inside Trump's Search for a Way Out of the Iran War](https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/04\/02\/trump-iran-off-ramp\/?utm_rs=IL_GNBazf4RR9GSs3N-N37Btw)\n- [Trump Calls Vance the ‘Fraud Czar.’ Here’s What We Know About the Role](https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/04\/03\/trump-vance-fraud-czar\/?utm_rs=IL_GNBazf4RR9GSs3N-N37Btw)\n\n- [‘Safe and sound’: How a U.S. Airman Shot Down in Iran Was Rescued From a Mountain Crevice](https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/04\/05\/-safe-and-sound-how-a-u-s-airman-shot-down-in-iran-was-rescued-from-a-mountain-crevice\/?utm_rs=IL_GNBazf4RR9GSs3N-N37Btw)\n- [Iranian President Pens Open Letter to American People](https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/04\/01\/iran-war-president-open-letter-american-people\/?utm_rs=IL_GNBazf4RR9GSs3N-N37Btw)\n- [What to Know About the Army Chief Hegseth Ousted—and the General Who’s Taking Over](https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/04\/03\/hegseth-army-firings-chief-of-staff\/?utm_rs=IL_GNBazf4RR9GSs3N-N37Btw)\n\nRead More\n\n## Sections\n- [Home](https:\/\/time.com\/)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/politics\/)\n- [Health](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/health\/)\n- [AI](https:\/\/time.com\/tag\/ai\/)\n- [World](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/world\/)\n- [Business](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/business\/)\n- [Science](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/science\/)\n\n- [Climate](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/climate\/)\n- [Ideas](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/ideas\/)\n- [Entertainment](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/entertainment\/)\n- [Sports](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/sports\/)\n- [Technology](https:\/\/time.com\/tag\/technology\/)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/time.com\/newsletters\/?source=TD_Footer_Link&utm_source_pg=web&utm_medium_pg=footer&utm_campaign_pg=footer&utm_content_pg=footer-inside-time)\n\n## More\n- [The TIME Vault](https:\/\/time.com\/vault\/)\n- [TIME Africa](https:\/\/africa.time.com\/)\n- [TIME France](https:\/\/www.timefrance.fr\/)\n- [TIME For Kids](https:\/\/www.timeforkids.com\/)\n- [TIME Futures](https:\/\/time.com\/collection\/time-co2-futures\/)\n\n- [TIME Studios](https:\/\/studios.time.com\/)\n- [Video](https:\/\/time.com\/collections\/time-video\/)\n- [Red Border](https:\/\/redborder.time.com\/)\n- [Supplied Partner Content](https:\/\/partnercontent.time.com\/)\n\n## About Us\n- [Our Mission](https:\/\/time.com\/about-time\/)\n- [Contact the Editors](mailto:feedback@time.com)\n- [Press Room](https:\/\/time.com\/section\/press-room\/)\n- [Media Kit](https:\/\/time.com\/mediakit\/)\n- [Reprints & Permissions](https:\/\/www.parsintl.com\/publication\/time)\n\n- [Masthead](https:\/\/time.com\/time-masthead\/)\n- [Careers](https:\/\/time.com\/join-time\/)\n- [Site Map](https:\/\/time.com\/sitemap.xml)\n- [Modern Slavery Statement](https:\/\/time.com\/modern-slavery-statement\/)\n\n## Your Subscriptions\n- [Subscribe](https:\/\/time.com\/subscribe-footer-time\/)\n- [Access My Digital Magazine](https:\/\/geo.ema.gs\/time_digital)\n- [Manage My Subscription](https:\/\/support.time.com\/)\n- [Global Help Center](https:\/\/support.time.com\/)\n\n- [Buy an Issue](https:\/\/magazineshop.us\/collections\/time-magazine\/)\n- [Shop the Cover Store](https:\/\/timecoverstore.com\/)\n- [Give a Gift](https:\/\/time.com\/giveagift\/)\n\n© 2026 TIME USA, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our [Terms of Service](https:\/\/legal.time.com\/terms-of-service), [Privacy Policy (Your Privacy Rights)](https:\/\/legal.time.com\/us-privacy-policy) and Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.\n\nTIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.","attrs_readable_markdown":"Central Europe in the past week has seen a spike in daily confirmed coronavirus cases, a major setback for a region that largely avoided the first wave of the virus in the spring. The Czech Republic, an E.U. member state of 10.7 million, registered a country record of 1,382 new infections on Sep. 11, bringing the country’s total cases to over 32,400. In the last week, nearby countries Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia have also recorded their highest daily caseloads since the pandemic began.\n\nInfections in the Czech Republic previously [peaked](https:\/\/time.com\/5800901\/coronavirus-map\/ \"undefined\") at around 3 cases per capita (per 100,000 residents) in late March but reached 11.6 cases per capita on Sep. 13. By comparison, the U.S. had 12 cases per capita. Now, the Czech Republic has one of the highest 14-day infection rates in Europe, according to the [European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.](https:\/\/www.ecdc.europa.eu\/en\/cases-2019-ncov-eueea \"undefined\") Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech [said](https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/coronavirus-digest-israel-to-enter-second-nationwide-lockdown\/a-54910181 \"undefined\") on Sep. 13 “nobody expected” such a spike in the country.\n\nGovernments of central European countries, keen to not impose national lockdowns and prevent further damage to their shrinking economies, have reimposed travel restrictions and renewed social distancing measures for citizens.\n\nThe coronavirus pandemic has dealt a major blow to the European economy, particularly countries that rely on tourism. The E.U. economy will decline by an average 8.3% this year, the [European Commission said](https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/detail\/en\/ip_20_1269 \"undefined\") in July. The 27-member bloc, formed after World War II, is expected to fall into the deepest recession in its history. The economies of the Czech Republic and Hungary are predicted to drop by 7.8% and 7% respectively, compared to last year.\n\n**Where are cases rising in Central Europe?**\n\nThe sharpest rise has been recorded in Czech Republic but other countries nearby, including Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, are also seeing worrying increases in daily case numbers.\n\n![Czech Republic cases](https:\/\/gcp-na-images.contentstack.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/blt87834f8145c5413e\/698a1231db2987085b265cdf\/czechia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9)\n\nCzech Republic cases\n\nHungary on Sep. 12 saw its largest daily reported infections since the pandemic began with 916 people testing positive, bringing the country’s total number of infections to 11,825, [according to](https:\/\/coronavirus.jhu.edu\/map.html \"undefined\") Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Most infections have been registered in the capital city of Budapest.\n\nSlovakia registered a record number of daily cases on Sep. 5 when 226 people tested positive for the virus, [according to](https:\/\/coronavirus.jhu.edu\/map.html \"undefined\") JHU. Slovenia recorded its highest ever daily caseload with 108 new infections on Sep. 11.\n\n![Slovakia cases](https:\/\/gcp-na-images.contentstack.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/bltdf533eddf08f1b1a\/698a12314ee2627457317ead\/slovakia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9)\n\nSlovakia cases\n\n![Slovenia cases](https:\/\/gcp-na-images.contentstack.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/blt209f3c164b24f333\/698a1232b21a9c449450403f\/slovenia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9)\n\nSlovenia cases\n\n**How did Central Europe fare during the beginning of the pandemic?**\n\nCentral Europe avoided the full brunt of the first wave of coronavirus infections during the spring. On April 15, the U.K. had 159 cases per capita while the Czech Republic had 58 and Hungary, 16.\n\nLuck and foresight initially helped Central Europe to shield itself from the virus, experts say. Some countries in Europe benefited from less international visitors and from going into lockdown when their transmission rates were relatively low. “Central Europe was protected by not being as well connected as international travel hubs and by heeding the warnings from other countries,” says Jennifer Beam Dowd, associate professor of demography and population health at Oxford University.\n\n**Why are infections rising in the region?**\n\nThe spike is likely connected to increased travel combined with a relaxation in restrictions, experts say.\n\nIn mid-May, most of Europe began reopening its bars, restaurants and nightclubs, subject to social distancing measures. By mid-June, most of the continent [welcomed back travelers](https:\/\/time.com\/5859217\/europe-tourism-coronavirus\/ \"undefined\") from the E.U. and other countries with a stable or decreasing trend of new cases.\n\nThe Czech government [reopened](http:\/\/praguemorning.cz\/restaurants-hotels-and-pools-to-reopen-tomorrow-may-25\/ \"undefined\") bars, restaurants and hotels, and allowed gatherings of up to 300 people on May 25 as new daily cases that month were below 111. Hungary [reopened](https:\/\/www.kormany.hu\/en\/news\/from-monday-new-rules-to-take-effect-in-budapest \"undefined\") all shops and the outdoor sections of cafes and restaurants on May 18 when new daily infections remained under 90. By June 22, the Czech Republic and Hungary had opened their borders to visitors from the E.U. and other countries when new daily infections were below 83 and 29 respectively that month. But in late August the number of daily reported cases in these countries, as well as in Slovakia and Slovenia, began to rise.\n\nEurope as a whole opened up too quickly, says Martin McKee, a professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “There was a great deal of optimism when cases were coming down. But we were only containing it with severe restrictions. As soon as you open up the people, you open up the virus to spread,” he says.\n\n![APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Czech Republic](https:\/\/gcp-na-images.contentstack.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/bltc38bfb4bddae3c91\/698a122fb21a9c8615504036\/47b9a23ced44492b8bb7a8ca6f1058cd-9bc0f5068fea4b6b9f9f6e5fd48a1718-9e9185e78f6a473aa2d40685eb99929e-019e1-1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9)\n\nResidents sit to dine on a 500 meter long table set on the medieval Charles Bridge, after restrictions were eased following the coronavirus pandemic in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Petr David Josek —AP Photo\/Getty Images\n\nOpening up indoor, poorly ventilated spaces has been particularly dangerous. “Large gatherings, crowds in indoor and even outdoor spaces have undoubtedly contributed to the rise we’re now seeing, says Dowd. “It has a ripple effect that appears later on.”\n\nExperts have linked local outbreaks across Europe to the opening of bars and nightclubs in the Czech Republic, France and Switzerland, among others. At the end of July, at least [98 people](https:\/\/uk.reuters.com\/article\/uk-health-coronavirus-czech\/prague-club-virus-outbreak-spreads-to-98-people-idUKKCN24O26X \"undefined\") tested positive following an outbreak in a nightclub in the Czech capital, Prague.\n\n**What are countries doing to prevent the spread of the virus?**\n\nThe Czech government [reintroduced](https:\/\/uk.reuters.com\/article\/uk-health-coronavirus-czech\/czech-government-orders-wearing-of-face-masks-indoors-as-cases-spike-idUKKBN26017N \"undefined\") mandatory mask-wearing in taxis, public transport, shops and malls, starting Sep. 10 when daily new cases topped 1,000 for the first time. Officials also ordered bars and restaurants to shut between 12 p.m. and 6 a.m., but stopped short of bringing back other measures that could hurt businesses such as closing restaurants and non-essential stores.\n\nHungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has [blamed](https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/20200313-hungary-s-pm-orban-blames-foreign-students-migration-for-coronavirus-spread \"undefined\") migrants and foreigners for the spread of the virus, reintroduced an entry ban on all foreigners with some exceptions. The ban went into place on Sep. 1, as the country began to see an uptick in daily cases.\n\nIn a Sep. 12 [interview](https:\/\/hirado.hu\/belfold\/belpolitika\/cikk\/2020\/09\/12\/orban-viktor-azt-szeretnenk-hogy-magyarorszag-mukodjon\/ \"undefined\") with a public broadcaster, M1, Orban said he is drafting a “war plan” to prevent a second wave. “We do not want to introduce a curfew; we do not want movement restrictions,” Orban said. “We want everything to happen as it normally should.” He added that measures to protect the economy and stimulate growth would be introduced in the coming weeks. In the second quarter of the year, Hungary’s GDP [fell](https:\/\/hirado.hu\/belfold\/gazdasag\/cikk\/2020\/08\/14\/ksh-136-szazalekkal-csokkent-a-gazdasag-teljesitmenye-a-masodik-negyedevben \"undefined\") 13.6% compared to last year (the average decline among E.U. members was 14.4%).\n\nBut experts say that prioritizing economic considerations over public health can backfire. “It’s false to frame the introduction of new restrictions as a trade off between health and the economy. If you don’t get the rates down, you can open up the shops but people won’t go into them,” says McKee.\n\nEurope can continue to expect to see a rise in infection transmission in the autumn and winter as people return indoors, experts say, but the level of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are unlikely to reach those seen in the spring peak.\n\n“We’re in a much better place but we need to prepare for a difficult autumn and winter,” says Dowd.","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://time.com/5888765/central-europe-covid-19/
Last Crawled	2026-04-06 19:35:09 (1 day ago)
First Indexed	2020-09-15 19:15:19 (5 years ago)
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Meta Title	Why Is Central Europe Seeing Spikes in COVID-19 Cases?
Meta Description	The Czech Republic, Hungary and other countries are seeing coronavirus spikes. What's behind the new wave of cases?
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Boilerpipe Text	Central Europe in the past week has seen a spike in daily confirmed coronavirus cases, a major setback for a region that largely avoided the first wave of the virus in the spring. The Czech Republic, an E.U. member state of 10.7 million, registered a country record of 1,382 new infections on Sep. 11, bringing the country’s total cases to over 32,400. In the last week, nearby countries Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia have also recorded their highest daily caseloads since the pandemic began. Infections in the Czech Republic previously peaked at around 3 cases per capita (per 100,000 residents) in late March but reached 11.6 cases per capita on Sep. 13. By comparison, the U.S. had 12 cases per capita. Now, the Czech Republic has one of the highest 14-day infection rates in Europe, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Sep. 13 “nobody expected” such a spike in the country. Governments of central European countries, keen to not impose national lockdowns and prevent further damage to their shrinking economies, have reimposed travel restrictions and renewed social distancing measures for citizens. The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a major blow to the European economy, particularly countries that rely on tourism. The E.U. economy will decline by an average 8.3% this year, the European Commission said in July. The 27-member bloc, formed after World War II, is expected to fall into the deepest recession in its history. The economies of the Czech Republic and Hungary are predicted to drop by 7.8% and 7% respectively, compared to last year. Where are cases rising in Central Europe? The sharpest rise has been recorded in Czech Republic but other countries nearby, including Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, are also seeing worrying increases in daily case numbers. Czech Republic cases Hungary on Sep. 12 saw its largest daily reported infections since the pandemic began with 916 people testing positive, bringing the country’s total number of infections to 11,825, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Most infections have been registered in the capital city of Budapest. Slovakia registered a record number of daily cases on Sep. 5 when 226 people tested positive for the virus, according to JHU. Slovenia recorded its highest ever daily caseload with 108 new infections on Sep. 11. Slovakia cases Slovenia cases How did Central Europe fare during the beginning of the pandemic? Central Europe avoided the full brunt of the first wave of coronavirus infections during the spring. On April 15, the U.K. had 159 cases per capita while the Czech Republic had 58 and Hungary, 16. Luck and foresight initially helped Central Europe to shield itself from the virus, experts say. Some countries in Europe benefited from less international visitors and from going into lockdown when their transmission rates were relatively low. “Central Europe was protected by not being as well connected as international travel hubs and by heeding the warnings from other countries,” says Jennifer Beam Dowd, associate professor of demography and population health at Oxford University. Why are infections rising in the region? The spike is likely connected to increased travel combined with a relaxation in restrictions, experts say. In mid-May, most of Europe began reopening its bars, restaurants and nightclubs, subject to social distancing measures. By mid-June, most of the continent welcomed back travelers from the E.U. and other countries with a stable or decreasing trend of new cases. The Czech government reopened bars, restaurants and hotels, and allowed gatherings of up to 300 people on May 25 as new daily cases that month were below 111. Hungary reopened all shops and the outdoor sections of cafes and restaurants on May 18 when new daily infections remained under 90. By June 22, the Czech Republic and Hungary had opened their borders to visitors from the E.U. and other countries when new daily infections were below 83 and 29 respectively that month. But in late August the number of daily reported cases in these countries, as well as in Slovakia and Slovenia, began to rise. Europe as a whole opened up too quickly, says Martin McKee, a professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “There was a great deal of optimism when cases were coming down. But we were only containing it with severe restrictions. As soon as you open up the people, you open up the virus to spread,” he says. Residents sit to dine on a 500 meter long table set on the medieval Charles Bridge, after restrictions were eased following the coronavirus pandemic in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Petr David Josek —AP Photo/Getty Images Opening up indoor, poorly ventilated spaces has been particularly dangerous. “Large gatherings, crowds in indoor and even outdoor spaces have undoubtedly contributed to the rise we’re now seeing, says Dowd. “It has a ripple effect that appears later on.” Experts have linked local outbreaks across Europe to the opening of bars and nightclubs in the Czech Republic, France and Switzerland, among others. At the end of July, at least 98 people tested positive following an outbreak in a nightclub in the Czech capital, Prague. What are countries doing to prevent the spread of the virus? The Czech government reintroduced mandatory mask-wearing in taxis, public transport, shops and malls, starting Sep. 10 when daily new cases topped 1,000 for the first time. Officials also ordered bars and restaurants to shut between 12 p.m. and 6 a.m., but stopped short of bringing back other measures that could hurt businesses such as closing restaurants and non-essential stores. Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has blamed migrants and foreigners for the spread of the virus, reintroduced an entry ban on all foreigners with some exceptions. The ban went into place on Sep. 1, as the country began to see an uptick in daily cases. In a Sep. 12 interview with a public broadcaster, M1, Orban said he is drafting a “war plan” to prevent a second wave. “We do not want to introduce a curfew; we do not want movement restrictions,” Orban said. “We want everything to happen as it normally should.” He added that measures to protect the economy and stimulate growth would be introduced in the coming weeks. In the second quarter of the year, Hungary’s GDP fell 13.6% compared to last year (the average decline among E.U. members was 14.4%). But experts say that prioritizing economic considerations over public health can backfire. “It’s false to frame the introduction of new restrictions as a trade off between health and the economy. If you don’t get the rates down, you can open up the shops but people won’t go into them,” says McKee. Europe can continue to expect to see a rise in infection transmission in the autumn and winter as people return indoors, experts say, but the level of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are unlikely to reach those seen in the spring peak. “We’re in a much better place but we need to prepare for a difficult autumn and winter,” says Dowd.
Markdown	[Skip to Content](https://time.com/5888765/central-europe-covid-19/#maincontent) - Menu Close [Subscribe](https://time.com/subscribe-header-time/) - [World](https://time.com/section/world/) - [europe](https://time.com/tag/europe/) # Central Europe Largely Avoided the First Coronavirus Wave. Why Are Cases Spiking Now? [ADD TIME ON GOOGLE](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://time.com) Show me more content from TIME on Google Search by [Madeline Roache](https://time.com/author/madeline-roache/) Sep 15, 2020 2:40 PM CUT ![Virus Outbreak Czech Republic](https://gcp-na-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbc1febcffb77baae/698a122fdb29875254265cd3/68d4b4fa145e4feb9db08e9720a8ce0d-68d4b4fa145e4feb9db08e9720a8ce0d-405af09400264adca78fff067880b2a8-4a8c4.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3%3A2) People wait to get tested for COVID-19 at a drive-in sampling station in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. People wait to get tested for COVID-19 at a drive-in sampling station in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020.Petr David Josek—AP Photo/Getty Images by [Madeline Roache](https://time.com/author/madeline-roache/) Sep 15, 2020 2:40 PM CUT Central Europe in the past week has seen a spike in daily confirmed coronavirus cases, a major setback for a region that largely avoided the first wave of the virus in the spring. The Czech Republic, an E.U. member state of 10.7 million, registered a country record of 1,382 new infections on Sep. 11, bringing the country’s total cases to over 32,400. In the last week, nearby countries Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia have also recorded their highest daily caseloads since the pandemic began. Infections in the Czech Republic previously [peaked](https://time.com/5800901/coronavirus-map/ "undefined") at around 3 cases per capita (per 100,000 residents) in late March but reached 11.6 cases per capita on Sep. 13. By comparison, the U.S. had 12 cases per capita. Now, the Czech Republic has one of the highest 14-day infection rates in Europe, according to the [European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea "undefined") Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech [said](https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-digest-israel-to-enter-second-nationwide-lockdown/a-54910181 "undefined") on Sep. 13 “nobody expected” such a spike in the country. Governments of central European countries, keen to not impose national lockdowns and prevent further damage to their shrinking economies, have reimposed travel restrictions and renewed social distancing measures for citizens. The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a major blow to the European economy, particularly countries that rely on tourism. The E.U. economy will decline by an average 8.3% this year, the [European Commission said](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1269 "undefined") in July. The 27-member bloc, formed after World War II, is expected to fall into the deepest recession in its history. The economies of the Czech Republic and Hungary are predicted to drop by 7.8% and 7% respectively, compared to last year. Advertisement ## Where are cases rising in Central Europe? The sharpest rise has been recorded in Czech Republic but other countries nearby, including Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, are also seeing worrying increases in daily case numbers. ![Czech Republic cases](https://gcp-na-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt87834f8145c5413e/698a1231db2987085b265cdf/czechia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9) Czech Republic cases Hungary on Sep. 12 saw its largest daily reported infections since the pandemic began with 916 people testing positive, bringing the country’s total number of infections to 11,825, [according to](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html "undefined") Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Most infections have been registered in the capital city of Budapest. Slovakia registered a record number of daily cases on Sep. 5 when 226 people tested positive for the virus, [according to](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html "undefined") JHU. Slovenia recorded its highest ever daily caseload with 108 new infections on Sep. 11. Advertisement ![Slovakia cases](https://gcp-na-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdf533eddf08f1b1a/698a12314ee2627457317ead/slovakia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9) Slovakia cases ![Slovenia cases](https://gcp-na-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt209f3c164b24f333/698a1232b21a9c449450403f/slovenia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9) Slovenia cases ## ## ## ## ## How did Central Europe fare during the beginning of the pandemic? Central Europe avoided the full brunt of the first wave of coronavirus infections during the spring. On April 15, the U.K. had 159 cases per capita while the Czech Republic had 58 and Hungary, 16. Luck and foresight initially helped Central Europe to shield itself from the virus, experts say. Some countries in Europe benefited from less international visitors and from going into lockdown when their transmission rates were relatively low. “Central Europe was protected by not being as well connected as international travel hubs and by heeding the warnings from other countries,” says Jennifer Beam Dowd, associate professor of demography and population health at Oxford University. Advertisement ## Why are infections rising in the region? The spike is likely connected to increased travel combined with a relaxation in restrictions, experts say. In mid-May, most of Europe began reopening its bars, restaurants and nightclubs, subject to social distancing measures. By mid-June, most of the continent [welcomed back travelers](https://time.com/5859217/europe-tourism-coronavirus/ "undefined") from the E.U. and other countries with a stable or decreasing trend of new cases. The Czech government [reopened](http://praguemorning.cz/restaurants-hotels-and-pools-to-reopen-tomorrow-may-25/ "undefined") bars, restaurants and hotels, and allowed gatherings of up to 300 people on May 25 as new daily cases that month were below 111. Hungary [reopened](https://www.kormany.hu/en/news/from-monday-new-rules-to-take-effect-in-budapest "undefined") all shops and the outdoor sections of cafes and restaurants on May 18 when new daily infections remained under 90. By June 22, the Czech Republic and Hungary had opened their borders to visitors from the E.U. and other countries when new daily infections were below 83 and 29 respectively that month. But in late August the number of daily reported cases in these countries, as well as in Slovakia and Slovenia, began to rise. Advertisement Europe as a whole opened up too quickly, says Martin McKee, a professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “There was a great deal of optimism when cases were coming down. But we were only containing it with severe restrictions. As soon as you open up the people, you open up the virus to spread,” he says. ![APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Czech Republic](https://gcp-na-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc38bfb4bddae3c91/698a122fb21a9c8615504036/47b9a23ced44492b8bb7a8ca6f1058cd-9bc0f5068fea4b6b9f9f6e5fd48a1718-9e9185e78f6a473aa2d40685eb99929e-019e1-1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9) Residents sit to dine on a 500 meter long table set on the medieval Charles Bridge, after restrictions were eased following the coronavirus pandemic in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Petr David Josek —AP Photo/Getty Images Opening up indoor, poorly ventilated spaces has been particularly dangerous. “Large gatherings, crowds in indoor and even outdoor spaces have undoubtedly contributed to the rise we’re now seeing, says Dowd. “It has a ripple effect that appears later on.” Advertisement Experts have linked local outbreaks across Europe to the opening of bars and nightclubs in the Czech Republic, France and Switzerland, among others. At the end of July, at least [98 people](https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-czech/prague-club-virus-outbreak-spreads-to-98-people-idUKKCN24O26X "undefined") tested positive following an outbreak in a nightclub in the Czech capital, Prague. ## What are countries doing to prevent the spread of the virus? The Czech government [reintroduced](https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-czech/czech-government-orders-wearing-of-face-masks-indoors-as-cases-spike-idUKKBN26017N "undefined") mandatory mask-wearing in taxis, public transport, shops and malls, starting Sep. 10 when daily new cases topped 1,000 for the first time. Officials also ordered bars and restaurants to shut between 12 p.m. and 6 a.m., but stopped short of bringing back other measures that could hurt businesses such as closing restaurants and non-essential stores. Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has [blamed](https://www.france24.com/en/20200313-hungary-s-pm-orban-blames-foreign-students-migration-for-coronavirus-spread "undefined") migrants and foreigners for the spread of the virus, reintroduced an entry ban on all foreigners with some exceptions. The ban went into place on Sep. 1, as the country began to see an uptick in daily cases. Advertisement In a Sep. 12 [interview](https://hirado.hu/belfold/belpolitika/cikk/2020/09/12/orban-viktor-azt-szeretnenk-hogy-magyarorszag-mukodjon/ "undefined") with a public broadcaster, M1, Orban said he is drafting a “war plan” to prevent a second wave. “We do not want to introduce a curfew; we do not want movement restrictions,” Orban said. “We want everything to happen as it normally should.” He added that measures to protect the economy and stimulate growth would be introduced in the coming weeks. In the second quarter of the year, Hungary’s GDP [fell](https://hirado.hu/belfold/gazdasag/cikk/2020/08/14/ksh-136-szazalekkal-csokkent-a-gazdasag-teljesitmenye-a-masodik-negyedevben "undefined") 13.6% compared to last year (the average decline among E.U. members was 14.4%). But experts say that prioritizing economic considerations over public health can backfire. “It’s false to frame the introduction of new restrictions as a trade off between health and the economy. If you don’t get the rates down, you can open up the shops but people won’t go into them,” says McKee. Europe can continue to expect to see a rise in infection transmission in the autumn and winter as people return indoors, experts say, but the level of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are unlikely to reach those seen in the spring peak. 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Readable Markdown	Central Europe in the past week has seen a spike in daily confirmed coronavirus cases, a major setback for a region that largely avoided the first wave of the virus in the spring. The Czech Republic, an E.U. member state of 10.7 million, registered a country record of 1,382 new infections on Sep. 11, bringing the country’s total cases to over 32,400. In the last week, nearby countries Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia have also recorded their highest daily caseloads since the pandemic began. Infections in the Czech Republic previously [peaked](https://time.com/5800901/coronavirus-map/ "undefined") at around 3 cases per capita (per 100,000 residents) in late March but reached 11.6 cases per capita on Sep. 13. By comparison, the U.S. had 12 cases per capita. Now, the Czech Republic has one of the highest 14-day infection rates in Europe, according to the [European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea "undefined") Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech [said](https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-digest-israel-to-enter-second-nationwide-lockdown/a-54910181 "undefined") on Sep. 13 “nobody expected” such a spike in the country. Governments of central European countries, keen to not impose national lockdowns and prevent further damage to their shrinking economies, have reimposed travel restrictions and renewed social distancing measures for citizens. The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a major blow to the European economy, particularly countries that rely on tourism. The E.U. economy will decline by an average 8.3% this year, the [European Commission said](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1269 "undefined") in July. The 27-member bloc, formed after World War II, is expected to fall into the deepest recession in its history. The economies of the Czech Republic and Hungary are predicted to drop by 7.8% and 7% respectively, compared to last year. Where are cases rising in Central Europe? The sharpest rise has been recorded in Czech Republic but other countries nearby, including Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, are also seeing worrying increases in daily case numbers. ![Czech Republic cases](https://gcp-na-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt87834f8145c5413e/698a1231db2987085b265cdf/czechia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9) Czech Republic cases Hungary on Sep. 12 saw its largest daily reported infections since the pandemic began with 916 people testing positive, bringing the country’s total number of infections to 11,825, [according to](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html "undefined") Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Most infections have been registered in the capital city of Budapest. Slovakia registered a record number of daily cases on Sep. 5 when 226 people tested positive for the virus, [according to](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html "undefined") JHU. Slovenia recorded its highest ever daily caseload with 108 new infections on Sep. 11. ![Slovakia cases](https://gcp-na-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdf533eddf08f1b1a/698a12314ee2627457317ead/slovakia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9) Slovakia cases ![Slovenia cases](https://gcp-na-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt209f3c164b24f333/698a1232b21a9c449450403f/slovenia-curve-sept15.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9) Slovenia cases How did Central Europe fare during the beginning of the pandemic? Central Europe avoided the full brunt of the first wave of coronavirus infections during the spring. On April 15, the U.K. had 159 cases per capita while the Czech Republic had 58 and Hungary, 16. Luck and foresight initially helped Central Europe to shield itself from the virus, experts say. Some countries in Europe benefited from less international visitors and from going into lockdown when their transmission rates were relatively low. “Central Europe was protected by not being as well connected as international travel hubs and by heeding the warnings from other countries,” says Jennifer Beam Dowd, associate professor of demography and population health at Oxford University. Why are infections rising in the region? The spike is likely connected to increased travel combined with a relaxation in restrictions, experts say. In mid-May, most of Europe began reopening its bars, restaurants and nightclubs, subject to social distancing measures. By mid-June, most of the continent [welcomed back travelers](https://time.com/5859217/europe-tourism-coronavirus/ "undefined") from the E.U. and other countries with a stable or decreasing trend of new cases. The Czech government [reopened](http://praguemorning.cz/restaurants-hotels-and-pools-to-reopen-tomorrow-may-25/ "undefined") bars, restaurants and hotels, and allowed gatherings of up to 300 people on May 25 as new daily cases that month were below 111. Hungary [reopened](https://www.kormany.hu/en/news/from-monday-new-rules-to-take-effect-in-budapest "undefined") all shops and the outdoor sections of cafes and restaurants on May 18 when new daily infections remained under 90. By June 22, the Czech Republic and Hungary had opened their borders to visitors from the E.U. and other countries when new daily infections were below 83 and 29 respectively that month. But in late August the number of daily reported cases in these countries, as well as in Slovakia and Slovenia, began to rise. Europe as a whole opened up too quickly, says Martin McKee, a professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “There was a great deal of optimism when cases were coming down. But we were only containing it with severe restrictions. As soon as you open up the people, you open up the virus to spread,” he says. ![APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Czech Republic](https://gcp-na-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc38bfb4bddae3c91/698a122fb21a9c8615504036/47b9a23ced44492b8bb7a8ca6f1058cd-9bc0f5068fea4b6b9f9f6e5fd48a1718-9e9185e78f6a473aa2d40685eb99929e-019e1-1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16%3A9) Residents sit to dine on a 500 meter long table set on the medieval Charles Bridge, after restrictions were eased following the coronavirus pandemic in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Petr David Josek —AP Photo/Getty Images Opening up indoor, poorly ventilated spaces has been particularly dangerous. “Large gatherings, crowds in indoor and even outdoor spaces have undoubtedly contributed to the rise we’re now seeing, says Dowd. “It has a ripple effect that appears later on.” Experts have linked local outbreaks across Europe to the opening of bars and nightclubs in the Czech Republic, France and Switzerland, among others. At the end of July, at least [98 people](https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-czech/prague-club-virus-outbreak-spreads-to-98-people-idUKKCN24O26X "undefined") tested positive following an outbreak in a nightclub in the Czech capital, Prague. What are countries doing to prevent the spread of the virus? The Czech government [reintroduced](https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-czech/czech-government-orders-wearing-of-face-masks-indoors-as-cases-spike-idUKKBN26017N "undefined") mandatory mask-wearing in taxis, public transport, shops and malls, starting Sep. 10 when daily new cases topped 1,000 for the first time. Officials also ordered bars and restaurants to shut between 12 p.m. and 6 a.m., but stopped short of bringing back other measures that could hurt businesses such as closing restaurants and non-essential stores. Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has [blamed](https://www.france24.com/en/20200313-hungary-s-pm-orban-blames-foreign-students-migration-for-coronavirus-spread "undefined") migrants and foreigners for the spread of the virus, reintroduced an entry ban on all foreigners with some exceptions. The ban went into place on Sep. 1, as the country began to see an uptick in daily cases. In a Sep. 12 [interview](https://hirado.hu/belfold/belpolitika/cikk/2020/09/12/orban-viktor-azt-szeretnenk-hogy-magyarorszag-mukodjon/ "undefined") with a public broadcaster, M1, Orban said he is drafting a “war plan” to prevent a second wave. “We do not want to introduce a curfew; we do not want movement restrictions,” Orban said. “We want everything to happen as it normally should.” He added that measures to protect the economy and stimulate growth would be introduced in the coming weeks. In the second quarter of the year, Hungary’s GDP [fell](https://hirado.hu/belfold/gazdasag/cikk/2020/08/14/ksh-136-szazalekkal-csokkent-a-gazdasag-teljesitmenye-a-masodik-negyedevben "undefined") 13.6% compared to last year (the average decline among E.U. members was 14.4%). But experts say that prioritizing economic considerations over public health can backfire. “It’s false to frame the introduction of new restrictions as a trade off between health and the economy. If you don’t get the rates down, you can open up the shops but people won’t go into them,” says McKee. Europe can continue to expect to see a rise in infection transmission in the autumn and winter as people return indoors, experts say, but the level of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are unlikely to reach those seen in the spring peak. “We’re in a much better place but we need to prepare for a difficult autumn and winter,” says Dowd.
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