COVID-19

The ABAF Organisation Committee has been closely monitoring the development of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and the rest of the world. Health and safety of our conference participants is our number one priority, so we have waited with the final decision till the end of June. After studying and evaluating the recent news, announcements and guidance from the relevant health authorities, we have decided to organize this year's conference as usually, with personal attendance and author presentations, on the originally planned dates from September 6 - September 9, 2020.

Our decision has been based on the following points:

• Thanks to timely and strong measures, the spread of COVID-19 in the Czech Republic has been very limited. As of July 1, out of 10.7 million inhabitants (after 556000 tests made), there were less than 12000 people positively tested and only 349 people have died.
• According to a large scale random testing made in the general population at the end of April, out of 26549 people, there were only 107 positive cases, showing that the Czech population is almost unaffected by COVID-19.
• The anti-COVID-19 measures in the Czech Republic have been gradually lifted since April 7 with most restrictions being lifted on July 1.
• Since May 11, cultural, business, education and other events are allowed to be held both outside and inside of buildings for up to 100 people wearing facemasks. Since June 22, this limit has been increased to 1000 people and since July 1, the participants even do not need to wear facemasks. Due to increased number of COVID-19 cases during July, this limit has been decreased to 500 on July 26 and wearing facemasks became mandatory for indoor events above 100 people.
• Beginning of September seems to be an optimal timing. It is 5 months after the COVID-19 peak in Europe and more than a month before the start of the autumn flu season, which might again worsen the COVID-19 outbreak.
• During June, the Czech Republic has eased travel restrictions for foreigners wanting to travel to the country. As of July 1, people from all EU countries (incl. UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein) may travel to the Czech Republic freely without any epidemiological restrictions as long as they have not stayed for more than 12 hours in the last two weeks in a "red zone" country with high COVID-19 risk. As of the beginning of August, only Romania is considered a "red zone" country.
• The list of countries, from which people can travel to the Czech Republic, is being revised and enlarged by non-EU countries every two weeks based on COVID-19 situation and reciprocity. Thus, people from more countries are becoming eligible to attend the ABAF conference. As of the beginning of August, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand are considered low risk countries.
• During July, there were COVID-19 outbreaks in certain regions of the Czech Republic, which have re-introduced some quarantine measures. The risky regions are located in Northern Moravia close to the border with Poland and to a lesser extent, the capital city of Prague. Brno and all neighboring regions are considered safe.

Our thoughts are with those affected by COVID-19. Scientists that are unable to travel to the conference due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions should contact the Organisation Committee to discuss how their research and findings could become part of the conference even without their physical presence (e.g. in the form of a poster).

We look forward to seeing our participants in Brno in September and to enjoying the personal interactions amongst colleagues that are so characteristic for the ABAF Conference. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the situation and in case of any changes, we will update this section and inform all registered participants.

COVID-19 in the Czech Republic in January - July 2020

As of July 1, 2020, out of 10 694 000 inhabitants of the Czech Republic, 11 954 people were tested COVID-19 positive and 349 people have died.

The first COVID-19 cases were reported on March 1, 2020. Eleven days later, the Czech government has declared the state of emergency, closed all schools, restaurants and non essential shops. On March 16, the country has closed its borders, forbade the entry of foreigners and issued a national curfew. The Czech Republic was the first European country to make the wearing of facemasks mandatory from March 19 onwards.

The Czech Republic started gradual easing of measures on April 7 with most restrictions being lifted by May 11 and almost all on July 1:

- April 7: opening outside sporting grounds, hobby markets, housewares, enabling movement in nature without facemasks

- April 14: ending a month long complete border closure

- April 20: opening farmers markets, tradesmen, car shops, outdoor athletic areas for professionals without spectators, enabling weddings with facemasks (up to 10 people)

- April 27: opening gyms, fitness centers, libraries and shops under 2500 m2 in size (except those in large shopping malls), partial opening of universities for consultations and exams with facemasks (up to 5 people)

- May 11: opening museums, galleries, theaters, shops above 2500 m2, large shopping malls, outdoor areas of restaurants, cafes, pubs, hairdressers, cosmetic saloons, ... enabling university lectures (up to 15 students in class), enabling cultural, business, sport, trade, education and other events with facemasks, both outside and inside (up to 100 people)

- May 25: opening indoor areas of restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels, castles, swimming pools, wellness centers, ... increasing the limit for cultural, business, sport, trade, education and other events from 100 to 300 people

- June 8: increasing the limit for all events, both inside and outside, from 300 to 500 people

- June 15: increasing the limit for sport stadiums and similar constructions to 2500 visitors (while maximum 500 people are in each separate sector), enabling movement outside of buildings and public transport without facemasks

- June 22: increasing the limit for all events from 500 to 1000 people, increasing the limit for sport stadiums to 5000 visitors (with maximum 1000 people in separate sectors)

- July 1: enabling movement inside of buildings and public transport without facemasks, except country regions with high COVID-19 presence (Brno is not such a risky region)

- July 26: re-introducing mandatory wearing of facemasks at all events in the Czech Republic with more than 100 people happening inside of buildings, decreasing the limit for all events inside of buildings to maximum 500 people

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