Many in the Czech Republic and Slovakia refused to adhere to COVID guidelines at the events commemorating the 1989 Velvet Revolution.
Rallies commemorating the anti-communist Velvet Revolution of 1989 turned into protests against COVID-19 restrictions.
These rallies come as both countries reported record amounts of new COVID-19 cases. The Czech Republic saw 22,479 new cases be reported, while Slovakia had 8,342 new infections. New restrictions that would bar unvaccinated people from public events or establishments are expected to be approved by the government. Vaccinated people or those who have recently recovered from COVID-19 will be allowed to attend.
In a similar measure, Slovakia is expected to implement a three-week ban against unvaccinated people from nonessential places. Affected places around the country include gyms, pools and shopping malls. Mass public gatherings among unvaccinated people are also discouraged.. About 57 percent of the Czech Republic and 45.3 percent of Slovakia are fully vaccinated.Many protesters didn't adhere to social distancing rules and didn't wear masks.