Medical workers examine the rapid antigen tests for the coronavirus in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. Czech Republic's Health Minister Vlastimil Valek said Friday Jan. 14, 2022 that the new Czech government will allow some people who have been tested positive for the coronavirus to keep working, an extraordinary measure to ease possible staff shortages caused by an anticipated surge of the omicron variant. The measure, which was used during the previous coronavirus waves, would only apply for workers at the health care system and in nursing homes who have no symptoms of COVID-19. Credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek, file

The new Czech government will allow some workers who have tested positive for the coronavirus to stay on the job, in an extraordinary measure to ease possible staff shortages caused by an anticipated surge of the omicron variant.

Health Minister Vlastimil Valek said Friday the measure, which was also used during previous coronavirus surges, would only apply to workers in and nursing homes who have no symptoms of COVID-19.

Valek said it would be used only when absolutely necessary, amid strict safeguards to prevent such workers from infecting other people. Further conditions will be set by health authorities.

New infections in the Czech Republic had been declining since a record high in late November, but started increasing again last week. The highly infectious omicron variant is now dominant in the country.

The Health Ministry has said daily infections could reach 50,000 later this month, far exceeding a record of almost 28,000 on Nov 25.

The Czech Republic has reported almost 2.6 million confirmed infections and 36,799 deaths.

  • Health care workers transport a COVID-19 patient, in Ceska Lipa, Czech Republic, Thursday, March 18, 2021. Czech Republic's Health Minister Vlastimil Valek said Friday Jan. 14, 2022 that the new Czech government will allow some people who have been tested positive for the coronavirus to keep working, an extraordinary measure to ease possible staff shortages caused by an anticipated surge of the omicron variant. The measure, which was used during the previous coronavirus waves, would only apply for workers at the health care system and in nursing homes who have no symptoms of COVID-19. Credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File

  • Volunteer dressed in a costume talks to a young boy who is about to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at vaccination center in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. Czech Republic's Health Minister Vlastimil Valek said Friday Jan. 14, 2022 that the new Czech government will allow some people who have been tested positive for the coronavirus to keep working, an extraordinary measure to ease possible staff shortages caused by an anticipated surge of the omicron variant. The measure, which was used during the previous coronavirus waves, would only apply for workers at the health care system and in nursing homes who have no symptoms of COVID-19. Credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File

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