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| Me Wearing a Mask in 2020 |
Hi Everyone,
My last update was almost a year ago! Time flies when you’re
having “fun!” The good news is that Jiri and I are still OK. We survived
another lockdown, which wasn’t easy. But we made it through!
We've led a relatively quiet life through the last year. We've not traveled at all, though I really wanted to go back home to visit family this summer. It wasn't possible due to my vaccination status, etc. We've also not visited our Czech family for the same reason. Some family members, on both sides of the pond, have health issues that would make getting Covid very dangerous.
So, live has been very quiet. We go for walks and get out. That's not a problem! But seeing family & friends has been next to impossible. I'm looking forward to a time when we can meet everyone again.
Rollback of Restrictions
Just like last year, the government began easing the
restrictions once the warmer spring weather arrived. Fortunately, they learned
an important lesson from last year and have slowly been releasing pandemic requirements.
By the end of May, or so, it was possible to be outside
without a mask if there weren’t many people around. This was a welcome relief
for those who hate the masks.
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| Czech Countryside |
Covid Vaccine Issues
Just like in the US and other parts of Europe, we’ve had
major issues with the Covid vaccines. When they first became available, the
number of vaccines was very low. This continued well into the spring. However, about
the middle of May a larger amount of vaccine was on offer.
They are predominantly offering Pfizer and Moderna here.
Some hope that the EU will also allow the Russian vaccine Sputnik V into the
country. But with the current political issues between the Czech Republic & Russia, that
doesn’t look very likely.
We have anti-vaxxers here, too. The government has tried incentive plans to get people vaccinated. The two I’ve personally heard about were for some high-end tennis shoes and the other was cash. However, these were not awarded once you had the vaccination.
Instead, the government was going to
offer drawings for these prizes! When you had your shot, it was then possible
to have your name entered to win one of these awards. As you can imagine, it
didn’t seem to be a very good incentive for those who are against being
vaccinated!
My Experience with the Pfizer Vaccine
I was finally able to get my first shot in July and my second
shot last week. They have Pfizer where we live. I’m happy to have had both of
my shots, but to have say the vaccine has been rough on my system. I have a lot
of allergies, asthma, and other health issues that are playing into the reaction
to the vaccine.
So, my system is definitely unhappy. Even so, for me, this
was the best decision. Having the vaccine will hopefully provide some
protection against the current threats. However, we’ll have to see if a third
booster will be needed at a later date. My system is cringing at the thought!
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| Berlin Train Station |
Traveling to Europe – Things to Keep in Mind
Again, like last year, the Czech government worked with other
EU countries on travel requirements during the pandemic. For a while this travel season, Europe
was almost completely open. But the Delta variant has become more predominant over the last couple of months. The growing number of cases has begun to force
some countries to increase travel restrictions again.
So, if you’re planning on traveling to Europe any time soon, my first recommendation is to buy some excellent travel insurance. The insurance should cover everything from medical bills (in case you get sick while you’re away), travel interruptions and cancellations, and more. This way, you’re covered if something goes wrong on the trip due to Covid.
Be sure to read
through the terms and conditions to ensure the specific insurance covers Covid
or pandemic issues. Some travel insurance policies do not cover pandemics, so read all the information in the terms & conditions before buying travel
insurance. And if you have any doubts about what the travel insurance does/doesn't cover, then call and talk with an agent to get some clarity.
Many people also forget to check the Covid restrictions of
countries they may transit through! This is also important! The last thing you
want to happen on your European vacation is to get stuck in transit! So, be
sure to also research all the transit conditions for each country you may
travel through.
You’ll also want to be sure you understand the Covid restrictions
at your destination BEFORE you leave on the trip! Why is this
important? Because we’re currently going through an increase in Delta variant
cases all across Europe. This means the travel restrictions may change every
day. In other words, the restrictions for people entering the country are changing
at a very fast pace. You want to know what the current requirements are right before
you leave.
In many countries, you’ll need proof of vaccination, may be
required to stay in quarantine after arrival (depending on your destination),
and more. And many countries also have mask mandates. Learn about these before
you leave!
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| Cesky Krumlov |
Current Situation in the Czech Republic – August 10, 2021
Today, things are relatively open. The average number of
Covid cases is about 200 a day (sometimes a little lower). However, this is
expected to rise once everyone returns from vacation. When everyone heads back
to work and school, the expectation is that the Delta variant will really take
off. This is expected to happen in the next 2-4 weeks.
For now, however, it’s relatively nice and moving around is
not restricted.
You can find the current restrictions and all other pandemic
information on the Czech Ministry of Health’s website (in English): https://koronavirus.mzcr.cz/en/ .
It’s also an excellent idea to check out the information on
the US embassy website for the Czech Republic: https://cz.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-71/.
Here, you’ll find the latest information on conditions, restrictions, and more.
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| Panorama of Prague, Czech Republic with Charles Bridge |
Closing Thoughts
The pandemic has hit everyone hard. We’re all ready for this
to be over. However, the reality is that it looks like we’ll have to deal with
another round of Covid, at least. The virus continues to mutate. What will this
mean for the effectiveness of our current vaccines? No one is quite certain
about this. Everything is very uncertain at this point.
Personally, I believe Covid and its mutations will be around
for a quite a while. I don’t see us going back to what we once called a “normal”
life. So, the key is to adapt to what’s happening and stay up with the current information.
Be prepared and stay alert. These are the things that can help us through to our "new" normal and be able to enjoy life at the same time.
In the meantime, do what you can to stay safe and keep those
around you safe. I keep you all and your loved ones in my prayers, asking for good
health, safety & security in all ways.
Stay safe and healthy!
God bless,
Sherry
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