In reaction to the coronavirus outbreak in Europe the Government of the Czech Republic has adopted comprehensive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection. A state of emergency has been declared on the 12th of March for 30 days, during which Czech citizens cannot travel abroad and foreigners cannot enter the Czech Republic. While restrictions are unprecedentedly tough, the Government has also taken special care to protect the most vulnerable groups of citizens. Schools are closed, and persons over 65 years old can now shop safely during designated hours when no other shoppers are allowed.

The Government has also made it mandatory to wear masks in public. In light of the fact that wearing face masks is not common in the Czech Republic under normal circumstances, the country is now facing a significant shortage of medical materials. Almost all European countries are experiencing similar problems with such supplies, and it is therefore difficult to find a solution within Europe. In this situation, the Czech Government reached out beyond the EU and secured a substantive amount of medical supplies in China.

It was still challenging to ensure urgent delivery of these materials from China to Prague due to limited air transport capacity on the Czech side. In this regard, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Czech Republic is now talking to the Czech Government for facilitating timely cargo transport by possible participation of Korean companies.

This discussion, which is entirely in the spirit of the Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Korea and the Czech Republic, is deeply appreciated by the Czech side. The two countries are commemorating the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. What could better demonstrate the strength of the relationship than willingness to help each other, as described in the well-known proverb, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

There are also other ways how both countries can help each other under current circumstances. Experience sharing among medical professionals and public health experts is certainly one of them, because with pandemics we are all only as strong as our weakest link. The Korean side has been very open and transparent since the beginning of the crisis and gained a deep expertise and reputation. That is why the Czech Embassy in Seoul is now trying to facilitate regular exchanges among relevant institutions involved in the fight against the virus.

Czech citizens also do not sit idly and wait for the Government to provide everything for them. Thousands of Czechs have spontaneously joined forces to sew face masks at home to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. Pictures have gone viral on social media that showed people waiting in a line as long as several meters in front of fabric stores that the government ordered to remain open so people could buy material. The situation has triggered an extraordinary wave of solidarity as people are donating masks to senior citizens or healthcare and social facilities that lack supplies. Many creative experiments are going on as well, such as using 3D printers to produce protective gear.

There are also other ways how Korean and Czech cultural environments interact despite limited physical contacts during the state of emergency. Five Prague cinemas have started a joint project, “My Cinema LIVE”, through which they live stream movies to spectators at home. The famous Korean movie “Parasite” has been selected as the best first movie to be shown, contributing thus to lifting the mood of Czech citizens during the quarantine measures.