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| - The Czech government on Friday eased its coronavirus restrictions, allowing freedom of movement for the first time in nearly six weeks and announcing it will reopen the country's borders to EU business travellers "From Monday, April 27, EU citizens can come to the Czech Republic on business," foreign ministry official Pavla Novotna told reporters. She added they will only be able to stay for 72 hours. Seasonal workers will also be allowed in but will have restricted freedom of movement for two weeks. Those arriving will have to submit a negative coronavirus test result obtained no earlier than four days before crossing the border. "We're not saying anyone from the EU can come whenever they want," Novotna said. On Thursday, the country announced a lockdown exit strategy in a bid to revive the economy. All businesses including restaurants and shopping malls can now open from May 25, two weeks earlier than previously planned. The government also raised the public gathering limit to 10 people as of Friday and reinstated the freedom of movement which has been restricted since last month. Czechs will now also be able to travel abroad, but upon returning, they will have to submit a negative test or go into quarantine for two weeks. Everyone still has to wear face masks in public, unless they are engaging in athletic activity. By Friday morning, the EU member of 10.7 million people had registered 7,188 confirmed cases of the virus, up by 55 from Thursday -- the slowest growth since mid-March. A total of 213 people with the COVID-19 disease have died. Also on Thursday, Czech health authorities began testing people in Prague and elsewhere to determine the spread of the virus among symptomless individuals. frj/amj/pvh
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