Covid today Slovakia, president Caputova asks for general lockdown

The president of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova asked the government to immediately impose a general lockdown as in neighboring Austria to cope with the spread of Covid-19 infections. “We are the worst country in the world for the number of infections compared to the population. Hospitals are at the limit of capacity and must limit treatment. The health personnel are exhausted and beg for our help. But instead of thanks they get threats and insults”, Caputova said in a passionate speech after visiting a hospital in Bratislava. The choice of lockdown is unfair to those who are vaccinated, but unfortunately there is no choice, he stressed. Caputova’s intervention comes while the country of 5.4 million inhabitants has recorded 6,739 new infections and 66 deaths in the last 24 hours. 3,182 Covid patients are hospitalized in hospitals. Only 47% of the population received two doses of the vaccine. Caputova does not have the power to enforce the lockdown, but he is the most popular politician in the country and his words carry weight. So far the four-party coalition that governs the country has failed to impose strong measures against the contagion.