When it comes to per capita coronavirus deaths, the Czech Republic is among the largest in the world. According to official statistics from the country’s Ministry of Health, nearly 28,000 people died of COVID-19 by the end of March – and more than a hundred have died every day since.
But the picture is probably even worse. “Based on scientific estimates, the actual number of victims is at least a third higher,” said Jan Konvalinka, vice-rector of Charles University in Prague.
At the same time, the country has a relatively good health care system, an economy that is close to the EU average, low social inequality and the second highest standard of living among the countries of the former Soviet bloc. So how does this square with the high mortality rate of COVID-19?
Most Czech experts and analysts blame the populist government, led by oligarch Andrej Babis, for the catastrophic record of the country’s pandemic. “In situations where other countries were announcing blockades, the Czech Republic eased the restrictions. This happened after the summer break, as well as before Christmas. And now the government is considering it once again,” said Vaclav Horejsi, an immunologist at Czech Republic. Academy of Sciences (CAS), on Czech television.
Other likely reasons for the high mortality rate of COVID-19 are poor application of existing coronavirus restrictions, insufficient infection surveillance, lack of testing – and increasingly, the increasingly rapid transmission of the highly infectious and deadly variant in the UK of the virus.
The Czechs are by far the largest beer drinkers in the world and drink even more during the coronavirus crisis
The Czech “leaders” consume alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes
Experts say a generally unhealthy lifestyle, led by many Czechs, is also a contributing factor: The Czech Republic leads the world in terms of per capita beer consumption – with Czechs dropping almost 200 liters (53 gallons) per person each year; is the European “market leader” for marijuana use among young people; and “leads” the EU among smokers per capita.
With about 57% of women and 71% of men in the Czech Republic overweight, the country also leads the EU in this category. And the consequences of widespread obesity on health became apparent during the coronavirus pandemic: scientific research cited by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) after the first few months of the pandemic drew a clear link between obesity and the threat of death from diseases such as COVID-. 19.
Eight out of 10 overweight Czech patients COVID-19
“We were shocked to see such a strong correlation between the country’s proportion of overweight adults and deaths from COVID-19,” Tim Lobstein, lead author of the report, told the British daily. The Guardian.
“The correlation between obesity and mortality rates in COVID-19 is clear and convincing,” agreed Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Doctors in the Czech Republic also tried to warn the population about the dangers of being overweight or obese in relation to COVID-19. “Unfortunately, the Czech Republic is one of the record holders for obesity in Europe,” said Ladislav Dusek, director of the Institute for Health Information and Statistics on the Czech Republic (IHIS CR). Up to 80% of COVID patients hospitalized are obese or overweight, ”he told DW.
The vast majority of coronavirus infections and deaths are directly related to obesity – a factor in 80% of hospitalizations
Oversized belly is a “significant risk”
“People who are overweight are the most affected,” Martina Vasakova, head of respiratory medicine at Thomayer University Hospital in Prague, told Czech radio. “The pandemic started a year ago and since then, all those who are overweight have had the opportunity to assess the risk they take when it comes to COVID-19,” she said. “Unfortunately, what I see is that people are stressed and getting fat.”
According to Vasakova, the degree of obesity considered “normal” in the Czech Republic is, in fact, dangerous, “A belly is a significant risk for men and women,” she says.
Hope for spring?
“Even the risk of COVID-19 disease increases with obesity,” obese researcher Jozef Cupka told the Czech newspaper Denik N. “If an overweight person gets sick, there is a significantly higher chance of being hospitalized. And if you are hospitalized, there is a much higher chance of getting intensive care. And when you are in intensive care, there is a much higher risk of dying. “
Cupka also sees coronavirus restrictions in the Czech Republic as part of the problem. He notes that exercise was banned indoors, while alcohol consumption increased simultaneously and more people became overweight.
In mid-April, many restrictions need to be relaxed – and, in combination with spring weather, this means more opportunities for outdoor exercise, including more opportunities to lose weight.
Czech doctors are convinced: every kilogram counts in the fight against COVID-19.