The usual siren test which takes place on the first Wednesday of the month was not heard in the streets of the Czech Republic on October 7th. Rudolf Kramář, a spokesman for the Czech Fire Department, said that a regular siren test at noon would not take place then. Photo credit: Freepik / For illustrative purposes.
Czech Rep., Oct 7 (BD) [Updated Dec 2 16:30] – The reason was the state of emergency, which has been in place again in the Czech Republic since Monday, October 5th due to the coronavirus epidemic. Drahoslav Ryba, Director General of the Czech Fire and Rescue Service, agreed with the Central Crisis Staff to cancel the test on October 7th.
The siren test is coming back after two months today, December 2nd. The South Moravian Fire Department has announced this morning.
HZS JmK informuje, že na základě rozhodnutí Ústředního krizového štábu proběhne dnes (2. 12. 2020) ve standardní podobě pravidelná zkouška sirén, která byla v minulých dvou měsících kvůli nouzovému stavu zrušena.
— HZS Jihomoravského kraje (@hzsjhm) December 2, 2020
The sirens did not sound at noon on the first Wednesday in April and May or during the floods in 2009 and 2013, at a time when the country was also in a state of emergency and restrictions due to the spread of Covid-19. In such situations, the Fire Department cancels the test to avoid causing panic.
