Czech folk singer dies after deliberately catching Covid
The Czech folk singer died after deliberately contracting Covid-19 to obtain a health pass without getting vaccinated.
Hana Horka, 57, wanted to catch the disease to get the pass that would allow her to go to places off-limits to the unvaccinated, her family said.
She died on Sunday, her son Jan Rek said.
Mr Rek blamed his death on a local anti-vaxx movement, saying its leaders convinced Ms Horka not to get vaccinated.
He said they had “blood on their hands”.
“I know exactly who influenced her… It makes me sad that she believes strangers more than her own family,” Mr Rek continued.
“It was not just complete misinformation, but also opinions about natural immunity and antibodies acquired by infection.”
Ms Horka, singer of the band Asonance, had exposed herself to the virus on purpose when her husband and son, both vaccinated, caught it before Christmas, Mr Rek told local media.
“She decided to continue living normally with us and preferred to catch the disease rather than get vaccinated,” he said on Monday.
Two days before her death, Ms Horka posted on social media: “I survived… It was intense. So now there will be the theatre, the sauna, a concert… and an urgent trip to the sea . »
Proof of vaccination or recent infection is required to access cultural and sports facilities as well as to travel and to visit bars and restaurants in the Czech Republic.
The number of Covid cases in the country hit a new daily record on Wednesday, with 28,469 cases reported in a population of 10.7million.
The government announced on Wednesday that it would abandon plans to introduce compulsory vaccination for certain segments of society.
Earlier this month, thousands demonstrated in Prague and other cities against its possible introduction.
Around 63% of the total population of the Czech Republic has been fully vaccinated, compared to an average of 69% across the EU.
