The Czech government has declared a 30-day state of emergency, closing Christmas markets as well as nightclubs in a bid to stem Covid-19 infections.

An EU member of 10.7 million people, the Czech Republic saw 18,004 new infections on Wednesday following a record-high 25,877 new cases the day before.

Hospitals in the east of the country are on the brink of their capacity and some have begun to move patients across the country by helicopters and ambulance, AFP reports.

Some hospitals have also reduced non-acute care because of the inflow of largely non-vaccinated patients.