Analysis of Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Czech Republic was hit by Covid-19 in several waves similarly to what other countries around the world have been experiencing. Crisis and risk communication are essential in such perilous times. In the Czech context risk and emergency communication had several significant properties, there were several Health Ministers that changed during a very short time, communication proved to be ill-prepared and without unified vision and failed to systematically improve. This study uncovers those shortcomings using content analysis of official statements made by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic and effective comparison of each Health Minister against CDC methodology for risk and emergency communication. The technocratic populism enabled the communication to be framed in a quick response manner while bypassing institutionalized channels, which led to the creation of an illusion of somewhat successful risk communication. The most important underlying issue is the lack of unifying concept of risk communication and inconsistency which led to general confusion and increasing distrust in institutions that ultimately hampered the government's efforts in resolving the situation