In a tragic incident, a folk singer from the Czech Republic, Hana Horka, died after she contracted Covid-19 deliberately, her family has said. She was 57. Horka, who was the vocalist for the band Asonance, had posted on social media that she was recovering after testing positive for the infection but passed away on Sunday morning. Her son Jan Rek told public radio iRozhlas.cz on Monday that he and his father, both vaccinated, had caught the virus before Christmas. He added that his mother had decided to get exposed to the infection and continued to stay with them. "She should have isolated for a week because we tested positive. But she was with us the whole time," Rek told the BBC. 

The Czech Republic government has made proof of vaccination or a recent infection mandatory to gain entry to social and cultural events and venues, including cinemas and bars. Two days before she died, Horka took to social media and posted: "I survived... It was intense." She added, "So now there will be the theatre, sauna, a concert... and an urgent trip to the sea." Horka wanted to catch Covid in order to acquire a recovery pass that would have permitted her to visit venues outside. Rek further said that his mother said she was feeling better and ready to go outside for a walk. However, she went to lie down due to back pain and died shortly afterwards. He said, "In about 10 minutes it was all over. She choked to death."

Rek blamed his mother's death on the local anti-vax movement calling out its leaders and said that they had convinced her against vaccination. Stating that they now have "blood on their hands", he added, "I know exactly who influenced her... It makes me sad that she believed strangers more than her proper family." Rek further stated, "It wasn't just total disinformation but also views on natural immunity and antibodies acquired through infection.