PRAGUE — Thousands of angry protesters have rallied in the Czech capital to protest the government’s restrictive measures imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The demonstrators representing different business groups, artists, teachers, doctors and unions have condemned the restrictions, calling them chaotic, ineffective and harmful for the country.

Many have pledged to reopen their businesses despite the current strict lockdown.

Police estimated up to 3,000 attended the peaceful protest at Prague’s Old Town Square on Sunday. The demonstrators didn’t have face masks and ignored social distancing rules.

Former President Vaclav Klaus, a consistent critic of the government’s response to the pandemic, addressed the crowd. Klaus says the restrictions don’t help anything and devastate people’s lives and economy.

The Czech Republic had 831,165 confirmed cases with 13,115 deaths.