The Czech government has agreed to resign following an election, Prime Minister Andrej Babis says, pledging his outgoing government will continue efforts to tame the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Babis said he sent the offer of resignation in a letter to President Milos Zeman, who has been hospitalised since October 10, instead of delivering it in person as is the usual practice.

When Mr Zeman accepts the resignation, he is due to task the outgoing government to perform its duties until the new government is appointed, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

The country of 10.7 million reported 13,502 new COVID-19 cases earlier on Thursday, while hospitalisations grew to 3452, with some hospitals forced to limit non-urgent care.

Babis and his allies lost the October 8-9 election to two blocs of opposition parties which have already agreed to form the next government.

Petr Fiala, leader of the strongest party in the five-member coalition, is the prospective prime minister.