Czech city bans Roma children from pools Czech Rep. (RNC Agency) 15.06.1996 The Czech city of Kladno has banned Roma children from entering municipal swimming areas, saying they are more likely to be hepatitis carriers than other residents. Deputy Mayor Slavomir Cirnfus told on Friday that the city government had taken the step because ``about 95 percent`` of more than 100 cases of hepatitis reported by the district health office involved Roma children. Jarmila Zidova of the health office said about 2,500 residents ofthe area had been placed under quarantine in recent months -- ``most of the them Gypsies`` -- because they had come into contact with afriend or relative with the hepatitis virus. Cirnfus said all Roma under 15 would be banned from swimming areas in Kladno, about 25 km (15 miles) from Prague, until the hepatitis outbreak subsided because many Roma were not sticking to the quarantine conditions.``There are potentially another 1,500 contact cases which can be dangerous, not because it can be transferred in the water, but elsewhere at the swimming area -- in the queue, in the restaurant, on the waterslideand so on,`` he added. ``There are potentially another 1,500 contact cases which can be dangerous, not because it can be transferred in the water, but elsewhere at the swimming area -- in the queue, in the restaurant, on the waterslide and so on,`` he added. Cirnfus said staff at swimming areas would check identification ofthose entering in order to enforce the ban.``It might happen that (the checks) might offend somebody who is nota Roma and might be questioned, but I don't think there will be that many cases,`` he said.