Orbán cabinet: Hungary was 10th out of the EU’s 27 member states in terms of the number of infections – UPDATE

Fighting the coronavirus epidemic requires “quickness and an ability to respond”, which justifies the government’s reintroduction of a special legal order, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office told a press conference following a government meeting on Wednesday.

Gergely Gulyás said that the situation was deteriorating globally and especially in Europe, and “Hungary is no exception”. He added, however, that Hungary was 10th out of the European Union’s 27 member states in terms of the number of infections, while Hungary’s mortality rate was “about half of the EU average”. Still, he said, more and more people need hospitalisation in Hungary, their number probably exceeding 5,000 on Wednesday.

Gulyás said the government would propose that parliament should extend the special legal order, introduced now for 15 days, by another 90 days.

He appealed to the opposition to support the motion, saying that “if they do not contribute to prevention efforts they should not keep thwarting them”.

Strict observance of rules crucial to slowing epidemic

The restrictions concerning the coronavirus “must be observed and enforced” to slow down the epidemic, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office said, adding that the authorities would be “much stricter and more consistent” in enforcing curfew regulations and a ban on public events.

Gergely Gulyás spoke after a government session on Wednesday, and said that

shops, restaurant and club owners had “a great responsibility”, warning that facilities could be closed if proprietors were unable to enforce the rules on their premises.

Gulyás also said that the operative board in charge of coronavirus-related measures would meet at 6am daily or every other day in future, with the prime minister attending. The cabinet will meet once a week, he added.

Asked what the prime minister had meant on Tuesday when he said Hungary’s hospitals could be pushed to the limits of their capacity by December, Gulyás said 32,000 of the country’s 66,000-67,000 hospital beds could be occupied by coronavirus patients by the middle of next month. Hospitals could make more beds available by suspending non-urgent procedures, he said. Certain hospitals have already postponed them and the government could order all hospitals to do the same, he added.

Hungary has enough hospital beds, staff, nurses and doctors at its disposal, he said, adding that there were also plans to enlist junior and senior medical students as assistants.

Asked about the capacities of the health-care system, Gulyás said that even according to the most pessimistic estimates, the number of patients who would need to be put on ventilators was not expected to exceed 10,000.

Asked about the new restrictions, Gulyás said the government was prepared to introduce more if necessary.

He said the decision to close entertainment venues was modeled after practices seen elsewhere in Europe.

Asked about coronavirus testing procedures, he said Hungary was carrying out tests in accordance with the protocols recommended by the World Health Organisation while keeping an eye on a variety of testing practices, including the countrywide testing operation in Slovakia.

Asked if schools would have to be closed, Gulyás said the government believed the latest round of restrictions would be enough to slow the epidemic and schools could stay open.

No further restrictions are required in the public education system, he said, noting that the country must continue to function.

Gulyás also reiterated that teachers who were forced to stay home due to being infected with the virus were entitled to their full salary during sick leave.

He also said that

the government had not consulted the Budapest municipal council or any of the major localities before deciding on the new measures.

In response to another question, Gulyas said he had spoken to Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who has tested positive for coronavirus during official engagements in Asia. The minister is feeling well and is expected to return to Hungary by plane, Gulyás said.

Asked about the organisation of soccer matches, the PM’s Office chief said they would be going ahead, arguing that the risk of infection was considerably lower outdoors than in enclosed spaces. He reaffirmed stadiums that violate or fail to enforce the regulations would be closed.

If the rules are broken in too many stadiums, the matches will be held behind closed doors, he added.

Gulyás also said that the reintroduction of the special legal order also meant that by-elections would be cancelled across the country.

He said the reason why parliament has been asked to extend the special legal order by 90 days was because as things currently stand this time frame appears to be enough to slow the spread of the virus. Lawmakers may lift the special legal order earlier, he added.

Gulyás said that after receiving criticism from the opposition for not providing a time frame for the special legal order in the spring, the government hoped that this time it would win the backing of the opposition parties as well.

Asked about recent comments by a European Commission spokesperson coronavirus vaccines obtained from outside the European Union must comply with the bloc’s quality standards and approval procedures, Gulyás said

Hungary was keeping tabs on the development of Covid-19 vaccines in the United States, Russia and China.

The vaccine purchased by Hungary would not be put on the market, he said. The vaccine would be procured by the state and be made available to the public free of charge, he added.

Asked if the government had any plans to expand the powers of mayors in the interest of defending against the epidemic, Gulyás said that mayors would have the authority to exercise the powers of the local assemblies under the special legal order.

In response to another question, he said it was estimated to take 8-14 days for the government’s new measures to have an effect on the epidemic.

Concerning flu vaccinations, Gulyás said the government had originally ordered 1.4 million vaccines and had placed orders for more which were expected to arrive within a month and a half to two months.

Asked about the government’s decision to subsidise the purchase of green public transport vehicles for Budapest, Gulyás said the municipal council had 65 billion forints (EUR 178m) in the form of a credit line provided by the European Investment Bank, adding that it was up to the city’s mayor to decide whether or not he wants to approve the procurements.

Thanks to government support, 1,052 new metro trains, trams, buses and trolley buses can enter service in Budapest by 2022, he said.

• Here are the stricter measures in Hungary: curfew, special legal order – from midnight

Read alsoHungary records new daily high of COVID-19 infections, deaths – November 4, 2020

Source: MTI