A practical guide to the Easter holidays in Hungary during Covid-19

Photo: MTI/Komka Péter

Navigating through the constant flux of information about the pandemic and recently imposed restrictions has become difficult and disorienting, to say the least. We have attempted to collect the most important news and tips on how to celebrate Easter in Hungary safely and perhaps a bit more economically under these unprecedented circumstances.

The current restrictive measures (for more details, click here) are to remain in effect until 2.5 million people receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; thus, this four-day long Easter weekend will be quite unlike any other in the past. Attendance of large family gatherings is discouraged, but it is also of vital importance to avoid crowds while shopping for the Easter feast. As reported by 24.hu,

grocery shops and supermarkets are open only on 3 April, Saturday,

and will be closed on Good Friday as well as Easter Sunday and Monday. Shops like Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Spar, Auchan, Penny, Metro, Coop, Reál, and CBA will be open in the usual hours on Saturday, closing at 7 p.m. Drugstores observe the same rules, while shops at petrol stations may be open during the weekend. Complying with hygiene regulations and social distancing in the shops is mandatory.

It will not only be challenging to buy the ingredients for the Easter dinner but also relatively expensive.

The surge in food prices affects meat products significantly due to the pandemic and the spread of African swine fever, HVG writes.

Factors influencing the increase of expenses include the rise of animal feed costs and the shutdown of the catering industry. Naturally, the inflation of the forint should not be overlooked either. If we wish to save some money, the farmers’ market proves to be the perfect place, where goods can be bought directly from the producers. According to the calculations of HVG, a family with four members will have to pay approximately HUF 10,000-13,000 (€30-35) for ham, eggs, and chocolate this year.

The operative board announced that inoculation will proceed throughout the weekend and GPs are allowed to go on with vaccination as usual. 101 hospitals and 400 vaccination points participate in the national vaccination plan. Ágnes Galgóczi, head of the epidemiology department of the National Public Health Centre (NNK), affirmed that celebrations must be held solely within the nuclear family. Lieutenant Colonel Róbert Kiss emphasised that the police will pay special attention to the enforcement of the ban on social gatherings.