Coronavirus in Hungary – 165 fatalities, infections up by 3,470

Fully 165 Covid patients, mostly elderly and suffering from an underlying illness, died over the past 24 hours in Hungary, while 3,470 infections were registered, bringing the total over the course of the pandemic to 283,870, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Monday.

The death toll stands at 7,130, while 82,546 have made a recovery. The number of active infections stands at 194,194, while 7,667 patients are in hospital, 605 on ventilators.

Fully 43,966 people are in official home quarantine, while the number of tests carried out has risen to 2,320,419.

Most of the infected have been registered in Budapest (56,312) and Pest County (36,231), followed by the counties of Győr-Moson-Sopron (17,254), Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén (16,608), Hajdú-Bihar (15,795) and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg (14,269). Tolna County (5,278) has the least number of infections.

• Hungarian government suspends dedicated shopping times for the elderly

Hungary’s restrictions to stay in place

As we wrote on Monday, Hungary’s current, strict coronavirus-related restrictions will be kept in place until January 11, PM Orbán said.

The central board coordinating efforts against the epidemic will decide about a possible exception for Christmas Eve on December 21, in view of the situation then. Orbán added, however, that December 31 would be no exception, with a ban on New Year’s Eve parties.

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Restrictions in Hungary

On November 10, lawmakers extended the government’s special powers by 90 days, allowing the government to suspend the application of some legislation, diverge from legal provisions and take other extraordinary measures by decree.

A decree made commercial P+Rs, parking garages and parking lots in residential areas free of charge from 7:00 in the evening until 7:00 in the morning. Soldiers are helping the police in carrying out their duties in public areas. Soldiers have also been assigned to help out staff in 93 hospitals around Hungary.

The curfew is in force between 8pm and 5am, and work carried out beyond the home must be justified. With the exception of pharmacies and petrol stations, shops can be open until 7pm. Hairdressers, masseurs and personal trainers must observe general curfew rules.

Family and private events including birthday celebrations can be held with a maximum of ten people attending.

A major new rule is that face masks must be worn in public spaces in localities with more than 10,000 residents, though it is up to local mayors to decide which spaces the rule applies to. Restaurants are limited to offering takeaways, while hotels are not allowed to cater to tourists, only guests arriving for business, economic or educational purposes.

Sports events must be held behind closed doors.

Also, leisure facilities such as fitness gyms, indoor swimming pools, museums, libraries, cinemas, zoos and skating rinks must suspend their services.

Events, including cultural events and Christmas fairs, cannot be held under the special rules.

Source: MTI