Coronavirus – Government introduces state of ‘pandemic preparedness’

Hungary’s government has introduced a state of “pandemic preparedness” across the entire country with the declaration of a “health crisis”, a decree published in the latest issue of the official gazette Magyar Közlöny shows.

The decree comes into force on Thursday, the day after a state of emergency decreed on March 11 to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus ended.

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The government will review the necessity of the state of pandemic preparedness every three months, according to the decree which will remain in force until December 18, 2020.

Considering another topic, news portal Origo has reported that Wednesday’s cabinet meeting decided to terminate restrictions on shopping hours between 9am and noon reserved for people older than 65.

Origo said late on Wednesday that wearing masks in shops and on public transport would remain compulsory.

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Experts have advised the government that this would be a sufficient measure, the portal said.