Coronavirus – Hungary is in the fourth worst situation in Europe concerning mortality rate

Photo: www.facebook.com/Koronavírus tájékoztató oldal

Unfortunately, the number of new infections per day does not give a complete picture of the coronavirus situation in Hungary. The number of deaths – which is currently more significant than during the first wave of the pandemic – is also key data in the overall situation.

The second wave of the pandemic is on the rise all over Europe. Recently, the number of victims has been 700 in Spain, 483 in France, 596 in Italy, 197 in Portugal, 268 in Romania, almost 400 in Ireland, and 374 in the Netherlands, but only 90 in Hungary, which corresponds to the regional average. However, concerning the number of deaths the virus has claimed per million people per country in the first half of October, Hungary is in quite a bad position right now.

According to data from 13 October, there have been 26 victims per million inhabitants in the last two weeks, as a result of which Hungary is in the fourth worst situation in Europe.

Regarding the neighbouring and the Visegrád countries, the Czech Republic and Romania have even worse results with 44 and 38 victims per million inhabitants.

As the Hungarian news portal 24 reports, the situation is no better even if we compare the Hungarian data with Western European countries. In Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Ireland, fewer people died of the disease in the last two weeks than in Hungary, and only Spain has a higher number of victims.

Even though Hungary is in the European midfield concerning the number of new infections per million people, the mortality rate is still high.

This can be explained by the finite number of test capacity, as a result of which not all the infections can be identified.

In Hungary, the latest restrictions were introduced on 21 September (by extending the mandatory wearing of masks and restricting the opening of nightclubs); since then, new measures have been introduced in several European countries. Accordingly, member states of the V4 announced new austerity measures in the past week, which may be important because the epidemiological coordination centre of the Visegrad Four has just started operating.

In the Czech Republic, primary schools are closed until 1 November, while secondary education is conducted online. Clubs, bars, and restaurants will be closed until 3 November. Gatherings are possible up to 6 people, and alcohol is not allowed in public areas or on the streets.
In Slovakia, secondary schools were closed from Monday for an indefinite period and online education is introduced in schools. Outdoor masks will be mandatory in public areas, all mass events will be banned, and no more than six people will be able to get together. The restaurants remain open, but food can only be consumed on the terraces or ordered to take away. Fitness and wellness centres, baths, and saunas will be closed.
In Poland, in order to protect older people from the pandemic, the limit on shopping time for people over the age of sixty has been reintroduced, and the wearing of a face mask is mandatory everywhere from Saturday.