Coronavirus in Hungary – 118 die, 1,198 new infections

Fully 118 Covid patients, generally elderly and suffering from an underlying illness, died over the past 24 hours, while 1,198 infected were officially registered, bringing the total number of infections to 315,362, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Saturday.

The death toll has risen to 8,951, while the number of people who have made a recovery has increased to 126,482. The number of active infections stands at 179,929, while there are 6,003 hospitalised Covid patients, 468 on a ventilator.

The number of people cared for in the hospital has dropped by 376 since yesterday, the number of people on ventilators by two. 18% of the actively infected, 20% of the dead and 20% of the recovered are from Budapest.

Hungary’s restrictions to stay in place, but… 

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

Orbán added, however, that December 31 would be no exception, with a ban on New Year’s Eve parties.

The cabinet has also decided to ban as of midnight December 22 all passenger flights, including private planes for business travel, arriving from Britain, details HERE.

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, children do not count in the headcount.

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.

Read alsoThe Hungarian COVID-19 passport will be one of the most important documents of 2021

Source: MTI