Coronavirus in Hungary – Chief medical officer: Chamber’s proposals under consideration

Proposals by the Hungarian Medical Chamber to increase restrictions in the fight against the novel coronavirus are being considered by the operative board responsible for handling the epidemic, the chief medical officer told a press conference on Wednesday.

Cecília Müller said in response to a question that some of the chamber’s proposals announced on Tuesday had already been implemented. Ways to enforce existing regulations more effectively are also being examined, she said, adding that the operative board was open to cooperation with the medical chamber.

Müller said

Hungary’s health-care system was prepared for handling the current wave of the epidemic, with everyone getting the care they need “at the highest level”.

She said screening capacities were being increased, with 15,596 PCR tests carried out in the past 24 hours and the national blood transfusion service having joined the group of screening laboratories.

The medical chamber proposed stricter and more consistent rules for mass events, including tighter control of mask-wearing and social distancing regulations.

It also proposed further restrictions on the opening hours and number of guests in restaurants and entertainment venues, and the reintroduction of shopping times reserved for elderly people who are most threatened by the epidemic.