Coronavirus in Hungary: death toll has risen to 10,853

Photo: MTI

Fully 128 Covid patients, generally elderly and suffering from an underlying illness, died over the past 24 hours, while 696 new infections were officially registered, bringing the total number of infected to 344,352, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Tuesday.

The death toll has risen to 10,853, while 209,852 people have made a recovery.

The number of active infections stands at 123,647, while there are 5,005 hospitalised Covid patients, 356 on a ventilator.

Altogether 25,532 people are in official home quarantine,

and the number of tests carried out has risen to 2,860,814.

Most infections have been registered in Budapest (64,729) and Pest County (42,992) so far, followed by the counties of Hajdú-Bihar (19,596), Győr-Moson-Sopron (19,591) and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén (19,294). The county least affected by the infection is Tolna (7,211).

Restrictions to stay in place until February 1

The government will keep coronavirus-related restrictions in place until February 1, and secondary schools will continue digital education, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday.

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, cannot be held under the special rules.