Coronavirus in Hungary – Number of infected exceeds 300,000

Fully 189 Covid patients, generally elderly and suffering from an underlying illness, died over the past 24 hours, while 4,045 infected were officially registered, bringing the total number of infections to 300,022, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Saturday.

The death toll has risen to 7,914, while the number of people who have made a recovery has increased to 93,323.

The number of active infections stands at 198,785, while there are 7,295 hospitalised Covid patients, 538 on a ventilator.

Altogether 44,010 people are in official home quarantine, and the number of tests carried out has risen to 2,480,804.

Most infections have been registered in Budapest (58,454) and Pest County (38,076) so far, followed by the counties of Győr-Moson-Sopron (17,827), Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén (17,402), Hajdú-Bihar (16,928) and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg (15,015). The county least affected by the infection is Tolna (5,742).

Hungary’s restrictions to stay in place

As we wrote, Hungary’s current, strict coronavirus-related restrictions will be kept in place until January 11, PM Orbán said. The central board coordinating efforts against the epidemic will decide about a possible exception for Christmas Eve on December 21, in view of the situation then.

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

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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.

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.

Source: MTI