Does coronavirus spread in freshman camps in Hungary?

Multiple news outlets reported lately that several students who took part in the freshman camps of the Hungarian National University of Public Service, Budapest Business School, and the Corvinus University of Budapest tested positive. 

According to 24, in the latter case, 18 people had positive results, but based on an article by enpenzem.hu, much higher numbers are circulating among the students concerning the number of infections. The Corvinus University of Budapest organised its freshman camp between August 17 and 21 in Bükkszék, but 4 of those taking part in it produced a positive test in the camp. Afterwards, they cancelled the freshman camp of the Master’s students and did the same in the case of the 2020 freshman party as well.

At the Hungarian National University of Public Service,

12 students did a positive COVID-19 test.

They are all at home except for one who is currently in hospital, the university said. According to 24, the university made the relevant COVID-19 regulations stricter and is prepared to implement further measures based on the findings of the official examination.

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Based on Magyar Hang, 35 students are in quarantine in the dormitory of the university. Interestingly, the institution held its opening day on Tuesday, in which Balázs Orbán, secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, took part as well.

It came to light on Wednesday that several students of the Corvinus University of Budapest also tested positive for COVID-19. According to 24, the institution sent a letter to its students on Wednesday stating that

the problem concerns two faculties, but they did not write how many people got the infection.

They added that they were all well without any or with only mild symptoms.

Based on their plans, the academic year will be a hybrid one, but if the situation escalates, they can finish it in a digital form. Furthermore, they allow their students to miss more classes. They will organise their opening day, and they will stream it online. József Bódis, secretary of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology, said that the operative body would decide how many infections make the limit for closing down all universities and implementing compulsory distance education.

Source: 24.hu, Magyar Hang