These are all the changes to restrictions in Hungary starting today

Starting today, we will be one step closer to returning to normality in Hungary. Here is all the relevant information you need to know about what changes enter into force from today.

In his usual, Friday morning interview with Kossuth Radio, PM Viktor Orbán announced a series of easements which will be in effect starting today.

Breaking! Hungary hits 5 million inoculated – largest reopening from today

The country reached the magical number of 5 million administered doses on Sunday, which means that Hungary has defeated the third wave. This means that some of the strict rules and measures that have been in effect for months were abolished.

Here is everything important you need to know related to the easements that will take effect from today.

The curfew between midnight and 5 am will be completely abolished.

You will be able to be outside on the streets whenever you want to.

When it comes to the opening hours of shops, their current regulation of providing a service between 5 am and 11 pm will also be modified. According to the words of the Prime Minister, as we have reached 5 million jabs,

all shops will be able to freely decide how they wish to be open, meaning that 0-24 shops can all go back to their original timetable.

Whether the rule restricting the number of customers allowed in a shop to one person per 10 square metres will stay in effect is still not clear, writes hvg.hu.

One of the most important questions for tourists is what will happen to restaurants. The good news is that there will be no binding rule as to the opening hours. On the other hand,

the rule remains that only those with an immunity certificate will be able to go inside the restaurant

and take their children with them. Waiters will still need to wear a mask even on the terrace. Keeping the 1.5-metre distance is no longer compulsory on the streets and in public spaces, and 

it is excellent news that from Saturday, mask-wearing is not obligatory on the streets and in public spaces.

It is still compulsory to wear masks where protected and non-protected people can be present in closed spaces, such as stores and public transportation, and keeping distance in these places – whenever possible – is still mandatory. When it comes to keeping fit and doing sports, you will be able to reunite with your friends and play any kind of team sports on Margaret Island, for instance.

Swimming pools, gyms, and sports centres are open for those with an immunity certificate.

Luckily, getting together with the whole family and all our good friends, up to 50 people, will also be allowed. The same will be true for wedding parties, although in this case, it is up to 200 guests.

Thousands of Hungarians vaccinated once only to get the immunity certificate?!

When it comes to big, public events, those organised in a closed area will still require the immunity certificate. On the other hand,

any sort of open-air events, including assemblies, will be able to welcome up to 500 people.

This involves demonstrations, too, but spontaneous gatherings are still forbidden. Cultural events, such as dance and music events, sports events, and other events with more than 500 people could only be visited by people with immunity certificates or by underaged children supervised by a person with such a certificate.

Those who have a loved one being treated in a hospital with anything other than the coronavirus will be able to visit them starting from this weekend.

Some rules still remain: every patient can have one visitor per day for a total of one hour, strictly by wearing a mask and after having taken a PCR test no earlier than 48 hours before entering the hospital, in the case they do not have an immunity certificate.

One of the most-awaited issues, travelling, was not mentioned at all. No new bilateral agreement signed with any country was announced.

On the other hand,

European institutions have reached an agreement on Thursday on an internal immunity certificate providing free movement between member states.

All EU countries are obliged to accept the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (Pfizer/BionTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Janssen). Apart from these vaccines, all member states are free to decide on accepting other jabs that are either approved by another member country or are on the WHO’s list of vaccines approved for emergency use, such as the Chinese Sinopharm.

Read alsoBreaking – grand opening starts today, face mask no longer obligatory!

Source: hvg.hu