Hungary imposes tough new measures: extending curfew, general ban on events -UPDATE

If granted special powers by parliament, the Hungary government will extend the curfew to be in force between 8 pm and 5 am, and restrict opening hours of shops and other services starting at midnight on Tuesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Facebook on Monday.

If granted special powers in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, the government will extend the curfew introduced earlier to be in force between 8 pm and 5 am, and restrict opening hours of shops and other services starting at midnight on Tuesday, he said.

All gatherings will be prohibited and restaurants will be closed except for home deliveries, he said. Company canteens will stay open, he added. Shops and services such as hair salons will have to close at 7pm, and

hotels will only be allowed to receive business travellers but not tourists, he said.

The government will also introduce a blanket ban on gatherings, Orbán said. No more than ten people will be allowed to gather at private events or family gatherings, and sports events will have to be held behind closed doors, he said. People can do workout outdoors but amateur team sports are banned, Orbán said.

Universities and secondary schools above the eighth grade will return to digital education while facilities for children under the age of 14 will remain open, he said.

Hospital employees, school and kindergarten teachers and nursery employees will be tested weekly, he said.

Although hospitals are well-equipped with protective gear and ventilators, and “doctors and nurses are working beyond their strength … they are also human, and have their limitations,” Orbán said. A vaccine is not expected for weeks yet, he added.

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Regarding economy protection measures, Orbán said that in the coming 30 days, the state would reimburse hotels for 80 percent of the bookings registered before November 8.

Restaurants and leisure facilities will be exempt from paying contributions after their employees for the next 30 days, he said, and the government will overtake paying half of the wages, he said.

Employers are only eligible for those allowances, however, if they commit to keeping and paying their employees, he said.

Since the start of the pandemic, Hungary has seen 109,000 infections, and Europe 8 million, Orbán said.

“We all know it will not be easy. The next weeks will be hard. But the vaccine is within reach now, we will have to persevere until then … we will have to take care of the elderly and keep the rules. Let’s take care of each other! If we stand together, we will succeed again,” he said.

Facts: 

• Hungarian borders remain closed
• There will be a curfew between 8 pm and 5 am, only those going to work and those coming from work will be exempted, and such proof can be given in special cases
• Restaurants close, only delivery available
• factory canteens can stay open
• shops, hairdressers, small craft service providers close at 7 pm
• leisure facilities will be closed, including zoos, museums, theaters, gyms and indoor swimming pools
• All sports events: closed gates
• All gatherings are forbidden: no gatherings & offical events
• hotels only for business travelers
• private (family) gatherings max 10 people
• weddings can only be held without a wedding, only parents, siblings or witnesses can attend civil and church ceremonies
• funerals max. 50 people
• higher education only online
• campus will also be closed
• digital education in high school
• kindergardens, schools open for children under 14
• hospital workers, nursery, kindergarten and school workers test every week
• restaurants and leisure facilities do not have to pay a contribution for the first 30 days of closing, and the state pays the rent: provided if is not dismissed by the workers and they receive their pay
• Labour market: financial help to hotels & restaurants
• amateur team sports are prohibited
• individual sports are allowed outdoors, but amateur team sports are prohibited

Here are the latest numbers:

Coronavirus in Hungary: 86,134 active infections and 6,061 hospitalised patients

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Source: MTI