Orbán: Hungary health-care sector prepared to handle next wave of epidemic

Hungary’s health-care sector is prepared to handle the next wave of the coronavirus epidemic, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Facebook on Saturday.

“The virus must not be allowed to paralyse us again,” Orbán said after a meeting of the operative board coordinating Hungary’s response to the epidemic.

Hospitals have more than 10,000 beds available to treat coronavirus patients if the situation were to get worse, he said. “Ventilators are also in place and hospital capacity is practically unlimited,” the prime minister said. “No Hungarian will be left untreated if they catch coronavirus.”

Orbán said the operative board has prepared several measures for next Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. These include enforcing rules that apply to mask-wearing, shopping and the use of public transport, he said. Those found in violation of these rules will face penalties from now on, he added.

Concerning education, Orbán said that so far three schools and 16 kindergartens have had to be closed because of the virus but the rest of the institutions are “more or less” able to operate in a conventional manner.

Starting in October, temperature screening will be mandatory in schools, he added.

Orbán said the government will introduce centrally regulated prices for coronavirus tests in the near future, with the price set to be determined at next week’s cabinet meeting. He also noted that everyone will be eligible for a flu vaccination free of charge.

The prime minister is next scheduled to meet with the members of the economic cabinet.

Read alsoNew record – Registered coronavirus infections up by 916 in Hungary!

Source: MTI