coronavirus

Are Hungarians against the vaccine? New survey reveals

Coronavirus drawing vaccine

A new survey shows what percentage of the population would be okay with mandatory vaccination.

In Hungary, there are 6 million 342 thousand people who got at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 6.1 million people received two jabs, and 3.5 million got a third, booster vaccine out of the total number. – writes napi.hu. The portal published the results of a survey that Pulzus-kutató conducted. The figures show how many Hungarians are in favour of mandatory vaccination and how many refuse it.

In November, 44% were against mandatory vaccination. Now, 59% of people refuse the idea of mandatory vaccination. Members of the older generation, individuals with a college degree, and Budapest residents are mostly the ones who would be in favour of mandatory vaccination. The younger generation and residents of county seats are the most against it.

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Read alsoThese Hungarian employers made vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for their workers

54% of Budapest residents who vote are in favor of making vaccines compulsory. As opposed to this, only 35% of residents of county seats are in favour of it. 63% of settlement residents, 61% of people living in cities, and 46% of Budapest locals are against mandatory jabs. Only 27% of people aged 18-39 years old would make vaccination obligatory, 47% of middle-aged people would support the same idea, and 54% of people above the age of 60 are in favour of mandatory jabs. 52% of graduates would introduce mandatory immunisation.

While many people are still against taking the vaccine, parties organised with the aim to get the virus are an opportunity considered by some people in various countries. Doctors, however, say it should not be an option.

Emergency doctor Gábor Zacher told RTL that coronavirus is neither a joke nor a game. According to him, a so-called Omicron party is like Russian roulette. He says that people cannot know what post-covid health issues the infected people may have to deal with or how the organs change because of the virus. He has not heard of COVID-19 parties in Hungary, but he warns people against trying to intentionally get the virus.

 This is in accordance with the messages that most doctors are trying to convey: vaccinated or not, people should take the virus seriously. Some people get through the illness with mild symptoms, while others end up in hospitals or worse.

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Read alsoCrazy things people do for a fake vaccine certificate

Hungary COVID-19 death toll over 41,000

coronavirus covid 19 hungary hospital ventilator

Altogether 74 patients died of a Covid-related illness in the past 24 hours, while 9,717 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Tuesday.

So far 6,344,089 people have received a first jab, while 6,082,196 have been double-jabbed. In total, 3,560,753 Hungarians have received a booster shot.

The number of active infections has risen to 193,630, while

hospitals are treating 3,115 Covid-19 patients, 177 of whom are intubated on a ventilator.

Since the first outbreak, 1,451,102 have been registered with the virus, while

41,018 deaths have been recorded.

Fully 1,216,454 people have made a recovery.

Szilveszter Csollány
Read alsoTragic! Hungarian Olympic champion Szilveszter Csollány dies at 51 due to coronavirus

Tragic! Hungarian Olympic champion Szilveszter Csollány dies at 51 due to coronavirus

Szilveszter Csollány

The Hungarian Olympic, world and European champion gymnast was hospitalised at the beginning of December due to coronavirus infection. Despite the long struggle, the tragic news has been announced today that the Hungarian Olympian passed away at the age of 51.

Szilveszter Csollány was born on 13th April 1970 in Sopron. Thanks to his above-average physical abilities and perseverance, he achieved considerable success in gymnastics from an early age.

The breakthrough success came at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where the athlete won an Olympic gold medal. This achievement earned him the title Hungarian Sportsman of The Year in 2000 and 2002. His success story was completed when he won the 2002 World Championships in Debrecen. The following year he retired after winning one Olympic gold and silver, one World Championship gold and five silver medals, and one European Championship gold, one silver and four bronze medals – reported by Metropol.

After his retirement, Csollány worked as a gymnastics coach. He spent a few years teaching in Iceland and Switzerland. In the last few years, he commuted between Sopron and Austria.

The Hungarian Olympian was hospitalised on 3rd December with coronavirus infection.

Due to his worsening pneumonia, doctors kept him alive with artificial lungs in a Budapest hospital. The condition of the Olympic athlete was unknown for a few weeks.

Unfortunately, today the Hungarian Gymnastics Federation and the Hungarian Olympic Committee have announced

the tragic news that the Hungarian Olympian passed away at the age of 51. 

In addition to his outstanding sporting achievements, Szilveszter Csollány was an excellent husband and father. The Hungarian Olympic champion is mourned by his three daughters and his wife, the Hungarian Gymnastics Federation, the Hungarian Olympic Committee and the entire Hungarian nation.

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Read alsoTragic! Hungarian shooting champion Diana Igaly dies at 56

Since the first outbreak, more than 1,440,000 COVID-19 infections registered in Hungary

coronavirus in hungary hospital

Altogether 122 patients died of a Covid-related illness over the weekend, while 39,928 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Monday.

So far 6,342,496 people have received a first jab, while 6,080,592 have been double-jabbed. Fully 3,554,502 Hungarians have received a booster shot.

The number of active infections has risen to 191,312,

while hospitals are treating 2,921 Covid-19 patients, 176 of whom are intubated on a ventilator.

Since the first outbreak, 1,441,385 have been registered with the virus, while

40,944 deaths have been recorded.

Fully 1,209,129 people have made a recovery.

Read more news about Coronavirus in Hungary

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Hungarian tourists were forced to quarantine in Thailand

thailand

Hungarian tourists were forced to quarantine in Thailand. A Hungarian couple has been currently waiting in two separate hospitel rooms to get rid of the COVID-19 infection. The unfortunate pair shared their experiences. According to them, they already faced issues during air travel, in addition to the confusion in terms of the healthcare facility and the accommodation expenses.

Hungarian tourist ends up in a quarantine in Thailand

Earlier, a Hungarian woman had to quarantine after catching the coronavirus infection in Thailand during her vacation. After the incident, a Hungarian couple also reported to index.hu, that they were compelled to do the same. Rebeka and her partner travelled to Thailand for a long-planned vacation. 

The couple got the infection in Thailand.

Although the Hungarian tourists entered the exotic country with a negative COVID-19 test, they had to spend the first night in quarantine upon their arrival. The tests and the quarantine stay have to be paid for by the visitor.

The Hungarian tourists already had a bad gut feeling on the plane. “Unfortunately, there was another passenger on the plane who did not wear the mask the correct way. I do not know why it is so hard for some to cover their noses,” writes Rebeka in her report.

Nobody knows who will pay the bills

The couple received the result of the second test while they were sitting in a taxi. It was then that they learned that both of them had contracted the virus. The taxi driver was scared at first, but she was kind and helpful all along the drive. After the positive test, the couple headed to a hospitel.

The hospitel is a government-approved facility where people can talk to doctors and receive health care in Thailand. 

The hospitel is a 15-square-metre room with a balcony. The staff is kind and helpful. Patients can order food, but by the time it arrives, it is often already cold. They have to measure their fever and monitor their pulse oxygen levels twice a day. The results are sent to the medical staff through an application. In principle, this costs HUF 180,000 thousand (EUR 505) a day.

Nobody knows who will pay the bills.

The Hungarian couple is trying to talk to an insurance company and local hospitals. Hopefully, the insurance company will cover all the expenses. However, this is far from certain. Hospitality, food and travel expenses will amount to at least HUF 1 million (EUR 2800) per person.

Portfolio.hu previously reported that the Thai Ministry of Health advertises the importance of vaccination due to a large number of infections. Three months after the third vaccination, residents can already request the fourth jab.

Coronavirus in Hungary: number of active infections has risen to 137,628

coronavirus in hungary hospital

Altogether 94 patients died of a Covid-related illness over the past 24 hours, while 6,851 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Tuesday.

So far 6,321,039 people have received a first jab, while 6,062,346 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,423,900 Hungarians have received a booster jab.

The website said the omicron variant was spreading rapidly.

The number of active infections has risen to 137,628, while

hospitals are treating 2,689 Covid-19 patients, 217 of whom are intubated on a ventilator.

Since the first outbreak, 1,355,084 have been registered with the virus, while

40,601 deaths have been recorded.

Fully 1,176,855 people have made a recovery.

Read also: Hungarian government cuts quarantine period!

Coronavirus Hungary
Read also Semmelweis University: 10 pc of their COVID patients receiving treatment die

New Israeli vaccine being tested in Hungary

Coronavirus vaccination

Israel is developing a new vaccine, and Hungary is the first European country to join the program and test the new Israeli vaccine.

The development of the new vaccine and the test phase

Israel has been developing its own COVID-19 vaccine. Research and development have been going on for a year and a half, says egészségkalauz.hu. Phase 2b / 3 of the Israeli vaccine called BriLife is currently being tested. Hungary is the first in Europe to test the vaccine.

The developers of Israel’s own vaccine are the pharmaceutical company NRx in collaboration with the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR).

How the vaccine works

The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which is a virus that infects animals such as cattle, horses and pigs, serves as the cure. This virus is genetically modified so that SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus spike proteins can grow on its surface, explains atv.hu. The genetically modified vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) is then administered to the human body in a living form. The virus, although not a coronavirus, contains spikes on its surface due to genetic engineering modifications.

Vaccinated individuals will receive the vesicular stomatitis virus, dressed in the crown protein garment of the coronavirus, as an injection into the muscle. Coronavirus spike proteins will be the ones that stimulate the immune system, triggering an immune response.

The portal notes that the introduction of genetically modified viruses is relatively new. The EMA, the European Medicines Agency, has already authorised an Ebola vaccine in 2019 based on the fact that its actual carrier is an attenuated and modified vesicular stomatitis virus.

The results

In Israel, 2/3 of the first clinical phase of the BriLife vaccine was completed on 16 November last year, involving 240 people. Experience has shown that antibody levels are high and do not lag behind mRNA vaccines.

Hungary is the first European country to participate in testing the efficacy and safety of the vaccine through phase 2b / 3 clinical trials.

Vaccines currently used in Hungary

Pfizer–BioNTech
Moderna
Sputnik V
AstraZeneca
Sinopharm

Out of those 5 vaccines, Sputnik V and Sinopharm are not recognised by the EU. Hungary has concluded a special agreement with the producer countries (Russia & China).

Hungary reports latest COVID-19 numbers – January 17, 2022

coronavirus in hungary hospital

Altogether 270 patients died of a Covid-related illness over the weekend, while 21,219 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Monday.

Fully 29 percent of new infections have been caused by the Omicron variant.

So far 6,319,434 people have received a first jab, while 6,059,382 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,417,089 Hungarians have received a booster jab.

The number of active infections has risen to 137,951, while

hospitals are treating 2,630 Covid-19 patients, 228 of whom are intubated on a ventilator.

Since the first outbreak, 1,348,233 have been registered with the virus, while

40,507 deaths have been recorded.

Fully 1,169,775 people have made a recovery.

Coronavirus Hungary
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Breaking – government cuts quarantine period!

Gergely-Gulyas-government-info
Hungary’s government has decided to shorten quarantine periods for people who test positive for Covid, the prime minister’s chief of staff said on Thursday.
 
Adults will be required to self-isolate for a seven-day period and will be allowed to leave quarantine after five days if they are symptom-free and produce a negative Covid test, Gergely Gulyas told a regular press briefing.
 
Unvaccinated primary school children in grades 1-4 will be required to quarantine for five days if a positive case is confirmed in their class,
 
he said, adding that they will be allowed to take part in classes online while in isolation. Otherwise, in-presence education will have to be uninterrupted, he said.
 
 
About the referendum and the election Gulyás said that the government welcomes the decision to hold the general election and a referendum on protecting children on the same date. That is because it will save 7 billion forints (EUR 19.6m), the prime minister’s chief of staff said on Thursday.
 
Gergely Gulyás told a regular press briefing that it was a rare occasion to have consensus among all political parties on an issue. He thanked opposition Párbeszéd lawmaker Tímea Szabó who had originally proposed holding the election and the referendum on the same day.
 
Gulyás said hugely important issues were at stake in both ballots, and the government asks everyone to express their opinion not only in the general election but also in the referendum.
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Read alsoFrench, Serbian handball players dissatisfied with Hungarian Covid rules

Omicron raging: almost 10 thousand new infections in just 24h

coronavirus in hungary hospital
Altogether 81 patients died of a Covid-related illness during the past 24 hours, while 9,216 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Thursday.
 
Fully 29 percent of new infections have been caused by the Omicron variant.
 
So far 6,299,590 people have received a first jab, while 6,045,893 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,306,370 Hungarians have received a booster jab.
 
coronavirus in hungary hospital
Hungarian hospitals are treating Covid-19 patients. Photo: MTI
 
The number of active infections has risen to 122,424, while hospitals are treating 2,647 Covid-19 patients, 249 of whom are intubated on a ventilator.
 
Since the first outbreak, 1,318,093 have been registered with the virus, while 40,164 deaths have been recorded. Fully 1,155,505 people have made a recovery.
Vaccination Koronavírus Coronavirus Covid Hungary Vaccine Oltás
Read also12 people received six doses of a Covid vaccine in a Budapest hospital

Lucky African country receives 400,000 vaccines from Hungary

Hungary is donating another 400,000 coronavirus vaccine doses to Ghana, bringing the total number of doses donated to other countries to 3.8 million, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook on Wednesday.
 
Last November, Hungary donated 800,000 vaccine doses to Ghana with a view to helping the country speed up its vaccination drive, Szijjártó noted. The current donation will be delivered to the West African country on Friday, he added.
 
A total of 2.5 million of the vaccine doses Hungary has donated to other countries has gone to Africa, the minister said, noting that the pandemic situation on the continent was critical.
 
Hungary is fortunate to have enough vaccines in stock to vaccinate everyone three times over and still be able to help other countries in an effort to prevent the emergence of new virus variants, Szijjártó said.
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Hungary is the refuge of the world’s circus performers – PHOTOS, VIDEO

Hungary circus performers

The Budapest Circus Festival started today and ends on 17 January. Monday marked the “zero-day”, world-known Czech circus performer Pavel Valla Bertini broke a world record in unicycle. Before, State Secretary Péter Fekete, said that the world’s circus performers “fled” to Hungary. That is because circuses closed everywhere due to the coronavirus epidemic. However, they remained open in Hungary.

Circus performers come to Hungary

As fnc.hu, the official website of the Budapest Circus Festival and the Capital Circus of Budapest, says, the world’s circuses shut down when the pandemic broke out. The only exception was the Capital Circus of Budapest.

“The management of the Capital Circus of Budapest took a bold step: several times a week, it entertained the audience with live broadcasts, 

giving hope and faith not only to them but to all those working in circus arts as well. More than a hundred Hungarian circus artists performed in the show of four different themes named ‘Dynasties’ in the Capital Circus of Budapest. The premiere performances of the plays of ‘Dynasties’ of the Capital Circus of Budapest were held online” – they said.

They highlighted that the world started to pay attention to Hungary because the only functioning circus was there. The Budapest circus was in line with all epidemiological measures in force. At the same time, they could entertain the Hungarian audience, which provided work for their artists.

New unicycle world record set in Budapest

According to telex.hu, Pavel Valla Bertini, Europe’s number one unicycle performer, broke a record by riding 17 unicycles. First, the director of the Capital Circus of Budapest appeared on stage. Dr Beáta Borsós said that the new world record would mark the opening of the Budapest Circus Festival (11-17 January). He added that the original idea came from Péter Fekete, State Secretary for Culture. The former magician not only manages the sector as a member of the government but also creates performances in the circus.

Mr Fekete said that the world’s circus performers think about Hungary as a refuge.

That is because circuses closed everywhere due to the coronavirus epidemic. However, they remained open in Hungary.

After him, acrobat students came, followed by Pavel Valla Bertini. He performed tricks first on one unicycle, then sat on a 17-wheeled one. He was not only able to sit on the structure without falling but could also cycle around on it in the arena.

Continue reading “Hungary is the refuge of the world’s circus performers – PHOTOS, VIDEO”

Chief medical officer: Omicron variant currently accounted for 29 pc of new infections in Hungary

hospital coronavirus

The chief medical officer has strongly recommended that everyone should receive a third, booster jab against Covid, and argued that protection would decrease 3-4 months after the second shot.

The jabs are available at vaccination points and from general practitioners, Cecília Müller told a press conference on Tuesday, adding that residents could choose from five kinds of “effective and safe” vaccines.

Müller welcomed the results of recent vaccination campaigns, in which people could receive the jab without prior registration, and said that some 300,000 people received their first shots through the programme. She said that

the aim was to ensure that anyone could get the vaccine “without technical or physical restrictions”.

She also said that the highly infectious

Omicron variant currently accounted for 29 percent of new infections in Hungary.

She said that Omicron caused milder symptoms in general, but warned that “it may not be true on the level of individuals; the gravity of symptoms depends on one’s state of health and their level of vaccination”.

Concerning vaccination of the 5-11 age group, Müller said that the dates originally offered had all been reserved, but a further opportunity would open for them to get the shots on Saturdays.

Müller said that the number of cases “with flu-like symptoms” was low, adding that it was likely that, similarly to last year, there would be no flu epidemic. She noted, however, that flu numbers usually peaked in late January or early February.

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Read alsoHungary surpasses 40,000 pandemic deaths

Hungary surpasses 40,000 pandemic deaths

grief mourning obituary black hungarian flag hungary

Altogether 69 patients died of a Covid-related illness during the past 24 hours, while 3,382 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Tuesday.

So far 6,294,707 people have received a first jab, while 6,033,675 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,292,175 Hungarians have received a booster jab.

The number of active infections has risen to 113,160, while

hospitals are treating 2,932 Covid-19 patients, 274 of whom are intubated on a ventilator.

Since the first outbreak, 1,300,994 have been registered with the virus, while

40,016 deaths have been recorded.

Fully 1,147,818 people have made a recovery.

Read also: 

Béla Merkely
Read alsoSemmelweis rector: fake news = more patients, more deaths

Hungary reports 14,655 new infections over weekend – latest COVID-19 numbers

coronavirus in hungary hospital

Altogether 167 patients died of a Covid-related illness over the weekend, while 14,655 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Monday.

So far 6,292,759 people have received a first jab, while 6,027,578 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,286,577 Hungarians have received a booster jab.

The number of active infections has risen to 111,895, while hospitals are treating 2,931 Covid-19 patients, 281 of whom are intubated on a ventilator.

Since the first outbreak, 1,297,612 have been registered with the virus, while 39,947 deaths have been recorded. Fully 1,145,770 people have made a recovery.

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Read also It’s official: the fifth wave started in Hungary, nr of infections rise

Hungarian restaurants that fell prey to COVID – PHOTOS

closed restaurant sign

Numerous Budapest restaurants had to close down for good due to COVID-19 and its disadvantageous consequences. In this article, you will find some of the most famous restaurants that no longer feed hungry guests.

Tamás Flesch, the head of HHRA (Hungarian Hotel and Restaurant Association), finds it sorrowful that many popular restaurants had to close their doors in the past few days in Budapest, reports InfoStart. However, he does not fear the mass closure of high-quality restaurants. We wrote about Olimpia, Kárpátia, and Csalogány26 in the past. Now, here are some other dining venues and the reason they had to close since the pandemic reached Hungary.

1. Kádár étkezde (Kádár canteen)

kádár canteen
Kádár canteen, source: wikipedia.org

As Index reported in April 2020, Kádár étkezde closed not just due to the COVID situation as it was also up for sale. With its red-and-white checkered tablecloths, soda bottles on the tables, and homemade flavours, Kádár canteen was a favourite for more than 60 years. Over the decades, many artists, athletes, politicians, and media workers visited the place.

2. Soul Food

soul food fast food restaurant
Soul Food, source: https://www.facebook.com/soulfoodbp/

The place was famous for its home-style, fresh, and affordable exotic food. It was a fast-food restaurant with “spicy, exciting one-dish meals, soups, hamburgers, freshly roasted ribs, chicken wings, desserts,” according to their Facebook page (still available). At the end of April 2020, they posted a picture on their Facebook page, captioning it with “We are closed, again. Wish you the best, guys. Hope to see you once again. ✌️“

3. AUM Restaurant

aum restaurant
AUM Restaurant, source: https://www.facebook.com/restaurant.aum/

The Óbuda restaurant opened its second unit in the inner city at the beginning of March 2020. Both places aimed for an authentic Asian feel. Dániel Varga, the chef of both units, spent years in Thailand and has a passion for Asian flavours, while he also incorporates local ingredients and nostalgic home cooking in his dishes. When the second unit opened, Style.hu wrote an in-depth article about the restaurant. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic situation, both units have been closed and will continue to remain so indefinitely.

4. Le Poulet

le poulet restaurant
Le Poulet, source: https://www.facebook.com/LePouletBudapest/photos

As their official description said, they were a restaurant that served “Fresh, Hungarian premium grilled chicken based on French rôtisserie. Guaranteed quality, recommended by a French chef. Everything that is chicken.” Unfortunately, COVID and the restrictions did not spare them either. Their once-guests still hope they will reopen somewhere sometime in the future.

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Read alsoRestaurants to check out in Budapest if you love international food – PHOTOS

It’s official: the fifth wave started in Hungary, nr of infections rise

Crowd-Gyor-people-hospital

Professor Béla Merkely, the rector of the Semmelweis University, said that the omicron variant is very virulent and can find the smallest “chink in the armour.”

Omicron = fifth wave

According to hvg.hu, Professor Merkely added that the fifth wave of the epidemic started in Hungary. In a Kossuth Rádió interview, he added that the original Vuhan variant of the virus caused the first two waves. Meanwhile, the British were behind the third and the delta behind the fourth waves. The newest,

omicron variant is responsible for the fifth, he cleared.

Authorities detected this variant in South Africa last November. Experts say that omicron is very virulent and can find the smallest “chink in the armour.” However, only non-inoculated people have to be concerned, he highlighted. Those vaccinated struggle only with lighter symptoms like sore throat, fever lasting for a couple of days, and headache.

Merkely said that the number of new infections would rise quickly in Hungary. It might happen that the number of patients will grow tenfold.

The number of people in severe conditions will also increase.

coronavirus in hungary hospital
Hungarian hospitals are treating Covid-19 patients. Photo: MTI

The number of new infections rises unstoppably

International data show that the omicron variant spreads quicker than the previous variants. Based on the calculations of the WHO, its doubling time is 1.5-3 days.

According to MTI, altogether 101 patients died of a Covid-related illness during the past 24 hours, while 6,524 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Friday. So far, 6,278,355 people have received the first jab, while 6,006,178 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,217,724 Hungarians have received a booster jab. The number of active infections has risen to 105,529, while 

hospitals are treating 3,070 Covid-19 patients, 291 of whom are intubated on a ventilator.

coronavirus in hungary hospital
Hungarian hospitals are treating Covid-19 patients. Photo: MTI

Since the first outbreak, 1,282,957 have been registered with the virus, while 39,780 deaths have been recorded. Fully 1,137,648 people have made a recovery.

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Read alsoHBO series to come about Hungarian biochemist Katalin Karikó and the vaccine

Astonishing COVID-19 data surfaced in Hungary!

Covid Antigen Rapid Test COVID

The National Center for Public Health has recently published updated COVID-19 data. Meanwhile, a new variant has been discovered in France.

A new variant of the coronavirus has been identified in France. The variant is called IHU until an official name will be given. So far, it has been identified in 12 people in the Southern Alps around the same time Omicron was discovered in Africa in 2021. The first patient identified with the variant was vaccinated. The variant is under investigation. – writes Bloomberg.

At the time when IHU takes the spotlight, data about the Omicron variant in Hungary has been finally published. But the figures are contradictory. Data from the National Center for Public Health shows a low number of Omicron-infected people, while a private laboratory indicates a high number of cases. – writes Portfolio.

According to the National Center for Public Health, 11% of infections are caused by Omicron. There have been 100 confirmed cases. Neumann Labs, on the other hand, announced that every fourth coronavirus case is caused by Omicron. Their last data shows that 78% of the infections are caused by the new variant. Since Omicron took over, there have been 66,000 detected COVID-19 cases in Hungary.

The difference in the numbers is astonishing. But there is an explanation why. Neumann Lab examines samples from big cities, where the virus rapidly spreads. The National Center for Public Health aims to do its research on the entire territory of Hungary. Although, they could put more effort into sequencing.  

The authorities also did not report on the side effects of the vaccines, a factor that would be crucial to consider when carrying out vaccination campaigns. Additional data and transparency would build trust, and thus people would have a better understanding of how the virus and the vaccines affect the population.

The recently published data is promising, though, and possibly a sign of transparency and will to inform the public. This was the first time that the National Center for Public Health published relevant data about the Omicron variant. In the past, they indicated how many cases they registered but left out other relevant pieces of information. For instance, they wrote how many infected people were identified, but there were no statistics regarding what percentage of these patients had Omicron. As we reported earlier, specific COVID-19 data was hardly available in Hungary before. Details HERE.

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