coronavirus

Will the Omicron virus explode in Budapest?

Although the number of hospitalised patients is currently declining, experts say the virus will be with us for a long time to come. Based on foreign examples, we can see that the Omicron wave begins in densely populated areas. So it is likely that the spread of the Omicron will begin in Budapest.

Is the fifth wave of the epidemic near?

Currently, the number of covid patients treated in hospital is decreasing in Hungary, writes napi.hu. The fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic may be declining, but it will stay with us for a long time. According to a Pulse Researcher survey,

most Hungarians think that the fifth wave will arrive in the next few months.

69 per cent of respondents believe the new wave will arrive in the spring of 2022 at the latest. Only 7 per cent of those surveyed think that there will be no more coronavirus waves. The research surveyed 1,000 people who represent the opinions of the adult population. The results show that women are slightly more pessimistic than men.

In terms of age, a higher proportion of seniors reckon there will be a fifth wave in the spring.

According to the survey, the higher one’s level of education is, the darker that person sees the future. If we examine the place of residence, a larger proportion of the residents living in the capital and the countryside believe there will be another wave soon.

The Omicron wave can start from Budapest

The Omicron wave starts from densely populated areas. It then reaches areas with lower population density. Gábor Vattay, the head of the Department of Physics of Complex Systems at Eötvös Loránd University, prepared an analysis in this connection.

The number of cases in Budapest is constantly increasing.

Over the next few days, the fall of the Delta wave will change the indicators. After all, the decrease in the number of Delta wave cases masks the increase in Omicron cases. The data show that half of the cases in Budapest, while every fourth case nationwide, can be linked to the Omicron variant.

Examining international processes, it can be stated that the Omicron virus wave is one of the most serious in terms of case number, writes portfolio.hu. Mathematician Gergely Röst and epidemiologist Beatrix Oroszi are both members of an expert group supporting the Hungarian government’s epidemiological decisions. They believe that if the Omicron variant continues to spread at a similar rate as now, the current restrictions will not be sufficient.

January 5, 2022

“Flurona” – The new COVID-19 syndrome carries the symptoms of coronavirus and flu

Not long after the recently detected Omicron variant, a new syndrome of the coronavirus has started to spread. The disease complex called Flurona carries the symptoms of covid and flu. So far, two such cases have been diagnosed in Hungary.

Sadly, the beginning of 2022 has brought even more negative news concerning the spread of the coronavirus. As the Hungarian news portal Pénzcentrum reports, 78% of positive samples are now the latest Omicron variant which started to spread from South Africa.

According to Gábor Zacher Hungarian virologist, the number of infections can significantly increase in the upcoming weeks, as a result of New Year’s Eve gatherings. The expert also points out that as long as there are places in Asia and Africa with low vaccination rates, there is a higher possibility that new variants will emerge. Just like in the case of the new Omicron mutant that could develop in an HIV-infected person with weakened immunity. Even if there are nearly fully vaccinated communities, as long as there are low-vaccination countries, new mutants may emerge – reported by Portfolio.

Furthermore, recently a new disease complex has also started to spread.

The syndrome known as Flurona carries the symptoms of COVID-19 and flu.

The disease complex was first identified in Israel. However, in the last two weeks, two Flurona cases have also been diagnosed in Hungary. Both patients are young, under 30 years old.

Neumann Labs was the first in Hungary to introduce simultaneous PCR testing for flu and COVID-19. It is not a coincidence that the laboratory decided to do so. Previously, scientists forecasted that the two viruses can be caught at the same time, and in this case, the disease can be more severe and life-threatening. Fortunately, such cases are not yet widespread. Still, health services need to be prepared for the possibility of double COVID-19 and influenza infections.

In addition to the predicted fifth wave of the coronavirus, the flu epidemic could soon be at its peak.

Detecting the new dual syndrome is even harder than before. The symptoms of different respiratory infections – such as fever, cough, fatigue, joint pain – are very similar, so people who get sick may not know for certain which virus they contracted. Many people with the flu diagnose themselves as having the coronavirus and vice versa. Therefore, the tests of the diagnostic laboratory will not only show whether a person has been infected by the Delta or the new Omicron variant, but also whether they have the flu.

Read alsoHungary reports 2,429 new coronavirus infections – latest numbers

January 4, 2022

Hungary reports 2,429 new coronavirus infections – latest numbers

Altogether 83 patients died of a Covid-related illness during the past 24 hours, while 2,429 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Tuesday.

So far 6,268,108 people have received a first jab, while 5,986,342 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,184,580 Hungarians have received a booster jab.

The number of active infections went down to 100,247,

while hospitals are treating 3,335 Covid-19 patients, 316 of whom need respiratory assistance.

Since the first outbreak, 1,264,709 infections have been registered, while

the number of fatalities has risen to 39,517.

Fully 1,124,945 people have made a recovery.

read also – RTL: Covid complications killed a Hungarian every 18 minutes in 2021

Read alsoThese are the most important changes taking effect in Hungary in 2022

January 4, 2022

HBO series to come about Hungarian biochemist Katalin Karikó and the vaccine

HBO is going to create a series about the history of the existing coronavirus vaccines’ development, says Telex.hu. The series will be presented to the audience under the name The First Shots.

The Hungarian biochemist, Katalin Karikó, who played a pioneering role in the development of the mRNA technology that underpins both the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines, will also appear in the series.

According to SZTE (Szegedi Tudományegyetem – University of Szeged), the series is expected to “present the scientific and business competition for vaccines as a collaboration between scientist women and decision-maker men, based on Brendan Borell’s book of the same title (The First Shots).

Next to Katalin Karikó, the HBO series will feature U.S. immunologist Kizzmekia Corbett, vaccinologist Sarah Gilbert, and chief virologist Anthony Fauci, as well as Albert Bourla and Stéphane Bancel, the CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna.

Karikó was chosen as one of the heroes of 2021 by Forbes

Vaccine scientists are TIME's 2021 Heroes of the Year #TIMEPOY https://t.co/8qAiVzxRPP pic.twitter.com/pxee2faWdL
— TIME (@TIME) December 13, 2021

In the article created by Time, Karikó is the first in a series of researchers. The article writes about her history and work and makes sure to acknowledge her fast, precise work and the fact that she has revolutionised the medical industry with the mRNA technology.

Karikó won almost everything

Other than the Nobel Prize, Katalin Karikó received pretty much all other major awards she could.

Shared with her fellow researcher, Drew Weissmann, she was awarded the 2022 Benjamin Franklin Medal in the Life Sciences category.

The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia has been honouring Benjamin Franklin’s legacy since 1824 by awarding outstanding achievement in science and engineering. As the oldest comprehensive science and technology award in the United States, the institute has recognised more than two thousand pioneering scientists, engineers, and inventors from around the world, including Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

January 3, 2022

Coronavirus in Hungary: 248 COVID-19 deaths over weekend

Coronavirus in Hungary: Altogether 248 patients died of a Covid-related illness over the past three days, while 5,865 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Monday.

So far 6,266,483 people have received a first jab, while 5,982,104 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,178,228 Hungarians have received a booster jab.

The number of active infections went down to 101,023, while

hospitals are treating 3,313 Covid-19 patients, 318 of whom need respiratory assistance.

Since the first outbreak, 1,262,280 infections have been registered, while

the number of fatalities has risen to 39,434.

Fully 1,121,823 people have made a recovery.

read more news about Coronavirus in Hungary

Read alsoThese are the most important changes taking effect in Hungary in 2022

January 3, 2022

These are the most important changes taking effect in Hungary in 2022

2021 is over, and we have entered the year 2022. The new year brings not only New Year’s resolutions but also many changes in the everyday life of those living in Hungary. In 2022, warranties will change, moving will be easier, and there will be more Hungarian foods in the school canteen.

Changes in 2022

From May 2022, warranty regulations in Hungarian stores will be tightened. There will be no more fake discounts, as all products on sale must show the previous price. In the case of warranties, the previous half year has been increased to 1 year, during which the seller must investigate the defective product.

The price of food in a school canteen may be more expensive.

Under an earlier regulation, at least 60 per cent of food used in public catering had to come from domestic sources. This incurs an additional cost that parents have to pay. The goal is for children to eat better quality, fresh, and healthy food, and it also benefits domestic economy.

Unvaccinated teachers were given a delay until January to get a medical certificate or get vaccinated. They can then be sent on unpaid leave. According to the teachers’ union, 5,000 teachers may be affected by the regulation, writes 24.hu.

Wages in the public sector will increase.

So, the salaries of specialists, doctors, nurses, and social workers will be raised. The amount of pensions will also increase from January. However, GPs are not only given more money but also more responsibilities. In January, all GPs must offer vaccinations against the coronavirus at least one weekend, telex.hu writes.

Changes in everyday life

In 2022, it will be impossible to order medicine.

This is because, according to an amendment to the law introduced in November, the delivery of not only prescription drugs but also any medicine can only be carried out by pharmacy professionals. Previously, it was possible to easily order medicine online using parcel delivery services. This has been a huge help to the elderly, as well as in the fight against the virus.

The Hungarian government is suspending interest on housing.

In this sense, interest rates on mortgages will not rise further. In addition, the amount of the minimum wage will rise to HUF 200,000. Moreover, young people under the age of 25 will be exempt from paying tax. While those under the age of 25 do not have to pay personal income tax, those raising a child are reimbursed the amount of personal income tax.

Of the many changes, it is even more important to point out that moving will be easier from next year. After all, the administration of data changes and the reassigning of utilities will be faster and easier.

Read alsoThe biggest booms of 2022 in Hungary – an event calendar

January 2, 2022

Hungarian GPs could face €13k fine for refusing to administer vaccines

Coronavirus Koronavírus Vakcina Vaccine General Practitioner Családi Orvos 2

A new decree states that family physicians have to spend at least one weekend administering vaccines on top of their usual working hours.

A new decree will be in effect in Hungary starting January 2022. The decree states that family physicians have to spend at least one weekend administering vaccines on top of their usual working hours. – writes hvg.hu. The official announcement was published on 27 December.

According to the document, family doctors can choose from three options. The first one is to work on at least one weekend between 1 January and 31 January 2022. Their second option is to work on a Friday or a Saturday in consultation with the county vaccination committee. The third option is to administer vaccines, working from 2 pm to 6 pm on Fridays and from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturdays.

If a doctor refuses to participate in the “volunteering” program, they could be fined for a sum of 30,000 (EUR 81) to 5 million forints (EUR 13,536).

Index writes that doctors also have the responsibility to inform their patients of the opportunity to take the vaccine. At the beginning of 2021, Zoltán Soós head of the general medical group of the Hungarian Medical Chamber said that about a quarter of family doctors would not like to administer vaccines, or cannot administer vaccines in the course of the vaccination program.

Read also Fourth wave downhill in Hungary!

Doctors are obligated to call back their patients on the phone as soon as they can. Miklós Kásler, head of ministry of Ministry of Human Resources also ordered that doctors do covid tests for every patient suspected to have the virus. The test can be done at the consulting room, at the patient’s place of residence or any other suitable place based on what they agree on. – writes hvg.hu.

Infostart writes that the national collegial professional leader of general practitioners, Szabolcs Békássy, said that imposing fines is not the right way to encourage doctors to vaccinate more people. He said that general practitioners had a part in vaccinating people before the new decree came out. 24.hu writes that “in the fall, more than 47 percent of booster doses were administered at GP practices” during working hours.

According to data on koronavirus.gov.hu, there were 6,252,653 vaccinated people as of 28 December. There were 22,465 people infected with the virus in Budapest and 94,313 in rural Hungary. 180,980 people were considered healed from the virus in Budapest and 910,037 in rural areas. 15,775 people were quarantined in their homes. The data showed that 6,587 people died in Budapest and 32,307 passed away in rural Hungary. The information indicates that 9,119,505 samples were taken.

Worldwide 281,992,357 people had the virus. 5,411,147 died and 9,021,723,426 vaccines were administered.

Read alsoHungarian Covid ward: it is a stressful job, vaccinate yourself! – VIDEO

January 1, 2022

Number of active infections declined further in Hungary

Altogether 82 patients died of a Covid-related illness over the past 24 hours, while 3,360 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Thursday.

So far 6,266,064 people have received a first jab, while 5,981,569 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,176,553 Hungarians have received a booster jab.

The number of active infections went down to 105,553, while hospitals are treating 3,492 Covid-19 patients, 334 of whom need respiratory assistance.

Since the first outbreak, 1,256,415 infections have been registered, while the number of fatalities has risen to 39,186. Fully 1,111,676 people have made a recovery.

Read alsoThe Omicron variant spreads much quicker than the government says!

December 31, 2021

Coronavirus in Hungary: number of fatalities has risen to 39,104

Altogether 95 patients died of a Covid-related illness during the past 24 hours, while 3,361 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Thursday.

So far 6,262,698 people have received a first jab, while 5,978,673 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,170,694 Hungarians have received a booster jab.

The number of active infections went down to 107,420, while

hospitals are treating 3,697 Covid-19 patients, 342 of whom need respiratory assistance.

Since the first outbreak, 1,253,055 infections have been registered, while

the number of fatalities has risen to 39,104.

Fully 1,106,531 people have made a recovery.

read also: The Omicron variant spreads much quicker than the government says!

Read alsoHungarian Covid ward: it is a stressful job, vaccinate yourself! – VIDEO

December 30, 2021

The Omicron variant spreads much quicker than the government says!

In the days around Christmas, the new variant spread very quickly in Hungary, according to the biggest private lab in the country. They analysed the positive samples and measured the frequency of the Omicron variant 60 pc in them. The Neumann Labs. reported on 22 December that the new variant is only present in 25 pc of the new COVID-positive samples. That was already a higher rate than the government communicated before. The administration talked about 15 patients having the Omicron variant then.

There is no official data about the spread of the Omicron variant

According to telex.hu, experts already said before Christmas that the number of patients infected by the new variant was higher than the official communication reported. On 23 December, officials said that the number of such patients tripled. Interestingly, on the official coronavirus website, koronavirus.gov.hu, the top news is still about the tax refund for families raising children. Below, there is the Christmas message of the prime minister, but there is no updated news or detailed report about the spread of the Omicron variant.

Therefore, experts can only rely on data provided by private labs.

Read also: Government: Hungary’s healthcare system prepared for potential next wave

Less severe symptoms but much more patients

Miklós Nyíri, CEO of Neumann Labs., said in the ATV that the number of patients having the new variant is rising swiftly. They analysed COVID-positive samples to discover how many of them were caused by the Omicron. “Regarding the last hundred of the analysed samples, the rate of Omicron reached 60 pc” – he said.

The sample and the result of their research is probably not representative. But experts believe the new variant is already dominant in Hungary.

Meanwhile, the Hungarian News Agency said today that only 68 cases of the Omicron variant have been officially detected in Hungary.

The spread speed and virulence of the Omicron is higher than the other variants. Therefore, it is expected to become the world’s dominant variant soon. Meanwhile, it seems that it causes less severe symptoms. However, since it can infect much more people, it might push the country’s healthcare system behind its operability limit.

Koronavírus Coronavirus Vaccine Vakcina Ampulla Ampoule

Read alsoHow effective are vaccines really in Hungary? – NEW DETAILS!

December 29, 2021

Almost 40 thousand Hungarians died in COVID

Altogether 115 patients died of a Covid-related illness during the past 24 hours, while 3,005 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Wednesday.

So far 6,257,771 people have received a first jab, while 5,973,555 have been fully vaccinated. Fully 3,161,930 Hungarians have received a booster jab.

So far 68 cases of the Omicron variant have been officially detected in Hungary.

The number of active infections stands at 113,057, while hospitals are treating 3,854 Covid-19 patients, 357 of whom need respiratory assistance.

Read also: Government: Hungary’s healthcare system prepared for potential next wave

Since the first outbreak, 1,249,694 COVID infections have been registered, while

the number of fatalities has risen to 39,009.

Fully 1,097,628 people have made a recovery.

Read alsoCORRUPTION – Hungarian doctor issued fake vaccination certificates

December 29, 2021

Hungarian Covid ward: it is a stressful job, vaccinate yourself! – VIDEO

The government shared a video that included a message from employees working at a Hungarian Covid ward. In the approximately 1.5-minute video, employees complain that working with coronavirus patients is stressful. They ask everyone to fight against the epidemic by taking the jab.

Christmas message from the Covid ward

The Hungarian government shared a video message from Covid employees on Facebook. In the 1.5-minute video, the hospital staff talks about their hardships of working at the Covid ward.

Working in the intensive care unit where coronavirus patients are being treated is extremely stressful, not only physically but also mentally.

However, the workers do not give up in spite of all the difficulties and fatigue. Among other things, adrenaline helps them a lot. In the video, one of the hospital employees also mentions that the pandemic is not going to go away on its own . Therefore, everyone has to do something to make the pandemic disappear.

The coronavirus is like a Russian roulette, you cannot know what it will cause.

Erika Kálmán, an ICU nurse, asked everyone to get the vaccine in the Christmas message. According to the latest data, the Omicron variant has been also spreading in Hungary, writes telex.hu. More than 38,000 people died in Hungary because of the coronavirus. Secretary of State István György declared on Sunday that the first coronavirus vaccine had been administered in Hungary exactly a year ago. Additional vaccination campaigns may follow in January.

Covid Doctor of the Year

Richard Rokszin, Covid Doctor of the Year, was also featured earlier in a video on the government’s Facebook page. Many people remember the video footage made in Italy at the beginning of the pandemic. After the shocking series of images, many people wanted to see what was happening in the Hungarian hospitals. However, this was not possible until now.

The argument of the media was that if people saw the actual situation, they would probably take the restrictions more seriously, and thus more people would go for the vaccine, index.hu writes. However, Richard Rokszin does not agree with them.

“It is an intolerable category for the average person,”

Rokszin described his daily struggles. “It’s better not to publish videos that show what’s going on in the Covid wards. It’s an intolerable category for the average person, and it’s often a great mental burden even for professionals. If we did not talk to each other when we left the infected area, we would most certainly develop some serious mental issues, from burnout to depression.”

December 28, 2021

Did the Hungarian authorities take risks with the Sputnik V vaccine?

The National Institute of Pharmacy has released the documents approving the Russian vaccine. However, several parts were obscured in the official document. An independent representative, Ákos Hadházy, made the concealed parts visible. These show that even though there had been several problems with the vaccine, it was approved.

Documents disclosed

After a lawsuit, Transparency International obtained the documents about the Hungarian authorisation of the Sputnik V and Sinopharm vaccines. However, the National Institute of Pharmacy and Food Health (OGYÉI) obscured several parts of the documents sent.

Ákos Hadházy, an independent Member of Parliament, posted on his Facebook page about the case.

Hadházy was able to make the hidden parts readable with a simple trick.

All you have to do is copy the data from PDF to a Word file and open it to make everything visible. A number of dubious pieces of information about the Russian vaccine have been revealed in the obscured sections. For example, it includes that

“it was not possible to establish and verify fully good laboratory practice.”

Did the Hungarian authorities take any risks with the authorisation?

It also became apparent from the documents that several important studies on efficacy and safety were missing. In addition, no efficacy was established. Another problem is that the viral content of the ampoules has been set within wide limits. This means that the active ingredient of some ampoules can show differences by up to three times, writes hvg.hu.

“According to the above, the Russian license was a major roulette with the health and lives of hundreds of thousands of Hungarians,”

says Hadházy in his post. Immunologist András Falus also talked about the fact that the official documents are very short. Accordingly, the documentation for the Sputnik vaccine is incomplete. By comparison, AstraZeneca had thousands of pages of documentation, while Sputnik had only a hundred pages.

Neither the OGYÉI nor the Coronavirus Press Centre will answer any questions. In their response, they say all vaccines are effective. They also asked the leftist press to “end their campaign against vaccination and some vaccines.”

December 27, 2021

COVID-19 deaths continue to rise in Hungary over the Christmas weekend

Altogether 436 patients died of a Covid-related illness during the Christmas weekend, while 7,989 new coronavirus infections were registered, koronavirus.gov.hu said on Monday.

The number of active infections stands at 118,633, while hospitals are treating 4,063 Covid-19 patients,

409 of whom need respiratory assistance.

Since the first outbreak, 118 633 infections have been registered, while

the number of fatalities has risen to 38,167.

Fully 1,087,943 people have made a recovery. There are 31,081 people in official quarantine, while the number of tests taken stands at 9,037,023.

The official information page stressed that

the omicron variant of the coronavirus is already present and spreading in Hungary, so everyone is urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

They say that the registration area and the booking website are always open for parents who want to vaccinate their children aged 5-11 years.

read also: How effective are vaccines really in Hungary? – NEW DETAILS!

To increase vaccination coverage, employers can require their employees to be vaccinated. In the public sector, vaccination is required, while in municipalities it is up to the mayors to decide. Companies that require their employees to be vaccinated can also ask their county vaccination teams to provide the vaccine, in which case the company doctors can also administer the vaccination.

Read alsoCORRUPTION – Hungarian doctor issued fake vaccination certificates

December 27, 2021

BREAKING: Wizz Air cancels 84 flights due to the Omicron surge

Several major airlines, including Delta, Lufthansa, United, and Hungarian low-cost airline WizzAir, have been forced to cancel thousands of flights due to staff shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least three major airlines have reported that a significant portion of their staff went on sick leave, leaving companies with insufficient capacity for the holidays. The COVID-driven staff shortage and the surge of the Omicron variant led to the cancellation of dozens of flights, writes Telex.

The number of bookings fell sharply from the middle of January to February, leading to

the elimination of 33,000 flights or about 10% of its plan this winter,

said Carsten Spohr, the chief executive of Lufthansa, the flag carrier and largest airline of Germany. “Above all we are missing passengers in our home markets of Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium, because these countries have been hit hardest by the pandemic wave,” Spohr added.

In the United States, Delta Air Lines has also cancelled nearly 100 flights due to the problematic weather in certain parts of the country and the Omicron-related staff shortage.

Wizz Air

The Hungarian low-cost airline has been one of the most committed airlines in exploring new markets and expanding its capacity with new routes. In early October, Wizz Air announced the launch of new routes from Budapest to Egypt and Jordan, then, a few weeks later came the news about its major expansion in the Ukrainian market and the doubling of its capacity in Ukraine. However, the growing number of COVID-19 cases and the competition in all sectors have taken a toll on the airline, writes Aviacionline.

Hungarian Wizz Air to suspend 27 flights

Which routes are affected?

Twelve of the flights departing from Vienna have already been eliminated: Alghero (AHO), Charleroi (CRL), Cologne (GCN), Dortmund (DTM), Eindhoven (EIN), Faro (FAO), Madrid (MAD), Menorca (MEH), Oslo (OSL), Skavsta (NYO), Tallinn (TLL), and Warsaw (WAW).

One-third of the cancellations affect destinations in Italy, but several routes to Cyprus, Turkey or Norway have also been eliminated. Other airports affected include Warsaw, Poland, (seven); Gdansk, Poland (five); Eindhoven, Netherlands (five); Dortmund, Germany (four); Sofia, Bulgaria (four); and Zaporizhzhia, Greece (three).

Some of the cancelled flights have only been launched recently.

Read alsoPassengers were not allowed on a WizzAir flight in Budapest

December 25, 2021

CORRUPTION – Hungarian doctor issued fake vaccination certificates

In one of our previous articles, we have reported that more and more people were trying to obtain fake vaccination certificates to avoid getting the jab in Hungary.

Since the introduction of the epidemiological restrictions, attempts to get away with the regulations have been widely present in the domestic criminal sphere. Recently, even official doctors have begun to take part in these illegal activities, therefore, it has become harder for the authorities to track down the perpetrators. Hence, the number of people illegally acquiring vaccination certificates has also risen.

However, the Hungarian police cracked down on two nurses who sold fake vaccination certificates for more than 90 individuals for a price as low as €134 for a single counterfeit document.

Thanks to a report, the Hungarian police tracked down another trio of criminals selling fake certificates in Budapest. They allegedly had thirteen customers.

According to Origo, the police have also found a small-scale illegal business run by a doctor. The other members included her assistant and a beautician who worked as a middleman taking care of the supply and finances between the patients and the healthcare workers.

The customers did not even have to go to the doctor’s office; the beautician took their appropriate IDs and dropped them off at the doctor’s office along with the money.

Then, as 24.hu writes, the assistant uploaded their data to the healthcare system and issued the fake vaccination certificates to a total of 13 people, to some for a price as low as HUF 100,000 (EUR 278).

As part of the investigation, the Hungarian police department ordered the search of the three women’s home and the doctor’s office. They have confiscated a total of HUF 4, 220, 000 (EUR 11,723) and additional EUR 580, along with electronic devices, blank immunity certificates as well as other medical papers.

The police interrogated the 60-year-old doctor and her 45-year-old assistant as well as the 42-year-old beautician as prime suspects.

The doctor and her assistant are accused of thirteen cases of counterfeiting medical documents and seven cases of accepting bribes, while the beautician is accused of nine cases of assisting the prime suspects misusing medical documents and one case of bribery.

The prime suspects are not detained and can protect themselves freely.

Read alsoCrazy things people do for a fake vaccine certificate

December 24, 2021

Another 46 cases of omicron variant identified in Hungary!

Hungary’s National Public Health Centre (NNK) on Thursday said it has identified another 46 cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 61.

The omicron variant is spreading quickly in several European countries and has been found to be more contagious than previous variants, the NNK said on the government website koronavirus.gov.hu. It added, however, that there were conflicting reports of the severity of the variant given the lack of clinical data on it.

The NNK urged those who are unvaccinated against Covid to get the jab and those who are vaccinated to also get a booster shot.

It noted that those who pre-register for a shot can get inoculated at designated hospital vaccination points even during the holidays, adding that

there will be more inoculation drive days in January when people will be able to get the jab without making an appointment.

Read also Another 46 cases of omicron variant identified in Hungary!

December 23, 2021

Chinese ventilators could not be used in Hungary

Hungarian hospitals struggled with fuming, incompatible Chinese ventilators.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs bought thousands of ventilators from China, but when experts saw the devices, they came to concerning conclusions, writes Direkt36, a highly respected and prestigious investigative journalism center in Hungary. As the machines ordered from the far-away country were unknown in Hungary before, technicians were much needed to inspect the machines.

They concluded that some of the devices would have required additional disposable or wearing parts, unavailable in Hungary. There were ventilators, which did not have compatible connectors or adaptors. Other ventilators lacked CE certification or the software running on them was unknown. There were instances when healthcare professionals had ventilators that they managed to set to English, at best. There was a hospital where the ventilators were connected, but then smoke emerged.

The investigative journalism center also found out that many of the ventilators have not been used yet. If a ventilator breaks down, it is replaced by another one. The contracts with the Chinese partners were unfavourable as well. In almost every case, the full price was paid in advance. Many times the ventilators were transported to airports in Hong Kong, Beijing or Shanghai, and reclamations should have been made within 2 days up to a week. There is a contract that states that there is no refund for the down payment. There are contracts, however, where a warranty for 12 months is included.

Issues with the ventilators raised concerns in the United Kingdom as well.

The Guardian wrote that the Chinese ventilators were “unsuitable for use in hospitals and potentially dangerous for patients”. The British newspaper reported that some doctors even wrote to Health Secretary Matt Hancock to express their concern. “We believe that if used, significant patient harm, including death, is likely.” – The Guardian quoted from the letter that NBC News managed to obtain. Technical staff spent days making the ventilators work, with no success.

Read alsoHungary the least prepared for the Omicron variant?

Read alsoHungary donates 530,000 AstraZeneca doses to Bangladesh

December 23, 2021