Hungary introduces new restrictions

Hungary will impose new restrictions, Gergely Gulyas, the head of the prime minister’s office told journalists at his regular press briefing on Thursday. He said:

• Kindergartens and primary schools will be closed until 7 April, with a switch to digital education.
• Stores will be closed for a duration of two weeks from 8-22 March, except for supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations.
• All services will be suspended until 22 March, except for private healthcare services.
• Gyms will be closed for two weeks, training sessions and matches between certified athletes may only be held behind closed doors. Parks can stay open and outdoor sports activities are allowed if the social distancing rule of 1,5 metres is observed.
• The government has called on workplaces to enable workers and employees to telework from home, wherever it is possible.
• When outdoors, mask-wearing is mandatory everywhere.
• Border crossing rules will become stricter in terms of personal transport.
• The current wage subsidies and tax breaks available for hotels and the catering industry will be extended to every sector that needs to shut down now, as a result of the restrictions.

Gergely Gulyas said the goverment’s decisions were made necessary by the deteriorating pandemic situation. Even though Hungary is in third place in the EU with regard to the number of inoculated citizens, it is faced with a tough pandemic situation. Mr Gulyas stressed that if the government was to delay the closures, the reopening would also be delayed. He said the reopening will commence on 22 March, possibly with some sort of schedule.