Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said that while the spread of the coronavirus makes global headlines, the real threat of historic proportions is the continued migration from the south, including Africa and the Middle East.
"The main question is where can we stop this wave coming from the south. I have always said that migration comes in waves. We should expect a new migration wave and mass attacks at Hungary's border fence, and we must defend the Hungarian border," PM Orbán said during an interview on Kossuth Radio.
The prime minister added that Hungarian authorities are fully capable of providing the legal, technical and human resources necessary to ensure the safety of the border.
PM Orbán also addressed the coronavirus, saying that after it spread to a dozen European countries, it poses a real threat for Hungary, especially when it has already hit areas close to the country, such as northern Italy. Even more concerning for Hungarians is that coronavirus was seen in neighboring Romania, which reported its first coronavirus case on Thursday.
Due to these cases, the Hungarian government is now operating under the assumption that the disease will also appear in Hungary. "It must be said that the virus will also appear in Hungary, and we are preparing for that eventuality," PM Orbán said.
The prime minister added that the government established a task force a month ago which has been operational ever since and that Hungary has all the technical and human resources needed to fight the spread of the disease. The Hungarian Army has also deployed its mobile virus lab in the event that the virus, which has killed nearly 3,000 people worldwide, strikes Hungary.
PM Orbán warned Hungarians not to travel to infected areas but also assured them that "the government is working around the clock".