Bence Rétvári, state secretary of the Ministry of Human Capacities, began the Operational Group’s press conference by announcing a new measure related to pensions. “The elderly are at increased risk,” he said, “thus, starting next year, the government will gradually recirculate the 13th month pension, which was taken during the previous crisis by the left-wing government.”
Chief Medical Officer Cecíila Müller also reported that out of Hungary’s 2,383 confirmed coronavirus cases, currently 877 people are hospitalized, and 61 of these 877 patients are on a ventilator.
Müller further announced that “following previously conducted research, for the first time in Hungary, blood plasma from a recovered patient was used to vaccinate a current patient on Thursday.” She added that “this was the first treatment, and the patient will get two more rounds.”
“Passive immunization is the essence of the Hungarian procedure: When someone goes through the disease, their body produces antibodies that can be detected in the blood plasma,” she explained, adding that they are awaiting recovered patients to apply to donate their blood plasma in order to give these antibodies to patients in serious condition and help them fight the infection.
Tibor Lakatos, head of the Coronavirus Operational Group, was also on hand and reported that “a significant amount of protective equipment has been sent to several hospitals and that this activity will continue next week.” Regarding the new restrictions in Budapest, he also noted that all citizens must wear face masks when on public transportation and in shops, markets and taxis. Lakatos pointed out that “the capital will be responsible for enforcing these new rules.”