Speaking at the daily Operational Group press conference, Lieutenant Colonel of police Róbert Kiss said that they have initiated proceedings against a Hungarian citizen who tried to leave the country through the airport while under official domestic quarantine. Additionally, there were 385 police actions in Budapest on Tuesday alone due to violations of the movement restrictions. Kiss also noted that there is currently some disruption of freight traffic at the border crossings of Tompa, Röszke and Ártánd.
Lieutenant Colonel Kiss also spoke about the Hungarian government’s decision to send 11 Iranians home. These were the hospitalized Iranians who had displayed violent behavior while at the South Pest Central Hospital. Eight will leave the country voluntarily, while three are official deportations; additionally, three more Iranians will leave the country on April 23.
Kiss further reported that a significant amount of equipment to fight the coronavirus epidemic had arrived at Liszt Ferenc Airport on Tuesday.
Chief Medical Officer Cecília Müller announced that the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Hungary had increased to 1,572. Unfortunately, the number of deaths related to the disease also rose to 134. Those patients who have passed away have typically been elderly and with chronic, underlying illnesses. The number of people who have fully recovered is, however, much higher than the number of people who have died. So far, more than 37,000 tests have been performed in designated laboratories.
Additionally, Müller announced that the government has initiated a national audit to help protect high-risk seniors. Initial data from this audit is expected this week.
The aim of the national audit is to assess how well healthcare institutions are prepared in terms of equipment, training in nursing technology, and procedures. If a deficiency is identified, the necessary steps will be taken.
The chief medical officer said that 1,035 nursing homes and social institutions will be visited during the audit and pointed out that there would be an opportunity for consultations during the inspections as well. Müller asked the institutions to cooperate and thanked healthcare workers and their colleagues for their support.
“No one will be left without care if one needs it,” Müller said, adding that epidemiologists are already present at the institutions where the virus has appeared.
For those heading home after treatment, Müller said that “the home social care and the home nursing systems can help those who are now being released from hospitals.”
“Dismissal from the hospital must be a medical decision,” the chief medical officer stressed, adding that Hungary is still in the bottom third of EU countries in terms of mortality rate.