“We are preparing for the period of large-scale infections,” Chief Medical Officer Cecília Müller said at the Operational Group’s regular press conference on Wednesday. Even though the number of coronavirus cases is constantly on the rise, she added, it’s good news that the growth in Hungary – unlike in other countries in the region – is still gradual, not exponential.
“There is, however, a very sad development: We lost four souls in the last 24 hours,” Müller said, revealing that all four elderly victims had also been suffering from chronic cardiovascular disease. The number of those who have died of coronavirus now stands at 20, with an average age of those deceased being 73.
Speaking about the results of the movement restrictions, Lieutenant Colonel of the Police Róbert Kiss said that the Operational Group is continuously monitoring the progress of these measures. “Based on the given data, the Operational Group has concluded that the imposed measures have contributed to the efficiency of our defense against the coronavirus and to the decrease in the number of new infections,” Kiss said. He added that the Operational Group is therefore extending the duration of the restrictions until the end of the state of emergency.
“Today, three cargo planes brought new supplies of special surgical masks, overalls and materials used to manufacture surgical masks,” Róbert Kiss informed those gathered, noting that they are expecting three additional planes with similar equipment later today.
Since last Saturday, when the movement restrictions were first introduced, Hungarian police officers have had to resort to sanctions in 118 cases due to violations of the new regulations. Meanwhile, authorities have ordered 9,679 people to stay in self-isolation, have carried out some 70,000 supervisions on those in isolation, and have encountered violations in 322 cases.