“We have created the possibility to appoint an institutional commander for all nursing homes with more than 200 people,” said Major General Zsolt Halmosi, leader of Hungary’s hospital commanders, at the start of the Operational Group’s press conference today. He added that “there are 18 such institutions, and the commander at each institution will check compliance with epidemiological rules and the availability of medical supplies.”
Cecília Müller, Hungary’s chief medical officer, reported that “focal points continue to exist in closed communities, including nursing homes and hospital departments where there are already coronavirus-infected people.”
Touching upon the upcoming easement of restrictions, Müller said that “we have entered the second phase of the epidemic, and no one will be left without care.” She also noted that people are basically adhering to current restrictive measures, making “the flattening of the epidemic curve a joint success” between all Hungarians.
“Slightly easier regulations are coming into force, but it is important that we continue to follow the remaining measures,” Müller said, emphasizing that “based on epidemiological data, the national infection rate has not changed, with the highest number of confirmed cases in Budapest and Pest County.”
Responding to a question, Róbert Kiss, lieutenant colonel of the Police, said that “inspections of nursing homes are still ongoing, and they are already inspecting institutions with under 100 people this week, with results expected by the beginning of next week.”
Regarding movement restrictions on a local level, Kiss noted that mayors may still enact restrictive measures at their discretion.