Hungary’s Coronavirus Operational Group today warned Budapest residents to observe restrictions on leaving their homes in order to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.
Róbert Kiss, Lieutenant Colonel of the Hungarian Police, said that “with the advent of warm weather, more and more residents are tending to violate the rules.” He added that on Sunday alone the police issued 574 warnings, imposed 24 fines and launched 16 legal proceedings.
“While public parking is free as of this morning, movement restrictions must still be observed,” Kiss said, noting that just because they can park nearby, people are still encouraged to stay home.
Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Cecília Müller welcomed the news that two COVID-19 patients at Budapest’s St. László Hospital had been taken off their ventilators. She thanked doctors, nurses and hospital staff for their hard work. However, she also reported that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has increased to 744, and four elderly Hungarians, one woman and three men, have passed away; all of them were suffering from other chronic illnesses, Cecília Müller revealed.
Müller noted that the novel coronavirus prevails in every region of the country, adding that two-thirds of the confirmed cases have been reported in Budapest and the surrounding Pest County.
In regard to supplies, the Chief Medical Officer said 522,000 face masks have been distributed to the healthcare sector.
Lastly, in response to an article published by The New York Times, Müller said that the paper should have enough on its plate to keep busy given what’s happening on its own soil, as the situation in New York is “serious.” “They should leave the handling of the Hungarian epidemiological situation up to the Hungarian authorities,” she said.