The number of vaccinated people will reach 4 million next week, following which a number of services will be available for those who have a certificate of immunity, the prime minister announced in his Friday morning interview on Kossuth Rádió. These “immunity pass holders” will be able to visit theaters, cinemas, gyms, swimming pools, zoos, museums, libraries and sports events. Hotels and the indoor premises of restaurants may also welcome guests who have been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19.
The prime minister also welcomed that the majority of children attended primary school and kindergarten this past week, upon the reopening of their educational institutions, adding that this number is likely to grow in the coming weeks.
He reinforced the importance of getting vaccinated and encouraged everyone who has not registered for the vaccine to do so, emphasizing that all vaccines available in Hungary are effective against the virus and that the risk of contracting coronavirus is very low even after the first dose.
In a couple of weeks, the number of those inoculated may double, Viktor Orbán stressed; everyone who has registered may be vaccinated against the virus by mid-May, he said, adding that there will be enough vaccines available for Hungarians living outside of Hungary, too. The PM also noted that the Hungarian epidemiological authority and the minister of human resources have stated that 16- to 18-year-olds can be inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine.
Speaking on the 2022 budget, the prime minister said that, similar to the 2021 budget, it will focus on relaunching the economy; he highlighted that despite the reopening of terraces, wage support will continue to be paid for those working in restaurants and catering in May as well.
Regarding the upcoming talks in Brussels on the EU recovery facility, Prime Minister Orbán said that various financial questions have already been settled; his negotiations with the president of the European Commission will instead touch upon topics of strategic importance and the future of the EU.