Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that the government has so far spent HUF 225 billion (EUR 630.3m) on buying protective equipment, building a container hospital and making other preparations in connection with the coronavirus epidemic.
Speaking in parliament yesterday, the prime minister said Hungary has deployed the necessary hospital capacities for treating patients. So far, 13,301 samples have been tested in seven laboratories.
According to MTI, PM Orbán said Hungary had “nothing to be ashamed of” regarding its handling of the virus, arguing that the government had acted more swiftly to introduce the necessary response measures than many other countries.
PM Orbán also said the government will outline Hungary’s “most comprehensive economic stimulus action plan of all time” on April 6 or 7.
Reacting to the opposition Párbeszéd party’s questions on whether the government planned compensation for anyone who loses their job or earns below HUF 100,000 (EUR 280), PM Orbán said the government was working to ensure jobs and “decent wages”, and the action plan being drawn up would mean “everyone will have a job”.
PM Orbán said that since coming to power in 2010, the Fidesz government had “very nearly made good on its promise” to create one million jobs in ten years, yet, he added, the opposition just sneered at the promise at the time.
In response to questions surrounding the state of emergency timeframe, the prime minister stressed that parliament alone would have the power to decide when the state of emergency ends.
A call center set up for advice on the coronavirus can be reached on +36-80-277-455 and +36-80-277-456 or by email koronavirus@bm.gov.hu