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Coronavirus Update: Law on maintaining medical preparedness is necessary

The justice minister said precautionary measures were still needed in order to protect the health of citizens.

Justice Minister Judit Varga has said the coronavirus epidemic still presented a danger, and this is why the new law on maintaining medical preparedness which replaces the government’s emergency powers was necessary.

According to MTI, the minister said precautionary measures were still needed in order to protect the health of citizens but there was a big difference, she insisted, between the revoked law which had given the government emergency powers, lapsing midnight on Wednesday, and the new state of medical preparedness that ensured a flexible response to any emerging virus-related incidences.

Minister Varga said measures to aid economic recovery such as support for businesses and job-protection were also vitally important.

Meanwhile, the minister said the European Commission’s proposed 750 billion euro rescue package and new seven-year budget would require fresh resources, and this would involve borrowing. She said it was questionable as to whether indebtedness in the long term was desirable.

The minister added that Hungary calls for an equitable solution compromising neither cohesion nor agricultural funding. Further, Hungary’s disciplined public finances should be a factor of consideration when it comes to deciding on funding levels for individual member states, she said.

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