COVID-19: New Restrictions Announced in Hungary

Speaking at the weekly government info event, Gergely Gulyás, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, announced that all shops must close between March 8 and 22, with primary schools and nurseries remaining shut until April 7.

The government information website's English version quotes Minister Gulyás as saying that “while Hungary is currently the third in Europe in terms of its inoculation rate per 100 inhabitants, we will be the first in this ranking in a matter of weeks."

Addressing the flip side of the coin, however, Minister Gulyás said that even this swift rate of vaccination is not quick enough to put an end to the spread of different coronavirus mutations. This is why, Gulyás continued, the Hungarian Government has decided to introduce tighter, temporary restrictions.

“If we do not shut down right now, we will delay the date of the reopening,” the minister said.

Here are some of the key decisions, with specific details coming soon:

Nurseries and primary schools will be closed until April 7.

All shops, with the exception of grocery stores, drugstores, pharmacies and gas stations, must remain closed for a two-week period beginning March 8, next Monday.

Between March 8 and 22, all services, except private healthcare services, must remain closed.

Fitness centers and gyms will have to close as well. Professional athletes must compete behind closed doors.

Outdoor sports activities are still permitted in the case of sports where the minimum 1.5-meter distance can be kept.

Obligatory, universal mask-wearing.

International travel will be tightened.

The wage support program already in place for hotels, bars and restaurants will be extended to cover all shops and services that need to close.

Specific details are to be announced later.