Coronavirus: New Curfew Restrictions To Be Introduced In Hungary
- 9 Nov 2020 11:37 AM
- Hungary Around the Clock
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán yesterday announced an 8 p.m. curfew, the closure of restaurants and bars, as well as other extraordinary measures in an effort to slow the spread of the epidemic.
Primary schools will remain open, while all other educational institutions will switch to online learning.
The new restrictions will be in effect for 30 days, and may be extended.
They are in effect from midnight Tuesday:
• There will be a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Only those going to or returning home from work will be allowed on the streets.
• All gatherings are prohibited.
• Restaurants close, only take-out and delivery services are permitted. Factory canteens may be open.
• Shops, hairdressers, and private industry service providers must close at 7 p.m.
• Hotels can only receive guests travelling for business purposes, not for tourism.
• All events are banned.
• No more than 10 people can attend a family gathering or private event.
• Funerals can be attended by up to 50 people at a time. At weddings only the witnesses, parents and siblings may attend the ceremony and receptions are banned.
• Sports matches may only take place in empty stadiums.
• Outdoor amateur team sports are prohibited. Individual sports activities are permitted.
• Leisure facilities will be closed, including museums, theatres, gyms, swimming pools, cinemas and zoos.
• Higher education will go online, dorms and residences will also have to close.
• All teaching above the eighth grade will be online.
• Nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools will remain open to those under 14.
• Hospital workers, teachers, kindergarten staff and nursery workers will be tested on a weekly, targeted basis, even if such quick tests are only 50-60% accurate.
The state will refund 80% of hotel bookings made by November 8 for 30 days, on the condition that the hotels keep their employees, who will continue receiving their pay.
Restaurants and leisure facilities do not have to pay payroll taxes on their employees’ salaries for these 30 days. The state reimburses half of workers’ salaries if they are not laid off and continue to be paid.
According to the Prime Minister, the situation in Hungary always follows that in Austria with a week or two delay.
He said everything necessary is available in hospitals: beds, masks, protective equipment and ventilators.
Hospital staff are doing superhuman work, but they will soon be unable to cope with the burden, he warned, therefore, the number of infections must be reduced by the measures taken.
MTI Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák
XpatLoop Media Partner
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