The National Hospital Directorate-General on Monday issued a call for medical students and volunteers to assist with the country’s response to the third wave of the coronavirus epidemic.

“There is now a greater need than ever for committed helpers to support the work of our doctors and nurses,” the directorate’s appeal said.

Hungary has begun transferring health-care staff to the more overburdened areas, especially the northern region, Péter Takács, deputy director-general of the National Hospital Directorate-General told public news channel M1.

The number of hospitalised Covid patients “has reached its peak” in Győr-Moson-Sopron, Komárom-Esztergom, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Nógrád counties, he added.

Volunteers applying to help out will be filling in for those who have been transferred to other areas, working primarily at outpatient clinics and vaccination points, Takács said.