Responding to the Czech Republic’s plea for European Union aid in fighting a severe spike in coronavirus cases, Hungary has sent 150 respirators, Hungarian State Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Tamás Menczer told national news agency MTI on Sunday.
“The Hungarian government considers that in the current situation, solidarity with each other is needed both inside and outside the country in order for humanity to successfully defend itself against the virus,” Menczer said.
Hungary’s swift move after the European Union sent 30 respirators from a common emergency reserve in response to the Czech plea, prompted thanks from both Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Hungary will help us with 150 lung ventilators. Thanks Viktor, I appreciate this quick and significant help. Firefighters will transport the fans to the @SSHR_SSHR in the coming days, from where they will be taken to hospitals as needed,” Babiš said in a tweet.
Ventilátory z Maďarska jsou naloženy a připraveny na cestu domů. Děkujeme našim maďarským přátelům a našim @hasici_cr za skvělou práci. pic.twitter.com/9aWc8408Ti
— Andrej Babiš (@AndrejBabis) October 25, 2020
Currently, the Czech Republic is dealing with one of the worst surge in coronavirus cases in the entire European Union, prompting the country to institute lockdown measures.
“I welcome such solidarity between member states. We need each other even more during this pandemic,” von der Leyen tweeted, with the message also translated into Hungarian.
I welcome such solidarity between Member States. We need each other even more during this pandemic ????
Üdvözlöm a tagállamok közötti szolidaritást, mint ahogy ezt most Magyarország ?? mutatja Csehország ??felé. A jelenlegi világjárvány alatt még nagyobb szükségünk van egymásra. https://t.co/oyfDAlhS34
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 24, 2020
In the Czech Republic, according to the latest data, there are 1,941 lung ventilators in hospitals, of which 51.4 percent are currently occupied with a patient.
Yesterday, the Minister of Defense, Lubomír Metnar (for YES), announced on Twitter that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) had approved the delivery of 60 ventilators from the alliance’s reserves. Austria also plans to send ventilators to Czechia as well.
The United States has also sent 28 National Guard doctors to aid the Czech Republic. They are expected to work in field hospitals and provide expertise from their time fighting the virus in the US.
