Hungary is today beginning a gradual easing of the coronavirus restrictions in place since early March after the number of inoculated people reached 2.5 million in the country of just under 10 million, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a short video message posted on Facebook.
“Today we have reached a significant milestone, and 2.5 million of our compatriots have been vaccinated. We have been living under conditions reminiscent of wartime for a year with restrictions, curfews and personal losses… We have doubled the number of vaccinated people on one month. Therefore, from tomorrow, stores can reopen, and services can restart,” Orbán said in the video. Shortly afterwards, the government issued the relevant ordinance detailing the measures:
- As of April 7, the curfew is amended for the period from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The shops may be open from 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Stores, including those that have been closed since March 8, may be open, albeit under new square meter-based rules
- On average, there can be one customer per 10 square meters in the store under the new regulations
- Temporary protection measures related to the services will be lifted, allowing hairdressers, beauticians and other providers to open up.
- However, restaurants may still not be open during normal operation, only those working there may be present in these units. Guests may enter the restaurants only for the purpose of picking uping takeaway food for the necessary period
- Hotels still cannot accept guests.
Orbán added that vaccination will continue at the current pace and asked citizens to respect the remaining restrictive measures such as wearing masks in public places and keeping their distance, while also urging them to register for vaccination.
“We will continue vaccinating people at this rate. I am grateful for the work of doctors and nurses, and I ask the Hungarian people to register and get their jab. Hungary can and will be the fastest European country to vaccinate everyone who registered,” Orbán said.
