Hungary to lift most COVID-19 restrictions

FILE PHOTO: People enjoy the first days of re-opening at Erzsebet Square in April in Budapest, Hungary. /VCG

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday announced the lifting of almost all epidemiological restrictions, saying that the country has successfully defeated the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"During this weekend, according to all human calculations, we will have vaccinated five million people, which is a huge milestone," Orban said on public radio MR1. "This means that we have essentially defeated the pandemic."

As of Tuesday, the night-time curfew will be ended, the country's stores can remain open as long as they want, and people will be able to "say goodbye" to face masks outdoors, Orban said.

The prime minister also said that sports activities would again be allowed in public places, both at individual and team level.

Private and family events can again be held without restrictions for up to 50 people and weddings for up to 200 people. Indoor events, as well as music and dance events, can only be attended by holders of a vaccination card, and outdoor events can be held with up to 500 participants.

Orban said that Hungary will not participate in the European Union's (EU) next vaccine procurement scheme because the country's own vaccine factory in Debrecen, eastern Hungary, is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2022 and because the country has accumulated enough vaccines to cover the needs until the end of 2022.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency