Hungary's PM Orbán: There's a military action plan in place

Jump in the number of infections envisaged

There will be a sharp increase in the number of new cases, but the spread must be tamed so that health care could deal with those in critical condition, said Orbán. He applauded doctors and the well-prepared experts.

GPs, doctors, nurses complain on all kinds of platforms that they lack the necessary protective gear. Maybe Orbán should do something about that instead of dishing out empty praises. These people will not be spared by the coronavirus only because the Prime Minister is content with the immense efforts they make to save lives. Mónika Lujber, in charge of communication at children's hospital Bethesda Gyermekkórház, asked people in various Facebook posts to donate food to the doctors and nurses (chocolate, cofee, snacks, bakery products, fruits or even simple meals). The hospital needs cleaning materials, liquid soap, and the staff could also use laptops, tablets and earphones.

We'll see more clearly next week

The rapid tests have a 60-80% accuracy, but there are 3,000 tests that are reliable enough to draw conclusions from. This number, however, is not enough for doctors to come to solid conclusions therefore we cannot say at this point what COVID-19 does to what age groups. We can only come up with probabilities now. Our patient care team will be able to tell the specific groups what they should expect, so even if the pandemic does not subside, fear may abate.

Actions on two fronts

If the number of infections rises dramatically and there are a lot of critical cases, the health care system will collapse due to capacity shortage. This is what we are witnessing in Italy. There are two ways to avoid that situation. Firstly, we increase the number of tools required to take care of patients and add people to medical staffs too. Secondly, we curb the spread of the virus. We are doing both.

Enough masks are available

When asked about a shortage of masks medical staff, including GPs, keep complaining about, Orbán said that is not true. "We have masks in the millions", they are produced in prisons too, and we are acquiring them at full steam, by any means necessary. We are not begging, we are not turning to the EU, we tend for ourselves. 

"I've sent out all my men to prowl", they are everywhere on the globe, and we have also eased our public procurement rules. "We have spread our tenciles."

"We have enough of everything for the current level of contagion. "By the time the pandemic affects masses" we need to make sure that "everyone has access to the resources."

Distribution also has to go in an orderly fashion, there needs to be a pecking order, he added. 

Budget open from above

Orbán said he consulted with Finance Minister Mihály Varga on Thursday and the budget earmarked to fight COVID-19 is open from above, "the tens of billions [of forints] required for defense are at hand all the time".

This is military action plan

We are aware that some of those working in health care will be infected too. In China, some 4% of medical staff were infected, and in Italy nearly 10% of them suffered the same fate. We put all medical personnel on alert so if someone drops out they can be replaced.

Our borders are under total control, we bring home Hungarians stuck abroad via measures taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have deployed the armed forces so if management of select companies need to be taken over they "will be at hand". The construction of epidemic hospitals is underway.

We have a regular military defense plan. The system is up and running, our resources are positioned "on the chess board so we can make progress." 

Homes cannot be foreclosed

Orbán said the goal of the economic stimulus measures is to make sure as few people lose their jobs as possible, or if they do they return to the labour market as soon as possible. "If there's work, there's everything." He admitted, that not everyone will be able to continue working. Some needs to stay home with the kids, restaurants and hotels are letting people go. The cabinet is trying to convince businesses to strike a deal with employees or keep them on board. In exchange the government is offering them a contribution break. 

People fear that while they are forced stay home and cannot earn, the bank will continue to demand payments on their mortgage and if they cannot pay on time, the lenders will foreclose on their homes. That is why the government adopted a loan repayment moratorium until the end of this year (repayment of both capital and interest is suspended). He pledged banks will not be allowed to foreclose on homes. 

Further measures on their way to assist businesses

We will be helping sectors that are hit the hardest by the coronavirus, said Orbán.

[...] further steps will need to be taken and new sectors could be included

, depending on which businesses show what damage figures to the head of the designated task force. 

Orbán's remarks about further measures up the cabinet's sleeve are reassuring, for Portfolio estimated that the five steps the PM announced on Wednesday are a good start but far from being enough.

Orbán's plea to the elderly: Please, stay home!

I'm asking elderly people to stay home, we'll take care of you.

Municipalites have been instructed that it is their duty to take care of the elderly and sick who may be home all alone, he said.