Hungary extends restrictions to 15 March

Restrictions extended until 15 March

COVID-19 statistics will be worsening over the next two weeks, some experts project even dramatic changes therefore the cabinet - on recommendations by epidemiological experts and the Operational Corps - has decided to keep current restrictions in place until 15 March, said Gulyás.

The government's projections go as far as 15 March. In the following one or two weeks, we'll see bad or extremely bad numbers. We'll be able to tell only after mid-March when and which service industry segments can re-open. The re-opening of restaurants and hotels will be among the first measures. Large events, such as concerts will be among the last, once herd immunity is reached.

It is unclear why the cabinet thinks it will be in a better position to decide on the re-opening of the economy, i.e. the easing or lifting of restrictions in a bit more than two weeks while the pandemic is expected to get only worse by then.

Vaccination is the only solution

The only effective way to protect ourselves from coronavirus is vaccination. The government is convinced that every vaccine is good, he added.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is expected to be inoculated next week, with the vaccine developed by China's Sinopharm which he has requested specifically, said Gulyás. 

Registration, consultation

2.46 million Hungarians have registered for COVID-19 shots. The online 'national consultation', in which the government is asking the population about ways the re-opening of the economy should go when it becomes timely, was filled out by 425,000 people so far. 

Transfer of wage subsidies in order

Businesses have applied for HUF 41.3 billion worth of wage subsidies, of which the cabinet has already transferred HUF 39.3 billion, said Gulyás. Measures such as this one, and EU funds could help the Hungarian economy to get back on its feet in the second quarter and output to start booming. 

Large share of the most vulnerable groups not vaccinated yet

There are nearly 3 million people over 60 in Hungary. Other then them a couple of hundred thousand people are also considered to be at high risk of coronavirus. Some 2.5 to 3 million people need to be vaccinated to ensure the immunity of the high-risk groups, but only about half a million vaccines have been administered up to date. We hope the pace will pick up and we'll reach one million shortly, but we're not there yet. 

Vaccinated people to be freed from quarantine (what?)

Authorities will post vaccination certificates to those that have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of 1 March. However, the cabinet will decide only later what privileges these people should enjoy. It would definitely give them a free pass on quarantines.

Errr...what? Why would anyone be quarantined if they have been vaccinated? Or let's say they get infected. As we know, vaccines are not 100% efficient, but they do prevent severe symptoms and dying of coronavirus-related diseases. With the current testing policy if vaccinated persons get infected with COVID-19, they'll probably never know. Chances are they'll have flu like symptoms and recover shortly. So, how would they end up in home quarantine in the first place? And if for some reason they do get tested and it's positive, why shouldn't they be quarantined as any other person with coronavirus infection? Being vaccinated does not mean you cannot transmit the infection.

No vaccination by private health care service providers

It is out of the question that private health care service providers will administer COVID-19 vaccines in Hungary, as the state would immediatley seize any vaccine arriving in the country, said Gulyás.

No delay is Russian vaccine delivery

When asked how Moscow explained that a smaller volume of the Sputnik V vaccine was delivered to Hungary than contracted, Gulyás replied that even if there would be a small delay, it would be certainly made up for in March. February is not over so we shouldn't talk about a delay just yet, he added.

On 22 January, Hungary contracted for 2 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said the first shipment of 600,000 doses would be delivered within 30 days, to be followed by 1 million within the next 30 days, and then 400,000 in another 30 days. Up to 23 February, Hungary has received 145,600 doses of Sputnik V. So, any way we look at it, it's quite a stretch from 600,000 and the 30-day deadline was indeed missed. The deal was not end of February but 30 days, but Gulyás can still be right if Russia delivers 454,400 doses in the remaining four days. Hungary is apparently a lot more forgiving when it comes to vaccine deliveries by Moscow than it is with delays in the supply of vaccine procured by the European Commission.

Chinese vaccine in large quantity en route

Hungary expects 500,000 Sinopharm vaccines in March and another 500,000 in April, said Gulyás. In February, 550,000 doses were delivered, 50,000 more than planned. Sinopharm is to deliver 3.5 million doses in May. Hungary contracted for 5 million doses of Sinovac, enough to inoculate 2.5 million people. 

In early February, Hungarians' willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 dipped. The Central Statistical Office (KSH) explained the change by uncertainties related to the various vaccines. The stats office's latest survey, however, shows that the number of people planning to get their COVID-19 jabs has risen again.

Mistrust in Chinese and Russian COVID-19 vaccines was still huge in Hungary, according to a survey conducted by Publicus about a month ago. Only 35% of those willing to be vaccinated at all would pick Russia's Sputnik V and 27% would opt for a Chinese jab. 55% said no to the Russian and a whopping 63% rejected Sinopharm's vaccine.

According to a more recent survey by Medián, 84% of respondents that are willing to get vaccinated would prefer European or U.S. vaccines, and only 43% would accept Russia's Sputnik V and only 27% would be willing to get a Chinese shot.

The National Public Health Centre (NNK) had more than a month to test Sinovac samples and the approval of the Chinese vaccine took place after thorough examination, said the minister. 

Medical institutions could vaccinate 500,000 people on a weekend day, i.e. 1 million on a full weekend, he added. He also asked people who have been notified and given an appointment date and time for their inoculation not to show up hours before their turn, in order to avoid unecessary crowds.