The answers to the questions of the latest national consultation can be returned via the Internet or by mail by 15 August, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister said on the public service television news channel M1 on Thursday.

Csaba Dömötör highlighted that the government had successfully concluded the first phase of the fight against the epidemic; however, experts have drawn attention to the fact that the epidemic could have a second wave, and the time has come for the government to engage in a dialogue with members of the Hungarian public regarding the measures they support.

Based on expert opinions from health care, those measures prove to be the most effective which have the widest possible support base, the politician observed.

Among others, the questionnaire features a question about the maintenance of disease control preparedness, he said, adding that this is a topical question, given that Parliament will vote on the lifting of the state of danger in June. Due to the expected next wave of the epidemic, a state of disease control preparedness must be maintained, the Operational Group must remain in session, and health care must remain fully prepared, he said.

According to Mr Dömötör’s information, the consultation includes a question about whether people agree with the enhancement of the protection of elderly care homes as well as a question about the reinforcement of Hungary’s capacities in the production of protective supplies. Regarding the latter, he observed that a “massive” race had started for the procurement of protective equipment, and therefore it is an important question at present what Hungary could do to reduce its dependence on external sources.

The consultation questionnaire includes a number of other economic issues as, in addition to protecting human lives, creating jobs is also an important consideration, Mr Dömötör stressed.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)