The primary duty of the disease control deployment unit is to localise infection epicentres and to prevent the further spread of the virus, members of the press were informed at a display of the unit held in conjunction with a press conference on Friday in Budapest.

Police Lt. Colonel Róbert Kiss, a staff member of the duty centre of the Operational Group stressed that while Hungary had successfully completed the first phase of the fight against the virus, the threat of the epidemic had not passed yet. The disease control deployment unit was formed after the end of the state of danger. He said the duty of the unit is to coordinate the work of the cooperating organisations, including the defence forces, disaster management, the public health authority and the ambulance service, and to ensure the effective utilisation of the available resources. Their work is assisted by a notification and reporting system operated by the duty centre. The unit has the authority to impose restrictive measures, he added.

Péter Jankovics, Head of Department of the National Directorate General for Disaster Management said their primary task is to coordinate the work of territorial defence committees. The mobile laboratory operated by the disaster management authority is also at the unit’s disposal.

György Pápai, Medical Director of the National Ambulance Service highlighted that they have taken part in the health screening of entrants at border crossing stations ever since the beginning of the epidemic, and have taken more than 60,000 samples among members of the public. They additionally also take part in providing care for and transporting patients suspected of having contracted the virus.

Enikő Haláchy, Head of Division of the National Healthcare Service Centre said their duty is to make available the necessary protective equipment and supplies to health care workers, law enforcement and defence units, and elderly care homes.

Pál Szabó, a representative of the National Support Corps for Hospital Commanders recalled that also after the termination of the state of danger, 92 hospital commanders continue to help with the containment of the epidemic. From the end of April, institution commanders also started work in 19 elderly care homes with more than two hundred residents. Their task is to protect health care stocks and to monitor compliance with disease control regulations.

János Miklovich, commander of the chemical battalion of the defence forces highlighted that the battalion is a special unit whose duty is to provide protection against chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. This means that they have at their disposal all equipment which can be effectively used also in the containment of the epidemic. The disinfecting troops can be deployed anywhere, at any time, the Colonel said. After the press conference, members of the unit demonstrated the technical equipment used in the containment effort.

(MTI/Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister)