The goal of the government is to preserve jobs amidst the coronavirus epidemic, and to create new ones in place of those that have been lost, Government Spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi said on Monday morning on Kossuth Radio’s programme ‘Good morning, Hungary’.

The spokesperson recalled that HUF 660 billion had been set aside for the containment of the virus, including for the procurement of supplies; however, there is also an economy protection action plan, the details which will be announced by members of the government in the coming days.

This will be the most overarching economic stimulus plan in the history of the country, Ms. Szentkirályi added.

She said the present situation has been unprecedented in recent decades, and there will be a need for unity and the joint sharing of burdens; at the same time, there is no room for party-political considerations.

She said it is regrettable that there are still parties which attempt to use certain elements of the containment of the epidemic for political gain. With these measures, the government is focusing on saving lives and protecting health, she stressed.

Ms. Szentkirályi thanked health care workers for their hard work, and said that they will receive an extra bonus of half a million forints during the course of the summer.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)