On 12 October, the Cered-Tajti border crossing point between Hungary and Slovakia will open to passenger traffic, the Spokesperson of the National Police Constabulary announced at the Friday online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

Kristóf Gál said from Monday the border crossing point between Cered and Tajti will be opened twice a day, between 7.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. and between 4.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m., for bilateral passenger traffic.

In answer to a question relating to the special rules applicable to commuters, the spokesperson said the procedures for commuters were laid down in the government decree on the travel restrictions in effect during the period of the state of disease control preparedness. He added that commuters, whether exiting or entering the country, are required to stay within a zone of 30 kilometres of the state border, and the period of stay cannot be longer than 24 hours.

Mr Gál said on Thursday throughout the country the police took action due to the violation of the rules relating to the wearing of face masks in 33 instances, including six because passengers travelling on public transport were not wearing or were not correctly wearing face masks, while in another 27 instances due to the violation of the rules relating to the protective measures in shops or in other enclosed spaces defined in the government decree.

The police cautioned 21 persons, imposed onsite fines in two cases, and prosecuted 10 persons, he said. He highlighted that between the entry into force of the government decree on the protective measures in effect during the period of the state of disease control preparedness on 21 September and Thursday midnight, the police took action in 979 instances throughout the country due to violations related to the protective measures.

On Thursday, due to non-compliance with the rules relating to the organisation of dance and music events and the restricted opening hours of catering establishments, the police prosecuted 11 persons. Mr Gál also said on Thursday, due to the violation of the rules relating to transit through the territory of the country, two persons were cautioned, 74 persons were given onsite fines and one transit traveller was prosecuted.

He reported that on Thursday 3,298 compulsory home quarantine orders were issued, including 518 upon the crossing of the border. At present, 22,385 persons are in compulsory home quarantine. On Thursday, the police checked compliance with the rules relating to compulsory home quarantine in 10,546 instances, as part of which they imposed one onsite fine and prosecuted 33 persons. 1,043 persons are using the mobile phone application developed for the electronic monitoring of quarantine.

In answer to a question relating to the monitoring of compulsory home quarantine, he said the police are conducting checks in accordance with the relevant police and disease control regulations in a way which ensures that their method and frequency should not infringe the privacy rights of the quarantined. Mr Gál stressed that persons in quarantine who are using the mobile application called ‘Home Quarantine’ need not expect personal visits as after registration they are monitored electronically.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)