Due to the violation of the restrictions on movement, the police have detected 51,382 infringements, a staff member of the duty centre of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic said at an online press conference held on Monday.

Róbert Kiss said they had included 26,755 cautions, 13,132 onsite fines and 11,495 prosecutions.

He recalled that from Monday the rules of the restrictions on movement had been lifted in the entire territory of the country. The police checked compliance with the restrictions on movement from 28 March.

He also said to date 370 criminal procedures had been instituted, including 94 due to scaremongering, 27 due to the threat of public endangerment, 118 due to fraud and 21 due to the violation of disease control regulations. The police have questioned 70 suspects in these procedures.

Mr Kiss highlighted that in the next phase of protective measures, from Monday all shops will be allowed to reopen without restrictions also in Budapest. The Lt. Colonel thanked every Hungarian citizen for their patience and law-abiding conduct.

He said on Monday catering establishments had also been allowed to reopen; customers are allowed to use the gardens and terraces of restaurants, cafes, cake shops, snack bars and pubs. Bathing facilities, outdoor baths, outdoor museums and zoos may now reopen also in Budapest. Church ceremonies, civil weddings and funerals can also be held. Subject to the rector’s decision, higher education institutions can reopen to students; however, student resident facilities will remain closed.

From 15 June it will be possible to hold family events after funerals and weddings throughout the country; however, the maximum number of attendees is limited to two hundred. Outside the capital, such events may be held from 1 June, he said.

Outside Budapest, also the indoor spaces of restaurants and other catering establishments may reopen to customers. At the same time, restaurant workers will be required to cover their mouths and noses and to ensure that the rule of safe distancing is observed. Hotels and guest houses outside the capital may receive guests, while if they also feature stores, the general rules apply to them.

He drew attention to the fact that the general health protection measures will remain in effect throughout the territory of the country, including the compulsory wearing of face masks or scarves to cover the mouth and nose on public transport and in shops, the rule of keeping a safe distance, and the shopping hours reserved for different age groups.

He further reported that ever more persons in compulsory home quarantine are opting for electronic monitoring as a means for the police to check compliance with the rules of the relevant restrictions. The number of active users of the application currently stands at 664. On Sunday, 1,220 compulsory home quarantine orders were issued, resulting in 10,388 such restrictive orders in effect in total at present. On Sunday, the police were required to take action in 27 instances due to the violation of the rules related to compulsory home quarantine.

He said in the interest of reducing delays at the border, on the Romanian-Hungarian border section transit passengers are now allowed to enter Hungary not only at Nagylak, but also at Ártánd between 6.00 a.m. and 12.00 a.m. They are required to follow a fixed route and to leave the country within the shortest possible time, while on the way they are only allowed to stop at designated rest areas and filling stations.

Regarding border traffic, in cargo traffic on the entry side there is a three-hour delay at Röszke, a two-hour delay at Tompa, and one-hour delays at Csanádpalota, Csengersima and Ártánd, while on the exit side there is a four-hour delay at Csanádpalota and a one-hour delay at Gyula. In passenger traffic on the entry side there is a one-hour delay at Nagylak, while at the exit side there is a two-hour delay at Nagylak and a one-hour delay at Csanádpalota.

Regarding the reopening of shops, Mr Kiss warned that everyone must observe the general health protection distance; operators are required to ensure the necessary conditions. Additionally, customers are required to wear protective equipment – face masks or scarves – in shops as well.

In answer to a question, he said the police have the authority to take action if a person fails to observe the general rules, including failure to keep a safe distance. At the same time, the goal is not to penalise breaches, but to achieve voluntary observance.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)