The new phase of the fight against the coronavirus epidemic will start on Monday with new rules, 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 Friday.

Police Lt. Colonel Róbert Kiss said the most recent government decrees determine new rules, inter alia, for shops, restaurants, baths and events.

He highlighted that in Budapest and Pest County the same restrictions on movement and opening hours will remain in effect; in this area, members of the public are only allowed to leave their homes for essential reasons.

However, in the rest of the country all shops, bathing facilities, outdoor baths, museums and zoos may reopen for visiting. Guests will be allowed to remain on the premises of the gardens and terraces of restaurants and cafes and to consume there the food and drinks they order; however, only restaurant staff can be present on indoor premises, Mr Kiss said.

The restrictions on events will continue to remain in force. At the same time, with the exception of Budapest and Pest County, the services of religious communities, civil weddings and funerals can be held, subject to keeping the recommended safe distance, he said.

Rectors may decide on the reopening of higher education institutions, while student residence facilities will remain closed, he pointed out.

Sports events can be held without spectators, behind closed doors, while amateur sports and leisure time activities are also allowed, he said.

Regarding the authority of local governments to create local ordinances, he said local governments are free to decide locally about the opening hours of markets in their settlements and the hours reserved for the elderly. Another government decree vests local governments with the authority of adopting more stringent rules related to the restrictions on movement during the period extending from 1 May to midnight 3 May. He added that the police will continue to take action against those who violate the rules.

In answer to a journalist’s question, he said there are no plans for giving local governments the authority to introduce more stringent measures through local ordinances within their own competence in the future.

According to his information, on Thursday 751 compulsory home quarantine orders were issued; at present, there are 10,384 such restrictive orders in effect. On Thursday, the police were required to take action in 32 instances against those violating the rules of compulsory home quarantine. The police have checked individuals in compulsory home quarantine since 12 March, and have taken action in 1,365 instances.

On Thursday, the police took action in connection with the violation of the rules related to the restrictions on movement in 1,051 instances, including 405 cautions, 376 onsite fines and 270 prosecutions. The police have checked compliance with the restrictions on movement since 28 March, and have been required to take action in 40,169 instances.

The number of crimes related to the epidemic has also risen; there are 311 ongoing investigations, including 83 due to scaremongering, 26 due to the threat of public endangerment, 95 due to fraud and 18 due to the violation of disease control regulations. So far the police have questioned 59 suspects.

Changes have taken effect in border traffic: from 1 May, lorries with a maximum permitted gross weight of 7,500 kilograms will only be allowed to enter the territory of Austria at Hegyeshalom. Another change is that between 1 May and 3 May on the East-West humanitarian corridors, passengers will only be allowed to cross the border at Hegyeshalom between 6.00 p.m. and 8.00 a.m. On Friday morning, there was a one-hour delay in cargo traffic on the entry side at Rajka and Hegyeshalom, a two-hour delay at the exit side at Csanádpalota, and a two-hour delay in passenger traffic on the exit side at Nagylak.

In answer to the question as to whether the duties of the police will change from Monday when different rules enter into force in the countryside, the Lt. Colonel said the police have started the necessary preparations for providing officers serving in public areas with factual and precise information adjusted to the new regulations. He added that in the countryside the police will continue to check catering establishments, the gardens of catering establishments and compliance with general public health measures.

In answer to a question regarding the measures that could prevent Budapest residents from setting out for the countryside in masses, he said they sincerely hope that people living in Budapest and Pest County will only leave their homes for essential reasons.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)