Last week, the number of coronavirus infections increased by 14 per cent compared with the week before, the Chief Medical Officer said at the Tuesday online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

Cecília Müller stressed that throughout Europe and the world the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic is well under way, and everywhere in the neighbouring countries the number of incidences as well as the number of fatalities are rising significantly.

The Chief Medical Officer said Hungary will also start using the antigen rapid tests which demonstrate the presence of one of the constituents of the virus, typically proteins.

In this regard, she said multiple comparative trials have been and are being conducted in Hungary with these tests, and “it is to be hoped that there are and there will be tests which can be used in examinations in the interest of accelerating the diagnosis process and the demonstration of positivity”.

By Tuesday, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases had risen by 818 and twenty persons had died. Fifteen of them suffered from cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure, one patient had an underlying respiratory condition, while another four suffered from a metabolic condition, diabetes, thyroid disorder and chronic kidney failure, the Chief Medical Officer said. The deceased were aged between 53 and 92.

The total number of confirmed infections has risen to 32,298 and 627 persons are being treated in hospital, including 37 requiring assisted ventilation. Analysing the data, Ms. Müller highlighted that in the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic typically members of the age group between 20 and 29 fell ill; however, the age composition appears to be shifting. While earlier persons from this age group accounted for 25 per cent of all incidences, by week 40 their percentage fell to 23 per cent.

At the same time, they are now experiencing a higher number of incidences in the age group between 30 and 60 years; they account for 45 per cent of the total number of infected patients. Children under the age of 14 only account for 4.5 per cent of the total number of infections, meaning that the disease continues to remain atypical among children, she pointed out.

During week 40, 322 infections fell on 100,000 inhabitants. This number was just 253 the week before, meaning that we are in an ascending phase of the epidemic, she said.

Based on age-specific distribution in relation to 100,000 inhabitants, most patients come from the age group between 15 and 19 years as among them 661 positive cases fall on 100,000 inhabitants. Ms. Müller highlighted that all age groups are affected, typically mostly young adults and the middle-aged.

Regarding the territorial distribution of infections, Budapest and Pest County are the worst affected, followed by Győr-Moson-Sopron County, while Békés County, Bács-Kiskun County and Tolna County have the lowest patient numbers. In week 40, in Budapest 641 positive cases fell on 100,000 inhabitants which is double the national average of 322.

She said the numbers also show that everyone has a responsibility in the management of the epidemic, it requires a high degree of discipline on the part of both members of the public and decision-makers, and there is a great need for cooperation. Also at this time, the goal is to slow down the spread of the epidemic in order not to overwhelm the health care system, Ms. Müller stressed.

In answer to a question, the Chief Medical Officer underlined that intensive care physicians and assistants necessary for the treatment of patients are available in sufficient numbers. Additionally, in the spring they also organised retraining for staff, while residents, sixth-year medical students and graduating nurses were enrolled in courses in the operation of ventilators.

She added that in the institutions designated for the treatment of coronavirus patients requiring hospitalisation, the available intensive care bed and ventilator capacities are being upgraded. Ms. Müller also mentioned that those recovering at home with mild symptoms should resort to symptomatic treatment, including the administration of fever reducers, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Patients should avoid physical work, rest in bed, boost their immune systems with vitamins D and C, and increase their fluid intakes, she said.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)