The number of new confirmed coronavirus infections continues to remain low in the entire territory of the country, the Chief Medical Officer said at the Wednesday online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic.

Cecília Müller said in the past 24 hours 22 new cases have been registered, and 6 elderly patients suffering from chronic diseases have died. The number of active infected patients currently stands at 1,432, and 430 persons are being treated in hospital, including 25 requiring assisted ventilation.

She said the data clearly show that compared with the last few days, the number of incidences per 100,000 inhabitants has not changed; it currently stands at 39. Most of the patients are still from Budapest, followed by Zala County, Fejér County, Komárom-Esztergom County and Pest County. She highlighted that during the epidemic to date, few young people and children have fallen ill, and in Hungary there has been no fatality under the age of 30 in connection with the coronavirus.

The Chief Medical Officer said they have compiled new patient referral protocols – “patient referral algorithms” – for health care service providers which lay down which patients should be referred to which health care institutions.

The expert asked health care providers to observe the rule that patients can only be seen with prior appointment, thereby avoiding overcrowding.

She also mentioned that, based on the latest data of the Central Statistical Office, during the period between January and March, there were 8.5 per cent fewer fatalities in Hungary than during last year’s corresponding period. This means that at the time of the coronavirus epidemic “we cannot speak of any excess deaths”. The lower mortality rate “may have been caused by a less intense flu epidemic,” Ms. Müller added.

She further said in Hungary all children received the compulsory childhood vaccines in a timely manner, only school vaccination campaigns such as vaccination against hepatitis B and optional HPV vaccination for girls were delayed somewhat; however, children will receive also these vaccines before the end of this school year.

Ms. Müller reported that according to a new method developed by the National Centre for Public Health, the virus can also be detected and so “traced” in the environment, including in sewage. Based on the procedure, it is possible to set up projections for periods of around two weeks. At the same time, the expert reassured everyone that the virus is unable to spread via sewage.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)