In the past 24 hours, the police have taken action in 76 instances due to the disruption of public services and the violation of protective measures on the premises of commercial outlets and public institutions, the deputy head of the duty centre of the Operational Group responsible for the fight against the coronavirus epidemic said at an online press conference held on Tuesday.

Lt. Colonel Róbert Kiss said in 45 instances the police were required to take action because people were not wearing face masks or were not wearing them correctly on board public transport vehicles. All incidents resulted in cautions.

Due to the violation of the protective measures in effect on the premises of shops and public institutions, the police took action in 31 instances, including 27 cautions, one onsite fine and three prosecutions.

He also said on Monday, due to the violation of the rules relating to transit through the territory of the country, the police took action 35 times.

Since the entry into force of the government decree on the protective measures of the state of disease control preparedness on 21 September, the police have taken action in 835 instances in total due to the violation of the protective measures laid down in the government decree, he said.

He mentioned that on Monday 2,709 persons were ordered to retire to compulsory home quarantine, including 945 persons upon crossing the border. At present, 20,088 persons are in compulsory home quarantine. On Monday the police checked compliance with the quarantine regulations 10,508 times; 1,009 persons have downloaded the mobile phone application for the electronic monitoring of the observance of the quarantine regulations.

Since 4 March, 472 criminal procedures have been instituted in connection with the epidemic and 89 suspects have been questioned.

Mr Kiss also said the government decree on the entry of Hungarian nationals returning from the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia and the entry of Czech, Polish and Slovak nationals entered into effect on Tuesday. This government decree will remain in force until 1 November.

According to his information, Hungarian nationals and their family members returning to Hungary from the Czech Republic, Poland or Slovakia who had a valid hotel booking in one of these countries for the day preceding the day of entry – which was made prior to the entry into force of the government decree – are relieved from disease control observation with the negative result of one PCR test performed after returning home.

The legal rule also lays down that Czech, Polish and Slovak nationals are allowed to enter the territory of Hungary if they are able to prove that they have a booking for minimum one day during the period extending to 31 October at any accommodation facility in Hungary and have negative PCR tests performed maximum five days before entry.

Mr Kiss said from 11.00 p.m. Hungarian time, the rules relating to entry into Romania will change; however, they are asking those travelling to Romania to inform themselves about the latest conditions as the rules adopted by the Romanian government are not yet fully in the public domain.

Regarding border traffic, he said in incoming cargo traffic there are three-hour waits at the Röszke motorway border crossing station and Tompa, while in passenger traffic those intending to enter Hungary should expect a two-hour wait at Beregsurány.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)