In Hungary, the coronavirus pandemic is clearly on its way out, the epidemic curve has followed a downward trend for 10 days, the Chief Medical Officer said at the Tuesday online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic.

Cecília Müller highlighted that in the past 24 hours 29 new infections had been registered and 5 persons had died. The number of active cases currently stands at 1,229, and 427 patients are being treated in hospital, including 24 requiring assisted ventilation.

The Chief Medical Officer said they analyse the latest epidemic data every day so that they can take immediate action in the case of the development of a possible epicentre.

She said analysing weekly epidemic data, we obtain Hungary’s epidemic curve. According to this, after the first incidences occurring on 4 March, the curve gradually rose. In week 10, 9 cases were registered, in week 11, there were 30 incidences, while in the weeks thereafter there were around 100, 200 to 300 new infections. The peak occurred in week 15 when 712 persons became infected. From week 16 onwards there has been a continuous fall.

The first fatality occurred in week 11, while the highest number of fatalities – 91 – were recorded in week 16.

She said a number of environmental and social factors determine the rate and progression of an epidemic. They analyse this information in order to make it possible to introduce even more effective measures than at present in the case of a possible second peak. Data shows that women account for 58 per cent of the infected, while men for 42 per cent. The age group between 65 and 79 is the most affected. They account for 25 per cent of all infections. Twenty per cent of patients are over 80, while those aged between 50 and 59 years account for 15 per cent.

In Hungary, there are 40 registered infections and 5 fatalities per one hundred thousand inhabitants. The virus spread most in the capital where there were 106 cases per one hundred thousand inhabitants, while in Békés County there were just 3, she added.

She mentioned as a curiosity that they tested one thousand samples which were left over after so-called respiratory panel tests carried out before the appearance of the virus due to the flu season.

In the one thousand samples, they found the coronavirus present in one sample of 12 March, while the virus was not present in any of the samples taken earlier. This leads to the conclusion that the virus did indeed appear in Hungary around 4 March, meaning at the time when the outbreak of an epidemic was declared, she underlined.

In answer to questions, she highlighted that they had carried out disinfecting in a number of elderly care homes. This procedure can be repeated at any time if necessary.

In answer to another question, she stressed that the authorities were checking baths and outdoor bathing areas on an ongoing basis. This is the protocol not only this summer; during the bathing season, intensive public health checks are carried out every year.

She also mentioned that chlorine kills the coronavirus, meaning that drinking water cannot be infected anywhere.

The use of health care services is only subject to testing for coronavirus infection if the suspicion of infection emerges. In all other cases, patients are only checked for signs of elevated body temperature and are required to fill in a questionnaire, Ms. Müller said.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)