Police action was taken more than 4,600 times due to the violation of the restrictions on movement at the Easter weekend, the head of the duty centre of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic said at an online press conference held on Tuesday.

Tibor Lakatos said during the long weekend police officers were compelled to take action in 4,692 instances; cautions continued to remain in the majority. Mayors were given the authority to introduce special rules for their settlements in connection with the restrictions on movement for the weekend. Compliance with these local restrictions was monitored by the police, neighbourhood watch volunteers, local government law enforcement units and other agencies engaged in policing activities, he added.

The majority of people did not violate these restrictions; however, in some places they were ignored, including the South side of Lake Balaton where groups consisting of tens of people developed, travelling from one settlement to the next after warnings. As a result, the police prosecuted 69 persons in Somogy County. They also observed that in the parking lots of shopping centres and supermarkets persons taking relatives over the age of 65 shopping during the time slot between 9.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m. gathered into groups of 5 to 10 to engage in conversation.

Mr Lakatos said since the introduction of the restrictions on movement, the police have cautioned 10,061 persons.

In answer to the question as to whether there have been instances in Hungary, similar to Sweden, where people intentionally spat at police officers, Mr Lakatos said there had been no such incidences. This kind of aggression towards the police is not typical in Hungary, he added; during the epidemic, a few instances apart, citizens have been positively willing to cooperate.

Among the more serious breaches, the Colonel mentioned the cases of two venues of entertainment in the centre of Budapest. One of them hosted an event; there, the police prosecuted both guests and operators. At the other place, eggs, ham and beer were being sold in front of a shop illegally. The police took the necessary measures.

Mr Lakatos said so far 14,355 compulsory home quarantine orders have been issued, compliance has been checked 197,681 times, and there have been irregularities in 993 cases. In these instances, the police issued cautions, imposed onsite fines or prosecuted the persons concerned. According to the Colonel, the rules of compulsory home quarantine are being violated ever more frequently, and therefore – as expected – they will have to tighten the measures imposed in response. As a result, instead of cautions, the police will be compelled to impose onsite fines on those who are found in violation of the regulations multiple times.

In answer to a question, he said during the Easter weekend neither hospital directors, nor hospital commanders had reported a shortage of stocks. He added that they are distributing the protective supplies arriving in the country primarily in the health care system, in the surgeries of general practitioners and emergency dentists, among law enforcement workers and other persons involved in the containment effort.

Regarding news reports that the relaxing of restrictions is being considered in several countries around Europe, Mr Lakatos indicated that it is difficult to compare countries in different stages of the epidemic. This is why the decision was made that, based on the Operational Group’s report, the government will review the impacts of restrictive measures with weekly regularity, and will decide on the tightening or relaxing of restrictions as necessary, he added.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)