In several points around Budapest, despite the restrictions on movement, people are congregating on public premises, thereby running the risk of the epidemic “exploding”, this was the main message of the Sunday morning online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic.

Police Lt. Colonel Róbert Kiss, a staff member of the duty centre, said metropolitan police officers checking compliance with the restrictions on movement detected major group gathering locations in Városliget (City Park), at Margaret Island, at Normafa, while in the city centre in the vicinity of Király utca and Gellért tér. In the 13th district, there was even an illegal car race. The police broke up the gatherings; on Saturday, in the capital they implemented 301 measures, as part of which they prosecuted 24 persons and imposed onsite fines in 14 instances.

As part of the monitoring of the opening hours of shops, police officers pressed charges in 64 cases, 41 of these in the capital, the Lt. Colonel added.

Mr Kiss also said on Saturday evening and Sunday morning more than 200 Hungarians were able to return from Tyrol, Austria by buses and passenger cars. The first convoy crossed the border at Hegyeshalom in the evening hours of Saturday, including 149 persons travelling on one bus and in 30 passenger cars. The second convoy arrived at the border in the early hours of Sunday morning, including 70 persons on board one bus and in 22 cars.

He recalled that on Saturday seven planes had arrived, carrying 4 million surgical face masks, 400,000 protective gowns, 100,000 pairs of protective goggles, and 6,000 protective visors. These are currently being taken stock of, warehoused and guarded, he added.

He also mentioned that at the Romanian-Hungarian border section Romanian guest workers had appeared in large numbers; they want to get back to their jobs in Western Europe. They are examined to determine their state of health, and if they display no symptoms, police officers check whether they have the right to enter the country of destination. However, on Saturday evening they were unable to check this, and as a result, they suspended the authorisation of entry. They asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide the necessary data for the Operational Group.

Mr Kiss highlighted that so far 13,435 compulsory home quarantine orders had been issued, and compliance had been checked by the police 103,305 times.

Regarding border traffic, he said there are minor delays in incoming cargo traffic at Röszke, while in passenger traffic on the exit side at Nagylak.

The Lt. Colonel also drew attention to the fact that in the capital the 5th district police constabulary interrogated a 29-year-old man from Orosháza suspected of commercial fraud who was selling health care face masks and disinfectants on the Internet, and having received the purchase price, he did not send the promised protective supplies to customers and made himself unavailable. The man was taken into custody and the police recommended his arrest.

In answer to a question relating to police action taken against those violating the rules of the restrictions on movement, he said any police action must be lawful, professional and – bearing in mind the requirement of proportionality – necessary. Those who repeatedly violate the rules of the restrictions or fail to comply with police instructions despite police cautioning can expect more severe sanctions. He added that, based on their experiences, people are running out of patience and more people are breaking the rules than before. It is a common interest that everyone should observe the rules related to the restrictions on movement, Mr Kiss said.

In answer to the question as to whether there is a need for more substantial police presence on public premises, he said in their view, at present, there is adequate police presence; however, they are analysing the situation on an ongoing basis, and if more police officers are required, they will adopt the necessary decision.

He finally said in response to a question regarding the possible tightening of the restrictions on movement that during the period of a special legal order, the government is entitled to make a decision on this. On Wednesday, the Operational Group will make a recommendation as to whether in connection with the restrictions there is a need for tightening or relaxing measures.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)